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Lori E. Wright
Associate Professor
Email: lwright@tamu.edu
Phone: (979) 862-7665
Office: 316E Anthropology
Introduction To Anthropology
Anthropology 201 (501)
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Course Overview

Course Syllabus
Course Description:

This course is an introductory survey of the field of anthropology.  The course will address the major subfields of anthropology:  physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology and anthropological linguistics.  We will examine the place of humans within the natural world, and review both our biological and cultural evolution.  We will examine cultural variation in human adaptation in the modern world, and the diversity of questions that anthropologists address in their research.

Requirements:

Class attendance & participation, reading assignments, 7 unannounced quizzes, 3 exams, final exam.

Texts:*

  • William A. Haviland.
    2000.  Anthropology,  9th Edition.  Harcourt Brace Publishers, Fort Worth.
  • Katherine Dettwyler.
    1994.  Dancing Skeletons:  Life and Death in West Africa.  Waveland, Prospect Heights, IL.

Reading assignments for the text are indicated on the class schedule below.  You are responsible for all material covered in the texts, even if I do not discuss it in class.  You will not be tested on Dancing Skeletons until the final exam, but I urge you to begin reading it well in advance of the exam!

Structure

Classes will be devoted to slide lectures and occasional movie presentations. An emphasis will be placed on the use of higher order thinking and reasoning in the acquisition and communication of new knowledge. You will be expected to critically read the assigned books and articles and analyze and synthesize this material in light of classroom lectures.

Grades:

Your grade for this course will be determined by your score on 4 examinations, plus a small grade for periodic quizzes. Attending class is a requirement of this course. 

Grade scale: 100-90: A, 89-80: B, 79-70: C, 69-60: D, 59-0: F

Schedule:

Week

Topic

Week 1

What is Anthropology?
Molecular Biology
 
Week 2 Evolution
Monkeys & Apes
 
Week 3s Primate films
Paleontology & Fossil Primates
 

Week 4

Exam #1
Australopithecus
 

Week 5

Homo
  In Search of Human Ancestors
 

Week 6

Neandertals
Modern Humans
 
Week 7 Race
Exam #2
 

Week 8

Agriculture
Cities & Civilization

Week

Topic

Week 9

What is Culture?
Ethnography
 

Week 10

Bands & Tribes
Chiefdoms & States
 

Week 11

Exam #3

Marriage & Family

 

Week 12

Kinship
Religion
 

Week 13

Linguistics
Sociolinguistics
 

Week 14

Thanksgiving Holiday—No class!
Applied Anthropology
 

Week 15

Development & Catch-up
 
  Final Exam
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