Welcome to Anthropology 203!  I am Linda Scott, the instructor for the course.  You can reach me most reliably by email at linda_scott1@cuesta.edu. I strive to respond to email within a few hours, 24 at the most – although weekends/breaks tend to be slower.  I do not have formal office hours, but please email me if you want to meet in person or by phone – I will gladly make an appointment.

Anthropology 203 (CRN #30109) is the introductory course on Cultural Anthropology.  Although we will talk more about what that means as the course progresses, for now, you should know that cultural anthropology is the study of human beings as social animals: how we organize ourselves, solve problems, create technology and art to serve our needs, sustain our populations, live, love, and think.  By the time you have finished this course, you should have a good idea what anthropologists do and why they do it, along with basic analytical concepts relevant to the discipline (and many others, such as public relations, advertising, criminal justice, social work, and more), and the methods and ethics used in the study of living populations.

Each week, we will study a new topic in anthropology.  Your weekly obligation will be to read and/or view any assigned material for the week's topic, complete a chapter quiz on that material, and participate in our weekly forum discussion.  

Grading will be done on a 400 point scale:

GRADING SCALE:

• A          >368
• A-         356-367
• B+        344-355
• B          324-343
• B-         316-323
• C+        314-315
• C          316-323
• C-         276-287
• D+        264-275
• D          241-263
• F          <240

Breakdown of scores:

QUIZZES:

            Multiple choice:          80

FORUM PARTICIPATION:

            20 points per forum:   320

Due dates will be visible on our Canvas page.  All assignments, including readings and audiovisual materials that supplement our textbook, will be available at least one week in advance of their due date.  Please inform me right away if any online link is broken; it happens.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify anthropological terminology, methodology and theory. 
2. Demonstrate the application of anthropological methods in the field. 
3. Apply cultural relativism to the analysis of culture. 
4. List cultural universals. 
5. Explain what happened to indigenous peoples as a result of colonialism and culture change.
6. Analyze the role of resources and technology in shaping culture change. 

Our textbook is Culture Counts: a concise introduction to cultural anthropology, Third Edition, by Serena Nanda and Richard L. Warms.  You may obtain a copy through the student bookstore, from your favorite bookseller, or directly from Cengage Learning (the publisher), at www.cengagebrain.comLinks to an external site..  The student copy ISBN is 978-1-285-73851-2.

Our course CRN is 30109.  Class starts on January 16, 2018 and runs through May 18, 2018, and there are NO mandatory meetings in person.  (The Spring Recess is the week of April 2: no assignments will be given that week.)  Our entire class will take place online, via Canvas. 

Reaching Canvas is simple: just click through from the Student tab in MyCuesta: login at https://my.cuesta.edu/cp/home/displayloginLinks to an external site. 

Technological specifications can be found at: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.htmlLinks to an external site..  There are no course-specific hardware or software requirements beyond being able to run Canvas.  You will need to know how to download and attach/upload files, make a PDF file (as they are compatible and I will be able to read them), and use Canvas.  (Don’t worry – it is not a difficult program to use.  A detailed guide can be found at https://guides.instructure.com/m/4212.)

If you have a physical, mental, or learning disability and might need support services for this class, please contact Disabled Student Program & Services in Building 3300 as soon as possible, to ensure that you receive accommodations in a timely manner.  http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/dspsLinks to an external site..  I am happy to work with you and DSPS to make the class a pleasure for you.

Problems logging on?: If you are having problems logging on, go to Cuesta Technical SupportLinks to an external site. (http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/technical_support.htmlLinks to an external site.) (opens in new window) for information on how to get help. You can also try calling the Help Desk in the Computer Lab, room 3400. Their phone number is 546-3100 ext: 2802. If no one is there, send an email to support@my.cuesta.edu.Links to an external site.  However, you may be able to find answers in the FAQ for yourself, if you don’t have time to wait: the FAQ can be found here: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.htmlLinks to an external site.

Do you need technical support specifically with Canvas?  Their tech support is wonderful.  From the navigation panel in Canvas, click the question mark in the circle icon.  You may also call them at the Canvas support hotline: (877) 921-7680.

Online classes are not inherently easier, although they may be much more convenient for many students.  You should expect to spend at least as much time on this course as on a course that meets face to face.  Since there is no lecture component, much of this time will be self-directed and there will be a substantial amount of reading, viewing, studying, and writing required.  In fact, we won’t have exams: we will have chapter quizzes, and forums requiring independent writing assignments.  If this format is not for you, that’s okay – but I recommend taking a course that meets face-to-face.  Expect to spend 5-8 hours every week on the course.

Naturally, we adhere to college policies for Academic Honesty and Standards of Conduct: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/documents/distanceeddocs/academic_honesty.pdfLinks to an external site..  Online communication is plagued by unintended offense and issues of courtesy and tone, so we must be even more than usually conscious of maintaining respectful relationships with our fellow scholars.  Here is a guide to suggested “netiquette”:

• Use respectful, appropriate language and be professional in your forum discussions. 
• Please do not use a lot of texting language, lol. 
• Emoticons are acceptable ways to show emotion.
• Avoid CAPS as they come across like YOU'RE SCREAMING.
• You are expected to read all original forum posts and replies on those you participate in.
• You are to respond to the appropriate number of posts for each forum.
• All messages are public, so be careful and courteous when you post.
• Use mycuesta.edu email for private communication; again, all forums are public.

Follow this link for General Campus Policies Links to an external site. (including: Withdrawal, Repeatability, Student Code of Conduct).  You may also wish to consult the Board Policy Student Conduct Code and Technology AgreementLinks to an external site..

Cuesta’s policy for drops is available at http://academic.cuesta.edu/admrreg/infodate.htmLinks to an external site..  Please be aware that I will drop you if you fail to participate for three weeks.  Do your work on time; you won’t be allowed to make it up after the fact.  Let me know if you have an emergency, technical difficulty, or other delays – as soon as possible – since I do make exceptions for these.

I look forward to working with each of you and getting to know you as the semester progresses.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any question or concern. 

Best,

Linda Scott