SYLLABUS
Course Title: ANTH 2120H
Instructor: Dr. Ervan
Garrison
Time:
Location: Baldwin Hall, Room 264
Description: ANTH 1102 is an introductory-level survey
course of the field of Anthropology - the "study of man" or the
"study of humanity". The four sub-disciplines
of modern anthropology - cultural, biological, archaeology, and cognitive/linguistics
- comprise the subject matter. Two major integrative themes in ANTH
1102 are: (1) Culture and (2) Environment and how these two elements affect
humans as individuals and as groups. Biological and cultural evolution
are examined as historical and on-going processes which, together,
have resulted in the variety of the world's peoples and cultures.
Course Format: Lecture & demonstration - These are the
vehicles that work best for large section courses like ANTH 1102. As your
instructor, I, as you do, would prefer a more "personal" level of
class size & interaction. In this course I will teach my understanding
of modern anthropology based on 25 years of "doing anthropology"
- both teaching and research. We will view videos to help convey the subject
matter and if we can have a guest lecturer or two we shall do this as well.
The instruments I use to evaluate your grasp of the subject are exams. The
exams will simply quantify your grasp of the lecture and reading material.
Grade Scale: A-F; 90 to 100=A; 80 to 90 =B; etc.
Grade Basis: Written examination (3) and attendance*
Examinations = 300 points;
Textbook: Introducing Anthropology, Michael
Park
Schedule of Topics & Assignments:
1. Introduction - What is Anthropology?
Chapter 1
2. Anthropology as science - the structure
of inquiry. Chapter 2
3. Culture - Humanity's "thing".
Chapter 7
4. Culture Change - discovery &
invention. Chapter 15
5. Cultural behavior - materialism,
ecology & behavior.
Chapter 13
EXAM 1 - regular class period
Schedule of Topics
& Assignments cont. -
6. Evolution - ecology, evolutionary
processes and genetics. Chapter 13
7. Human variation - race: biological and
social. Chapter 14
8. Language - origins & importance to
humans and culture. Chapter 11
9. Primates - non-human and human. Chapter
4
10. Early humanity - paleoanthropology.
Chapter 5
11. Archaeology - study of our past.
Chapter 10
EXAM 2, regular class period
12. Food - humanity's triumph: agriculture.
Chapter 8
13. Sex and Gender - biology &
cultural variation. Chapter 6
14. Kinship & Organization. Chapter 9
15. Levels of complexity - bands to
states.
16. Religion. Chapter 12
EXAM 3 - Final Exam Period
Important Information:
Office Hours: By appointment only (Mon. or
Wed.
Office(s): GG307; Baldwin 255
email: egarrison@uga.edu
(anytime)
Phone:
542-1097; fax: 542-2425
*
Attendance Policy: Only 4 unexcused
absences are allowed before your grade is automatically reduced by one letter
grade, e.g. A to B; B to C; etc. 4 absences equal the equivalent of missing
3 weeks of class.
An excused absence is one
based on illness or personal crisis (weddings, ball games, etc. are not
excuses to miss class). 7 or more unexcused absences will result in automatic
dismissal from the course with a grade of "WF". Illness must
be confirmed by a health professional - university health center, etc. Personal
crisis must be confirmed by the Office of Vice-President of Student Affairs.