Monday, 4-6:40, Cabell B-48
PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS A PREREQUISITE OF ANTH 103 (OR ITS EQUIVALENT) AND ENGL 200 FOR THIS COURSE THAT WILL BE ADHERED TO STRICTLY. PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR AN EXEMPTION.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: I will provide you with a general historical and ethnological base for a broader understanding of the social and cultural contexts of the texts that you will be reading. The class lectures are flexible, but will cover specific topics that arise from class discussions of the texts or discussions of my own field work among peasant populations. However, the lectures will be minimal as the class is designed to be student generated and interactive. There are five ethnographies that are required reading for the course. The class will initially discuss and analyze the texts in small groups. Then discussion will continue with larger class participation and individual essays on each text. The final portion of the class includes a research paper and individual class presentations of your research. Initially, the reading and course requirements may appear to be a heavy load, but you will find the reading fascinating and enlightening.
GOALS: There are several specific goals for the class.
1. The first is to introduce ways of thinking about culture, human rights, and social justice. We will be investigating the results of the interactions of unfamiliar sociocultural patterns and ways of perceiving the world. We will also be attempting to understand recent Latin American events vis-à-vis international forces.
2. After my general introduction, you will analyze and interpret the texts vis-à-vis your own individual perspectives and resulting discussions. The students will have responsibility for a large portion the educational process and for fostering discussion between the differing world views and academic perspectives that are sure to be represented in the class.
3. A third goal for the class is to facilitate your ability to research and write a research paper with good form and critical thinking.
4. The ultimate goal for the student is to learn to think analytically, to grasp the range of human adaptability, and to reinforce tolerance and understanding for the differences found in the interdependent world of today.
This class also addresses, in part, the following School of World Studies learning outcomes for our students.
· Interdisciplinary foci
· Oral communication
· Writing intensive
· Technology skills
· Global good citizenship and ethics
· Critical thinking
· Student engagement
TEXTS:
Death without Weeping, The Violence of Everyday Life in Brazil, Nancy Scheper-Hughes
The School of the Americas, Military Training and Political Violence in the Americas, Lesley Gill
The El Mozote Massacre, A compelling story for everyone concerned with the lives of Third World peoples, Leigh Binford
Campesino, The Dairy of a Guatemalan Indian, trans. and edited by James D. Sexton
The Pinochet Affair, Roger Burback
BLACKBOARD 6: You will be expected to access this course and to make sure that you monitor your VCU email for any important class information or changes to the syllabus. Your syllabus is also located in Blackboard as well as on my personal web page. http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner
ACADEMIC FREEDOM: A core principle of higher education is the freedom of faculty and students to pursue knowledge and to seek to discover what is true, regardless of the controversial nature of truth. The role of the faculty is both to pursue knowledge and to help you develop the skills necessary for the reasoned and responsible pursuit of truth. VCU endorses this principle as espoused by the American Association of University Professors, as do I.
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPER AND PRESENTATION OF WORK: You will need to decide upon a research topic or question, formulate a thesis, produce an outline and write a logically thought out research paper at least 15 to 20 pages in length, which you will also be presented in summary form for the class. You have a style and guide sheet (electronically linked to the online syllabus) to help you with this. The possible topics and subsequent research theses are open to your choice but do need to deal with a topic acceptable to the spirit of this course. Do not alter your paper margins, the fonts, or the typeset, nor use any sort of creative spacing to stretch your paper length. Plagiarism in any form will be punished to the fullest extent possible.
For the first phase of your project you will need to produce a thesis statement and an annotated bibliography of the work that you will be using (use your Guide!). You should use the information that you received during the library session and make sure you include solid academic sources, journal articles, etc. There should be at least ten refereed academic sources besides any other references you may have (such as "Natural History" or the like). When in doubt, ask your research librarian or me (email, cturner@vcu.edu, is best unless it is during class or my office hours, please do not leave phone messages for me to call you back).
How to Evaluate Your Sources- http://www.library.vcu.edu/help/evaluate.html
Start preparing early for the final product and make sure you consult your style sheet when preparing your bibliography and outline. You will have an opportunity to rewrite you thesis and bibliography, if necessary. As you proceed through the successive stages, ALWAYS TURN IN EVERY PIECE OF PRIOR WORK with your current submissions or I will not grade them or reevaluate them. You will be presenting your thesis and outline orally in class so be prepared to do so. As you outline, be sure to indicate where in your paper your referenced library material will be used. Make sure you include your previously submitted bibliography. If your work is late, you will receive a one grade reduction. If you are more than a week late, you will receive a zero on this portion of your paper, which will be reflected in your final paper grade. At this point your work will be evaluated in the following manner:
THESIS, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND OUTLINE EVALUATION: There are five parts to the evaluation, each worth 20 points. Together they add up to a possible 100 points. The parts are graded individually on a 20 point scale (see below) and then added together. EXAMPLE OF REQUIRED WORK
1. thesis
2. appropriate number of scholarly citations
3. logical structure of outline
4. appropriateness of citations for topic
5. style/format of bibliography (follow style format from in your guide)
The next phase of your research paper project is to turn in a preliminary copy of your work for evaluation. This is not a mandatory phase, but many students find it helpful to get some feedback before it is too late to rectify any problems. Of course, you may also consult with me individually during my office hours or by email (cturner@vcu.edu).
The next step is to turn in a final version of your paper. Do not alter your paper margins, the fonts, or the typeset, nor use any sort of creative spacing to stretch your paper length. Plagiarism in any form or any violations of VCU's Honor Code will be reported to the Honors Council. Late papers will receive a grade reduction for every week of tardiness. If you turn in an incomplete paper (that is, less than the required length, not using the requisite style, lack of proper citations), you will also lose a one grade reduction the same as a late paper.
RESEARCH PAPER EVALUATION: There are five parts to the evaluation, each worth 20 points. Together they add up to a possible 100 points. The parts are graded individually on a 20 point scale (see below) and then added together for the research paper grade.
1. thesis, bibliography, outline grade converted to a 20 point scale (from earlier evaluation, but subject to change if your work changes substantially)
2. writing and grammar--20 pts.
3. research grade--quantity and quality of research (papers that are not 15 pages, that fail to use all ten sources, or that rely on one or two sources will suffer here)--20 pts.
4. correct format, citation style, attribution, bibliographic form--20 pts. (failure to use the Guide will lower your grade significantly)
5. specification of theme, established well, logical conclusions--20 pts. (failure to exercise critical thinking will lower your score in this area)
16-17--B
14-15--C
12-13--D
PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism in any sense of the word is unethical and defeats the purpose of learning. Your Guide discusses plagiarism and what it entails. Your Blackboard announcements discusses palgiarism and what it entails. I will fail you on the assignment if there is any plagiarism of any sort or any violation of VCU's Honor Code. I will report you to the Honor Board whether you plagiarism is deliberate or not. You should be conversant with the section titled "VCU Honor System" located in your "VCU Resource Guide."
PARTICIPATION EVALUATION: Your grade in this section of the course will be based on your ability to contribute to your group’s discussions, the general class discussions and the critiques of the groups’ analyses of the text. Obviously, if you are not in class or have not read the ethnographies, you will not receive a grade. There are three sections of work for each ethnography, group discussion, class discussion and written essay. These essays will consist of each student’s evaluation of the text, the discussion, and of their cohorts' preparedness for the given tasks of the week (this last will help me in my own evaluation of your participation and contribution to the discussion). They should be typed and at least two double-spaced pages in length. Each ethnography can potentially receive 200 points (100 for class discussion/100 for critiques) which will be converted to 50% of your final grade.
PRESENTATION EVALUATION: The School of World Studies and the Anthropology Program are using specialized "rubrics" to evaluate oral presentations, critical thinking, and writing abilities. I (and possibly other anthropology faculty) will be using these rubrics to evaluate your presentation of your work.
FINAL GRADE FORMULA:
Research paper -- 45%
Participation, preparedness, critiques -- 50%
Presentation of work -- 5%
Initially, the reading and course requirements may appear to be a heavy load, but you will find that reading ethnographies is fun and easy as well as fascinating. The same may be said for writing research papers when you learn how. I hope you enjoy the class and that we all meet our projected goals.
DIRE WARNINGS SECTION:
This class is designed to be innovative and self-directed and incredibly interesting. It will not work:
1. if you do not attend class. After two absences I will deduct five points per absence from your final point average for the class. Since this is a three hour evening course, "absence" is taken to include the time following the break.
2. if you do not do the readings and come to class prepared. You being graded on participation in a number of different ways and a major portion of the class revolves upon your participation.
3. if you do not turn your written work in on time. In a class this size that meets only once a week it is imperative that the graded work be received and graded together and on time. ALL late work will be penalized by a reduction in grade. I have not held to this in the past, but I will now as tardy papers have become all too common. If you are ill, you may send your work in an email attachment or have a friend drop it in my mailbox..
4. if you plagiarize in any sense of the word because it defeats the purpose of learning. You should be conversant with the section titled "VCU Honor System" located in your "VCU Resource Guide").We, the anthropology faculty, regularly find we need to "police" cheaters, as unpleasant as it is. Make sure you don't add to the list.
FINAL DIRE WARNING: I will mention all of this as well as the specifics of what plagiarism entails once. (Your "Writing Guide" also details just what exactly plagarism is, as does your "VCU Resource Guide" and the opening page of you Blackboard for this class.) It is up to you to know what is due when and what you are doing in class at any given moment. You are responsible for any changes in the syllabus whether you were in class that day or not.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES: "It is the policy of VCU to accord students, on an individual basis, the opportunity to observe their traditional religious holidays" (VCU Undergraduate Bulletin).
HOW TO FIND THE PROF: before or after class by appointment, 312 N. Shafer St., 827-7869 (don't leave a message), cturner@vcu.edu
Schedule:
| Date | Assignments-You are expected to have the readings done by the date they are to be discussed in class. |
| 1/22 | Introduction and orientation |
| 1/29 | Brazil |
| 2/5 | Discussion of Death Without Weeping; essay #1 due |
| 2/12 | Library Day- meet in library third floor computer lab room at 4 - How to Write a Research Paper |
| 2/19 | Discussion of School of the Americas - Essay #2 due |
| 2/26 | bibliography, thesis, outline due - class presentations of research plans |
| 3/5 | Discussion of El Mozote Massacre - Essay #3 due |
| 3/12 | Spring Break!!!!!- work on research papers |
| 3/19 | Discussion of Campesino - Essay # 4 due final drop date is Friday the 23 |
| 3/26 | Patricio Guzman documentary |
| 4/2 | Discussion of The Pinochet Affair ; essay #5 due. |
| 4/9 | research paper due |
| 4/16 | Paper presentations |
| 4/23 | Paper presentations |
| 4/30 | Paper presentations |
| 5/7- Scheduled Final Exam Date | |
| Note: Syllabus subject to change. You are responsible for keeping current. | |