Whoever cannot seek the unforeseen sees nothing for the known way is an impasse.

Change is the only constant in life.

Heraclitus, Fragments

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANT 2410-004 (Summer B 2014)
MWF 9:30 11:50 pm, SOC 152

Instructor: Roger M. Villamar, Ph.D.
Office: Department of Anthropology SOC 11B (SOC Basement)
Office Hours: Wednesdays 12:00 1:00 pm or by appointment
Email: rvillama@usf.edu
Telephone Number: (813) 974-2138


Course Description:

Cultural anthropology is the study of human society and culture through the description,
analysis, interpretation and explanation of social and cultural similarities and differences. This
course has been designed to value the richness of our cultural diversity, and also to consider the
need to face the challenges presented in the changing global scenarios of today as one united
collaborative and participatory human species; implied in that idea of change and agency is the
future orientation of our anthropological quest. Using some lecture formats, class discussions,
articles, ethnographies, videos, blogging, writing assignments, quizzes, ethnographic
assignments, and a final oral presentation, we will all try to become aware of the inert
information and activated ignorance we have, and will analyze course themes to arrive at
activated (renewed) knowledge that can help us understand ourselves better as the cultural beings
that we are. All class, and online formats mentioned above will be part of the ongoing evaluation
process along with a final exam that consists of two 30-minute essays. The latter will be based on
the application of some core anthropological concepts to the topics presented during the
semester, and the writing exercises practiced in class.

Course Objectives:

In keeping with the policies and goals of the General Education Council:

This course is part of the University of South Floridas Foundations of Knowledge and
Learning (FKL) Core Curriculum. It is certified for Cultural Diversity and Global Context and
for the following dimensions: Critical Thinking, Inquiry-based Learning, Global Context, and
Human and Cultural Diversity. Students enrolled in this course will be asked to participate in the
USF General Education assessment effort. This might involve submitting copies of writing
assignments for review, responding to surveys, or participating in other measurements designed
to assess the FKL Core Curriculum learning outcomes.



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Specific objectives of the course are to:

Think critically about what we have as inert information, and activated ignorance in our
minds, and be able to use new activated knowledge (e.g., core anthropological concepts)
to better understand our local communities and the globe
Get acquainted with the type of analytical writing and oral presentation skills used as
vehicles to express your critical arguments in a university academic setting
Explore traditional and current important concepts (e.g., creativity, adaptability,
flexibility), methods, and approaches used by cultural anthropologists to understand and
describe the ever-changing human experience
Consider an orientation to the future of anthropology and the future of humanity by
including technology and exploring new paradigms, concepts, and methodologies in our
discussions and assignments
Understand the need to educate ourselves about and face global human problems
collaboratively and in a participatory manner
Consider the ethics of anthropological research
Problematize the themes discussed throughout the course by formulating the right
questions that will help us explore solutions to problems identified


Required Readings:

Kottak, Conrad Phillip
2012 Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, 8
th
edition.
New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-803490-9



Requirements & Grading:

Canvas
Important course information will be posted on Canvas (my.usf.edu) throughout the semester.
You must check this site on a weekly basis, as it is the primary way for the instructor to
communicate official information about the course to you. In order to access Canvas, you will
need to activate your NetID account at http://acomp.usf.edu/. A valid USF ID card is required to
do this. Once you have accessed Canvas, click on the Courses tab and then on ANT 2410
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. An e-mail account is assigned to you through the
Canvas system and will be the way that I will e-mail you if needed. If you do not use this e-
mail address, you will need to set an appropriate forwarding address.

Additional Gmail Account
Students are required to create an additional Gmail account only for class purposes. The
instructors Gmail account is ant2410summb2014prof@gmail.com. These accounts will be used
by students mainly for the creation of the Google blog (Blogger). The username students use to
create their e-mail accounts has to be their real names, and the instructor and the members of
your group have to know your real identities. This should be done the second week of class after
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students have selected the groups they will work with for the rest of the semester. This e-mail
address will not be used by the instructor to contact you regarding official class business.
For this purpose your instructor will use Canvas only (read above).

Analytical Writing Final Essays
The two final essays students write will demonstrate their critical thinking and analytical writing
skills. The goal of these essays is to assess how students articulate and support their ideas based
on the writing exercises, and anthropological topics discussed during the semester through
readings, assignments, and videos shown. The day of the final essays, students will have to
analyze two separate issues presented to them, write, and support their arguments coherently in
class. Students first will be presented with one issue and will have 30 minutes to complete the
essay and submit it. After they submit their first essay, students will have a 10-minute break.
Immediately after, they will be presented with the second issue and will also have 30 minutes to
complete the second essay and submit it. These two essays constitute the final exam for the
course.

Blog Project: The iCross-Cultural Citizen Project: Reflecting on our Indigenous World
Based on guidelines and a mission provided by your instructor, your blogging group of five
students formed randomly on the first day of class will create a blog with a focus or theme
that affects an indigenous population of our world. This blog will delve into the past, current
situation, and future of a particular indigenous group chosen by your group members. Historical,
and academic perspectives, as well as media portrayals, critical plans of applied action, and
reflective comments will be important components of this blog (guidelines will be provided).
Each groups blog will be initially made available only to group members and the instructor, all
of whom will have administrative privileges to the blog. Although there are plenty of free
blogging options, we will all use Google Blogger, to make the blogs somewhat uniform in
appearance. However, the blogs design and content are based totally on the group members
creativity. The night before the groups final oral presentation is when their blog will be made
public for all to see, and the day the group presents is when their final blog grading will take
place. However, before this final grading takes place, there will be at least two class
participation assignment scores involved in the blogging process in order to ensure students have
been contributing to the group effort (see Course Calendar). Students starting individual blog
contributions from scratch the night before the final oral presentation will not receive a favorable
final score for this project.

Final Oral Presentation
The final oral presentations will be the final oral report of everything you did on your group
blog: The iCross-Cultural Citizen Project: Reflecting on our Indigenous World. It will be a
group effort, and it will be graded individually (for the most part) based on each participants
delivery (guidelines will be provided). Each group member will deliver a section of the group
presentation. Each individual presentation should be an explanation of that particular students
contribution to the blog, but it should also reflect group articulation; that is, each students
presentation should be coordinated with the others to make it sound as a group project. This is
the collective aspect that will be evaluated as a group. The entire group will have twenty minutes
to present. If time allows it, the group will open it up for a Q&A section after the presentation.
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This Q&A section would help clarify doubts or inform other groups on technical, aesthetic, and
content issues regarding the blog being presented. So questions are welcomed.

Class Participation Assignments
There will be fifteen class participation assignments that will count as your participation grade
during the semester. These are not to be confused with class activities, which could happen or
not every time we meet for class. Although similar to class activities in nature, class
participation assignments will be based on the class discussion of a particular topic, and may be
initiated in class and finished in class, or left as homework. In either case, they will be submitted
to the instructor, which will not be the case of all other class activities. Class participation
assignments and activities will mainly be ethnographic exercises (for us all to have a micro-taste
of what it is to be in the field today), writing exercises, or pop quizzes.

Facebook Page
The Facebookpage created by the instructor for this course will be used by students to respond
to news articles, pictures, videos, comments, or questions/assignments; all related to class
discussions, and shared on the page. The Facebook Page participation is optional. However,
in order to be able to respond or comment, students will have to like the page once they scan
the QR code that the instructor will provide. Mainly prize (books, candy & DVDs) questions will
be posted publicly to those who like the Facebook page. Students who complete the
assignment first, or respond correctly (depending on the case) will obtain a prize. Winners will
also be announced publicly using the Facebook page, and will be able to collect their prize at
the end of the next class session following their successful participation. There will be no prizes
announced individually to students. Everything will be done in a public manner.

Final Grade:

The students final grade will be calculated as follows:

2 Analytical Writing Essays 30%
Blog: Reflecting on our Indigenous World 30%
Final Oral Presentation 20%
15 Class Participation Assignments 20%
Course Facebook Page (optional) Prizes (books, candy, & DVDs)

Final grades are assigned based on the following scale: A+=98-100, A =92-97, A- =90-91, B+
=88-89, B =82-87, B- =80-81, C+=78-79, C =72-77, C- =70-71, D+=68-69, D =62-67, D-
=60-61, F =<60. Final grades will not be changed under any circumstances other than when
there is a calculation error.







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Course Policies:

The Instructor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus, course content, and
schedule.

Accommodations
Any student with a disability is encouraged to meet with the professor privately during the first
week of class to discuss accommodations. Each student must bring a current Memorandum of
Accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services
(http://www.sds.usf.edu/index.asp), which is a prerequisite for receiving accommodations.
Accommodated examinations through the Office of Student Disability Services require two
weeks notice.

Veteran Services and Veteran Success
We thank our veterans for their service to our country. Hopefully, some of the following
information will make their adaptation to academic life an easier process. The Office of Veteran
Services is located at ALN 130, and their office number is (813) 974-2291. They run a program
called VetSuccess on Campus. This program is a partnership between USF and the VA run by
Mrs. J eanine Frederick, a VA employee. This program provides outreach to veterans through
events and workshops. Mrs. Frederick is also a counselor who can assist veterans, veteran
dependents, and active duty service members. Her e-mail address is J eanine.frederick@va.gov.
VetSuccess on Campus also employs an Outreach Coordinator once a week in their office. Her
name is Frankie Marcano. Her main focus is to provide readjustment/reintegration assistance for
veterans. She also provides peer-to-peer counseling for veterans and referral services to the
J ames A. Haley Veterans Hospital. Her e-mail address is Franki.marcano@va.gov.

Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade (I) will only be given under very rare circumstances. To qualify for an
incomplete, the student must have completed all but a very small portion of the course, and must
have earned a passing grade up to that point. A contract will be signed between the student and
the professor for completion of the work.

Notes and Recording Sessions
The instructor encourages students to share their class notes with one another. When students are
absent they should feel free to ask their classmates for copies of their notes. As a courtesy, Power
Point slides might be shared with students, but since these are constantly revised, and some class
periods the unorthodox nature of the session might make it impossible to depend on Power Point
presentations only, this will not be the rule. Book chapters, articles, videos, and class discussions
are the main source of the material that will come in your final essays, and final presentation.
Audio taping or video recording of lectures is not permitted.






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Electronic Devices
Laptops and similar devices are permitted as long as they are used only with the purpose of
taking notes or class-related tasks as requested by your instructor. Cell phones are permitted as
long as they are on a vibrating mode and do not disrupt lectures; that is, if a student receives a
phone call he or she must leave the classroom first, and pick up the phone call outside.

Classroom Behavior
As in any cultural setting, the university classroom has its own values, norms, and traditions to
follow. Respect and honesty are the two most important ones for us in order to keep our
educational experience a meaningful one this semester.

Respect is important at any time in any circumstance during, before, or after lectures. Students
may or may not agree with opinions expressed in class, or topics discussed, and that is part of
any critical thinking process. Students are entitled to their opinions. The course is designed to
include the active participation of students in class discussions. By sharing your ideas and
experiences, we all can contribute to the learning process of the whole group. However, all this
cannot happen without absolute respect for others opinions or sensitivities.

Do not come in late or leave class early (unless you speak with the instructor and receive
permission before class), as this is distracting for other students and the instructor. Please
abstain from texting, chatting, listening to music, reading outside material, or taking a nap
in class.

No food or drinks are allowed in the classroom during lecture time. Students with those needs;
however, must leave the classroom without disrupting it, attend their biological need outside, and
only then return to their seat. Students can always get notes from a classmate for the 5-10 minute
period they were absent.

Plagiarism or cheating are not valued in our academic setting and only contribute to perpetuating
habits that will not help students outside the academic milieu; that is, after graduation, in the
world that we all have to share.

Academic Dishonesty
Intellectual theft is unacceptable in this course and in our department. Plagiarism is a very
serious offense that will result in an F (zero points) for the assignment. Depending on the nature
of the offense, a student may also be assigned an FF: (indicating academic dishonesty) for the
final course grade and be asked to meet with the Chair of the Department of Anthropology
and/or the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students should read the universitys
academic dishonesty policy in the 2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog pp. 46, available at:
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/pdf/cat1314/08ACADEMICPOL.pdf

The University of South Florida has a system in Canvas that allows instructors to submit student
assignments to be checked for plagiarism. The instructor reserves the right to submit assignments
to this detection system. Assignments are compared automatically with a huge database of
journal articles, web articles, and previously submitted papers. The instructor receives a report
showing exactly how a students paper was plagiarized.
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Class Attendance
Class attendance is strongly encouraged because there will be at least fifteen graded class
participation assignments, and only those who are in the classroom will be able to participate.
Students will not be allowed to make up class participation assignments (ethnographic
exercises, quizzes, submitted video discussions, etc) missed for unexcused absences. The
only absences that will be excused are documented medical emergencies and religious
observances that necessitate absences from class (in the case of the latter, students must present
notice in writing to the instructor by the second class meeting).

Observance of Religious Holidays
In accordance with the University policy on observance of religious holidays, no student shall be
compelled to attend class or sit for an examination at a date or time prohibited by his or her
religious beliefs. If a religious holiday coincides with one of the exams for this class, please let
the professor know in advance to arrange for an alternate exam date.

Campus Closure
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During
this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are
not limited to: Canvas, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It is the
responsibility of the student to monitor the Canvas site for each class regarding course specific
communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull
messages for important general information.























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Course Calendar:

Note: Any readings assigned should be done before the day they are listed. Please come to
class prepared.
Week Topic Day Date Readings/Assignments Notes
1 Getting acquainted/Anthropology &
Conceptualizing Cultural
Anthropology
Monday 6/30 Ch.1 Pp. 1-12
Ch. 2 Pp. 17-39

Anthropology Methods and Ethics

Wednesday 7/2 Ch.3 Pp. 40-53/Article TBA
Ch.3 Pp. 53-54
Film: TBA
No Class Friday 7/4 INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY! Film: TBA
2 Ethical Practices & Applied
Anthropology
Monday 7/7 Ch.12 Pp. 261-282

Film: TBA
Globalization, Indigenous Peoples &
the Media
Wednesday 7/9 Ch.13 Pp. 283-298
Ch.13 Pp. 299-305/Article: A War of
Words
*Blogger Gmail Accounts Due
Film: TBA
Exploring the Future of Anthropology Friday 7/11 Articles: The End(s) of Ethnography/Flint
Photovoice/Blogging
Anthropology/Ethnography for the Digital
Age/Human No More
Film: TBA
3 Language, Literacy, and Education Monday 7/14 Ch.4 Pp. 58-82/A Will To Survive
Ch.12/Language Shock: The Circle & the
Field/Amautawasi University
Film: TBA
Ethnicity and Race Wednesday 7/16 Ch.11 Pp. 230-257
*1
st
Blog Participation Assignment
Score
Film: TBA
Religion and Gender Friday 7/18 Ch.9 Pp. 185-206
Ch.8 Pp. 161-184/Article: The Berdache
Tradition
Film: TBA
4 Family, Kinship, and Marriage Monday 7/21 Ch.7 Pp. 134-158
*2
nd
Blog Participation Assignment
Score
Film: TBA
Subsistence Strategies & Political
Organization
Wednesday 7/23 Ch.5 Pp. 83-107

Film: TBA
Political Systems and War Friday 7/25 Ch.6 Pp. 108-133 & Ch.3 Pp. 54-
56/Articles TBA
Film: TBA
5 5 Blog Presentations Monday 7/28 Groups 1-5
5 Blog Presentations Wednesday 7/30 Groups 6-10
Final Exam Friday 8/1 Two 30-minute Essays (in class)
6 No Classes Monday-
Friday
8/4-8/8 Enjoy your final week off!!! No Classes

*1
st
Blog Participation Assignment Score: The blog has to be created, instructor, T.A., and
group members invited as authors, and basic elements published (Title, logo, Mission,
Vision, Values, Background Information, and Geographic Location (draft stage)

*2
nd
Blog Participation Assignment Score: The ethnographic information and reflective
comment have to be posted (draft stage)