Syllabus: Spring 2007
ANTH 265-01 Anthropological Perspectives on Childhood
Mon, Wed 2:00 - 3:50 PM
Dr. Mary Baker
Message: 456-8112, mbaker@ric.edu
Office: Gaige Hall 120
Hours: Mon 1:00 -2:00, Tues, Thur 9:00 - 11:00
and by appointment
This syllabus includes a tentative schedule and outline which may change at the professor=s discretion. Any changes will be announced in class. This syllabus and other information and assignments for this course will be available through WebCT.
Rhode Island College is committed to making reasonable efforts to assist individuals with documented disabilities. To receive academic accommodations for this class, please inform the professor and register with the Student Life Office to obtain the proper forms. S.L.O. is located in Room 127 in Craig-Lee Hall; the telephone number is 456-8061.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course examines childhood from a variety of anthropological perspectives. First, we will explore childhood within an evolutionary context, comparing how life-history and developmental issues are similar to and different from the mammalian and primate patterns. We will then shift to the comparative literature on childhood, both historically and cross-culturally, focusing primarily on child-rearing practices in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. We will discuss how the child becomes a full member of a particular society and the socio-cultural circumstances that influence that process.
ANTH 260+ SERIES DESCRIPTION: Selected cultures and historical traditions that arose outside the Western experience are studied. 4 credit hours. Fulfills General Education Core 4 requirement. Core Requirement courses provide students with an understanding of the cultural and historical traditions that have shaped the world in which we live and provide a critical appreciation of the values, ideas, and practices that have emerged from these traditions. To this end, the core explores both Western and non-Western contexts. Courses in the core are writing intensive with emphasis on critical thinking. Courses in the core may only be taken to fulfill general education requirements.
TEXTS:
Meredith F. Small Our Babies, Ourselves How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent. Anchor Books (Random House); ISBN: 0-385-48362-7
Jordan, Barbara. Birth in Four Cultures. Waveland Press. ISBN: 0-88133-717-1
Judy DeLoache and Alma Gottlieb A World of Babies: Imagined Childcare Guides for Seven Societies. Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 0521664756
Diana Hacker A Pocket Style Manual 4th ed. Bedford/St. Martin 's Press ISBN: 0-312-40684-3
GRADING:
Participation 100 A = 90-100% = 360 -400 total points
Papers 150 B = 80-89% = 320 - 359
Presentation 50 C = 70-79% = 280 - 319
Section Exams 100 D = 60-79% = 240 - 279
Total Points 400 F = 0-59% = 0 - 239
EXAMS: There will be one midterm and one final exam (50 points each, 100 total). The final exam will only cover the last section. Content covered in the exams will include information during class lectures, oral presentations, films, and class discussions. The exam format will include true/false, multiple choice, and matching. Questions on exams cover material from each day that class is held and will address each topic. There is no Afluff,@ the tests will cover lectures, films, and class discussion. When grading exams I am looking for mastery of course material; specifically I will look for
- $ Understanding of the general concepts presented in class.
- $ Ability to use the terms.
- $ The student should be able to provide specific, detailed examples in written sections of the exam which parallel details provided in class.
- $ Written sections must be comprehensible to the reader. Although I will be more lenient on exams than on homework; writing ability, including spelling and grammar may impact your grade.
PARTICIPATION (50 pts.): Reading should be completed prior to each class. Participation in class discussions of the assigned readings (50 points) and peer reviews (25 points each, 50 total points) is included in this portion of your grade. Attendance at each class meeting is important, excessive absences will negatively affect your grade.
STUDY GUIDES: I do not provide study guides prior to exams. At the beginning of each class I will write a list of terms and key words on the board; this is the study guide. These terms are also posted on WebCT.
PAPERS AND PRESENTATION: There will be two projects and papers (75 points each, 100 total points). The specifics of these will be forthcoming The second paper will have an accompanying oral presentation. Specific details will be discussed later during the semester. Your term paper/project must be submitted to TurnItIn. Although you have the opportunity to submit up to three times (I will only look at the last submission), you only need to submit once. You will need to create an account at www.turnitin.com. The Class ID is: 1794222 and the password is baby.
VIDEOS, SLIDES, OVERHEADS, AND OTHER TEACHING MATERIALS: Instruction in this class is augmented with a variety of audiovisual materials. Students are responsible for taking notes on these materials and incorporating them into papers and exam answers.
TERMINOLOGY: The terms which are taught in this class must be spelled correctly and writing should reflect that of a college level course; I reserve the right to weigh such abilities when figuring grades and grammatical errors (no more than two per paper). I will be lenient to some extent on exams, but not on papers, which the student will prepare at home and will have ample time to review prior to submission for grading. Here are some of my pet peeves:
when to use there, their, and they=re.
when to use its and it=s.
not spell checking.
not proofreading.
not paginating.
EXTRA CREDIT POLICY: None will be offered; you=ll have plenty to do.
MAKE-UP POLICY: I permit make-up exams and submissions of late papers without penalty only in the case of a verified illness or emergency. If, for any reason, you must miss an exam or submit an assignment late, you must contact me by telephone or in person within 24 hours of the due date. Emailed excuses are not acceptable. Exam and due dates are listed in the syllabus and will be announced in class. The only legitimate excuse for missing an exam or submitting a paper late is illness or injury of yourself or a family member for whom you are responsible or a death in the immediate family. The reason for a late paper must be documented medically and signed by a doctor, nurse, dentist, officer of the law or other responsible party (not your roommate or parent). Doctor visits, vacations, relationship problems, stress, participation in sports, alarm clock snafus, computer malfunctions and printer problems are NOT legitimate excuses. A missed exam without a verifiable, legitimate excuse will count as a A0@. 10 points will be subtracted from the grade for each day an assignment is late without an acceptable excuse.
CONDUCT: All students should be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct and know that the general rules and student rights stated therein apply to this class. You may collaborate with other students in this course as you work on homework assignments, but you must turn in your own original work done specifically for this course. If you are found to have violated any of these restrictions you may receive a failing grade on the assignment or in the class, and your actions will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct for administrative review.
PLAGIARISM: This is the most serious academic offense and it is also the most widespread. Plagiarism, i.e., not providing proper citation for work by someone other than yourself, WILL result in a failing grade on a course assignment; it may result in failure in the course, suspension or expulsion from the college. It is assumed that this topic has been adequately explained in Highschool and/or your Writing 100 course. Please see the Chicago style manual in Hacker=s Pocket Style Manual if you have any doubts or questions.
STYLE GUIDELINES: All students will use the Chicago Style Guide in Hacker=s Pocket Style Manual. Be sure you follow guidelines for organization, citations in the text and resources cited formats. If and when my instructions vary from the Chicago style guide, follow my instructions.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES: I do not take attendance and, except for mandatory class meeting dates, you will not be graded on this basis. If you register for this class, you agree to attend on a regular basis. You will undermine your own success in this course if you schedule other activities at this time. If there are extenuating circumstances that affect your ability to regularly attend class and or complete assignments on time, you must consult with me in a timely manner; i.e. as soon as you become aware of a problem.
CLASS NOTES: I frequently present material that is not in the book and the exams are drawn primarily from class lectures. If you miss class due to illness, it is your responsibility to get a copy of the class notes from another student in the class. I do not post copies of my notes online nor are copies of my notes available to students. Please get copies of notes prior to seeing me in my office to review missed course information.
CLASS DISRUPTIONS: Please be respectful of me and your classmates: Avoid entering the class late and leaving early, do not chat with your neighbors during the lecture period, do not read the newspaper, and do not sleep. Beepers, pagers, cell phones and other noise-making devices must be turned off before you come to class. During lectures, if someone=s personal communication system disrupts the class, I will ask that person to leave. If it happens during an exam, I will pull that person=s exam and they will receive a A0".
CONTACTING ME: If you need to reach me, you can phone or email me. Please: keep in mind the urgency of your communication and the length of the answer required. If you need something that requires my immediate attention, which requires a lengthy answer, or if you will miss a deadline, it is better to call or stop by my office. If you have a general question with a short answer, then emailing is fine. I do not answer email over the weekend or 5:00 pm B 8:00 am. Give me at least 48 hours to respond
WEEK READINGS AND IMPORTANT DATES
1. Jan 22, 24 Small Ch. 1 The Evolution of Babies .
2. Jan 29, 31 Small Ch. 1 The Evolution of Babies
3. Feb 5, 7 Small Ch. 2 The Anthropology pf Parenting
Feb 2: Last day to add a course
4. Feb 12, 14 Small Ch. 3 Other Parents, Other Ways
5. Feb 19, 21 Jordan Part 1, Ch 1-3
Feb 21: Peer review; bring two copies of your draft to class
6. Feb 26, 28 Jordan Part 1, Ch 4, 5
7. Mar 5, 7 Jordan Part 2, Ch 6-8
Mar 7 Exam 1: all readings, films and discussion weeks 1 - 6
8. Mar 12- 16 Spring Break
9. Mar 19, 21
Monday, March 19, class will not meet
March: 21 Paper 1 due, beginning of class .
10. Mar 26, 28 Small Ch. 4 A Reasonable Sleep
Fri Mar 30 Last day to withdraw without permission.
11. Apr 2, 4 Small Ch. 5 Crybaby
Small Ch. 6 Food For Thought
12. Apr 9, 11 D & G Ch. 1 If Dr. Spock Were Born in Bali
D & G Ch. 2 A Parenting Manual: Puritans
D & G Ch. 3 Luring your Child into This Life: A Beng Path for Infant Care
13.. Apr 16, 18 D & G Ch. 4 Gift From the Gods: A Balinese Guide to Early Child Raising
D & G Ch. 5 Making Babies in a Turkish Village
April 18: Peer review; bring two copies of your draft to class
14. Apr 23, 25 D & G Ch. 6 Infants of the Dreaming: A Walpiri Guide to Child Care
D & G Ch. 7 The View from the Wuro: A Guide to Child rearing for Fulani Parents
D & G Ch. 8 Never Leave Your Little One Alone: raising an Ifaluk Child
15. Apr 30, May 2 Small Ch. 7 Unpacking the Caretaking Package
May 2 Paper 2 due, beginning of class
May 7 - 12 FINAL EXAMS Date and Time: TBA
