OHIO VALLEY UNIVERSITY
SOC 341.01 Cultural Anthropology (3 credit hours)

At Ohio Valley University, we seek to transform lives in a Christ-centered academic community
that integrates higher learning, biblical faith, and service to God and humanity.

Class days/times: MWF 9:00-9:50 am
Location: Bible Annex, Room 09
Instructor: Bruce Terry
Office: Bible Annex, Room 201
Phone: (304) 865-6120 (office); (304) 295-6486 (home)
E-mail: bruce.terry@ovu.edu; Web site: http://bterry.com
Office hours:
M  10:00-11:00am; 2:15-3:15pm; 4:15-5:15pm
T  2:15-2:45pm; 3:45-4:15pm; 5:15-5:45pm
W 10:00-11:00am; 2:15-3:15pm; 4:15-5:15pm
Th 2:15-2:45pm; 3:45-4:15pm; 5:15-5:45pm
F  10:00-11:00am

I. Textbooks:

II. Course Description:

SOC 341 Cultural Anthropology (3 credits) A study of human culture and its variations around the world. The course will discuss the integrative patterning of worldview, values, and behavior, with special emphasis on social structures, religion, language, and culture change, as well as the practical application of cultural anthropology to Christian missions. Fulfills diversity requirement. Offered spring, odd-numbered years.

This course will focus on a study of human culture and its variations around the world. The course will discuss the integrative patterning of worldview, values, and behavior, with a special emphasis on social structure, religion, language, and culture change. It will also contain material on the history and methodology of anthropology, as well as tools for recognizing and overcoming culture shock.

III. Rationale:

This course addresses the following objectives of the School of Behavioral Sciences:

National Standards

Course Objectives Learning Outcomes
Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving 2.3
Apply ethical standards to evaluate sociological science and practice 3.1
Adopt values that build community at local, national, and global levels 3.3
Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes 4.1
Interact effectively with others 4.3
Exhibit self-efficacy and self-regulation
Refine project-management skills

Sociology program learning outcomes have been created through a modification of guidelines created by the APA for psychology majors. The APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major: Version 2.0 document is available from the American Psychological Association at http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/about/psymajor-guidelines.pdf.

In addition to objectives of the School of Behavioral Sciences, this course addresses the following objectives of the School of Biblical Studies:

Faith and Learning Objectives

Course Objectives For Every Student

Course Objectives For Majors

Career Objectives

IV. Integrating Faith and Learning:

Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (ESV).  Consequently, this class will use biblical texts and references to texts to help the student grow in faith.  But simply hearing is not enough.  Jesus told those who believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32 ESV).  So it is necessary to keep doing what we learn.  In light of this, this course will also contain references to application of principles learned.  One of the objectives is a faith objective.  It will not be assessed for a grade, but life is such that it will be assessed, one way or another.  My prayer is that you will pass that test of life.

V. Course Objectives and National Standards:

  1. To acquaint the student with the discipline of cultural anthropology.
  2. To develop an understanding of etic categories of culture so that the student can recognize different ways of thinking and doing things.
  3. To provide the student with the necessary tools to reduce culture shock when in another culture.
  4. To help the student understand the nature of culture change and the necessity for presenting a message, the gospel or otherwise, within a cultural context which will maximize its acceptance.

The following are curriculum standards for social studies which are addressed in this class:

I. Culture
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity.
II. Time, Continuity, and Change
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves in and over time.
III. People, Places, and Environments
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments.
IV. Individual Development and Indentity
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of individual development and identity.
V. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of interactions among individuals, groups, and institutions.
VI. Power, Authority, and Governance
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance.
VII. Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people organize for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
VIII. Science, Technology, and Society
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of relationships among science, technology, and society.
IX. Global Connections
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of global connections and interdependence.
X. Civic Ideals and Practices
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.

The above standards are taken from: Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (Waldorf, Maryland NCSS Publications), available on-line from <http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands/>.

VI. School of Biblical Studies Mission Statement:

At the School of Biblical Studies, we seek to transform lives in a Christ-centered academic community by encouraging biblical faith to produce life-long truth-seekers who serve God in His kingdom throughout the world.

VII. Course Requirements and Evaluation:

Assessment of whether the objectives have been met will be based on the student's performance on homework and tests assigned by the teacher and on the student's ability to do relevant research on his or her own in papers described below. Academic abilities assessed include reading with understanding skills as evidenced by a book review, reading summaries, and classroom discussion; writing skills as evidenced by 19 typed papers; and memory organization and retention as evidenced by major exams.

Your grade for the class will be based on four major exams (including a comprehensive final exam), five typed 2-page summaries of case studies, thirteen typed reading reports (numbered #1 to #13 in the Course Plan below), a a four-page book report on Paul Hiebert's text Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, and class participation. The number of pages listed for the typed papers refer to full pages, not counting the cover sheet (required for case studies and book reports) or any bibliography. If the reports have only one source, the bibliographical entry may be placed immediately under the title rather than on a separate page. One page is defined as 27 double-spaced typewritten lines (counting the title, but not your name or page numbers) with 1" margins. The typed papers should be written using the Turabian style guide. Since this is a writing enhanced course, a minimum of 20 pages, eight of which are graded, must be written to pass with a C. Exam questions can come from the lectures or assigned readings from either the textbooks or the Bible. The final exam will cover material from the whole course.

Class may be dismissed if there are classroom conflicts during Lectureship week April 23-26. In such a case, students will be expected to attend at least a one hour class for each hour missed and turn in notes on the class attended. The notes will count as attendance grades.

Ten points will be given for class participation. One point will be deducted for each class missed, including those missed for illness. The only exception to this will be those who miss on official school business and have an official notice to this effect; up to five such absences will not count against the student's grade if the student has no unexcused absences. Two grace days will be given to all students to allow for absences due to illness and excused absences for official school business. Note well: Grace days will be applied first to excused absences.

Class handouts and homework can be found on the Internet at: "http://bible.ovu.edu/terry/anthropology/". Homework may be printed out, done early, and turned in up to a week before the due date if the student knows of an absence that is coming up.

Additional readings/quizzes/essays/maps may be assigned.

All work is expected to be turned in on time. If for some reason you cannot make the due date, please ask my permission to turn the work in late. The graded papers turned in late will dock the paper grade by one-third letter (3-1/3%) per class period late. Late reading reports will be accepted for only half credit, since the readings will be discussed in class. Reports which are both late and short will be accepted only for quarter credit. Reading reports that are more than three weeks late will only be accepted for quarter credit. Reading reports that are more than six weeks late will only be accepted for one-tenth credit.

No graded paper will be accepted that is more than two weeks late. A paper that is more than one week late may not be rewritten, except in unusual circumstances. A paper must be at least 75% of assigned length in order to be rewritten. The grade on a paper which is rewritten may be increased on content, length, and mechanical errors. Any rewrite should be turned in within two or three weeks of receiving the original graded paper back. All rewrites should be turned in with the original graded paper. No grade will be given to a paper which contains enough mechanical errors to dock the score by a letter grade (i.e., 40 mechanical errors). It will be turned back without a score and the rewrite counted as late. Be sure to proofread and spell check!

Students who are absent on exam days with good reason may schedule a make-up exam within the next week. You must ask to take a make-up exam. If a student misses an exam without good reason and is allowed to take the make-up exam, the grade on that exam will be docked by one letter grade (10 points). There is no guarantee that such a student will be allowed to make up any exam.

Students who score less than a 70 on a major exam may petition to retake the exam within a week after grades are returned on it. The highest grade on any retake exam will be 70. Once again, you must ask to retake an exam. There will be no retakes on the final exam. Study hard for it.

Definition of a Credit Hour

The US Department of Education and OVU's accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, have established requirements regarding how much time is required to be spent on a course for each credit hour earned. As a result, all colleges and universities have been required to establish policies that adhere to this definition. In keeping with this requirement, OVU expects you to spend a minimum of two hours outside of class doing course work (reading, doing homework, writing papers, reviewing for tests, etc.) for each hour you spend in the classroom. Because this is a 3-credit hour course, you should expect to spend a minimum of 6 hours each week outside the classroom doing work for it.

VIII. Grading System:

The final grade will be based on your work in the following way:

                 Five 2-page case study summaries      10%
                 Thirteen 1-page reading reports       13%
                 4-page book report                     7%
                 Class Participation                   10%
                 Major Exams                           45%
                 Final Exam                            15%

Extra credit in these areas will not be allowed to exceed these percentages. Extra credit in the course will be given for the geographical maps locating the peoples of the five case studies. Your final grade will be A, B, C, D, or F. An A will be given for an average of 100-90, a B for 89-80, a C for 79-70, a D for 69-60, and an F for any average below 60.

IX. Academic Integrity Policy:

Because Ohio Valley University expects students to follow the highest standards of honorable conduct in all areas of life, it is essential that students maintain high standards of academic integrity. Cheating, plagiarizing (whether intentionally misrepresenting another's work as one's own or failing to follow appropriate requirements of documentation), and helping others cheat or plagiarize are all violations of these standards, as is falsifying records such as those kept for field experiences, practica, internships, etc. Students who engage in these behaviors in a course in which they are enrolled will face appropriate consequences, which could include failing the assignment in question, failing the course, being placed on restricted status (i.e., the student will not be allowed to participate in on-campus activities, including intramurals, and may not represent Ohio Valley University in public events, including athletic competitions, performances, and presentations), or being suspended or dismissed from Ohio Valley University. Students who engage in these behaviors when they are unrelated to a course in which they are enrolled will also face appropriate consequences, which could include being placed on restricted status or being suspended or dismissed from Ohio Valley University. If a student believes he or she has been falsely accused of academic dishonesty, or if the student believes the consequences of an incident of academic dishonesty are unjust, the student may ask that the situation be reviewed. To ask for a review, the student should give to the vice president for academic affairs written notice of the appeal and the reasons for it within three business days of being informed of the consequences of the alleged incident; detailed instructions about the appeal procedure are available in the catalog or from the Provost.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's work as your own, whether you mean to or not. Copying or paraphrasing passages from another writer's work without acknowledging that you've done so is plagiarism. Translating passages from another writer's work in another language without acknowledging that you've done so is plagiarism. Copying another writer's work without putting the material in quotation marks is plagiarism, even if credit is given. Allowing another writer to write any part of your essay is plagiarism.

Plagiarism is a serious crime. The maximum penalty at OVU is expulsion from the University.

Plagiarism is easy to avoid. Simply acknowledge the source of any words, phrases, or ideas that you use. If you're not sure how to quote or paraphrase a source or if you need help with the format of endnotes or bibliographies, check with me. While you can (and in fact should) seek the help and advice of friends, classmates, and tutors, be sure that your written work is completely your own.

Professional Dress

Students should dress modestly regardless of the type of clothes that they choose, and be aware that first impressions count and are often dictated by clothing choices. Specifically, members of the University community should avoid clothing that is revealing and/or features offensive slogans, language, or advertisements. Examples of revealing clothing include but are not limited to: midriffs or halters, mesh or netted shirts, tube tops, low cut blouses, and short skirts and shorts exposing the upper thigh. Very tight clothing should be avoided. Examples of offensive slogans, language or advertisements include but are not limited to: curse words, sexually suggestive language or gestures, and references to alcohol or drugs.

Electronic Devices

Please turn cell phones OFF or ON SILENT before entering class. You may place your cell phone on your desk as a clock; otherwise, keep it put away. The use of cell phones, computers, and tablets for texting, calling, emailing, googling, checking the internet, tweeting, using facebook, and/or playing games is not permitted; such is distracting both to the students doing such and the students around them. Please put these electronic devices away. Do not use your device out of sight under the desk. If you should use your device in class without the teacher's permission, you will be asked to put it in the teacher's basket for the duration of the class period. I reserve the right to count you absent wholly or partially should you disregard this. Cell phone or tablet use for voice, text, or data during a test will result in failure of that test!

X. Policy for Attendance and Tardies:

OVU Catalog:

Regular class attendance is most important. There is the potential for learning during each class session, and these opportunities are irreplaceable. By attending class, students have a deeper and richer learning experience, and they are often exposed to others' viewpoints. Instructors are responsible for recording attendance in each of their classes.

Students are responsible for knowing the attendance policy for each course and clearing excused absences with the instructor. Although students involved in Ohio Valley University activities may need to be excused from a class session, it is the student's responsibility to request the absence from the instructor and to discuss with the instructor how the absence may affect the student's ability to meet course requirements. While instructors should make reasonable accommodations for students who miss class because of Ohio Valley University-sponsored activities (e.g., academic competitions, performances, and athletic competitions) or other sound reasons (e.g., illness or family emergencies), students should recognize that not every course can accommodate absences and that neither the absence nor the notification of the absence will relieve the student from meeting course requirements.

A student who stops attending class sessions (or participating in an online course) for three consecutive weeks without a justifiable reason will be dropped from the course and given a grade of W (Withdrawal) if dropped before the 12th week of the semester; if the student is dropped after the 12th week of the semester, the grade will be F-IW (Failure-Improper Withdrawal). If the course in question is a course from which a student may not withdraw, the grade will be F-IW regardless of when in the semester the student is dropped.

Course Policy:

Attendance in class is mandatory; it will be part of the basis for the grade given. If you cannot attend for good reason, either notify me beforehand or as soon as possible afterward. This applies even if you have an excused absence. You will be expected to do all work of any classes missed, except for pop quizzes. If you do not intend to attend regularly, kindly withdraw from the class now.

Do NOT miss class simply because you do not have an assignment finished. Do NOT miss class if you can possibly come; save any absences for sickness or death in the family. If you have an extended illness, please contact me to let me know.

Kindly try to be a class on time. If you are consistently tardy for no good reason, I reserve the right to count three tardies as an absence. I do count half and other fractional absences.

If you have to leave early, please inform me before class. Do not schedule extra work, doctor's appointments, etc. during class time if at all possible. If you are too frequent in leaving early, I reserve the right to count early departures as a partial absence, adversely affecting your grade.

Absences may be excused if you bring me documentation that you were hospitalized, ill with a contagious disease, involved in an accident, on school business (up to five hours), or there was a death in the immediate family. More than five hours of absences which include three hours of unexcused absence will result in your being dropped from the course with either a W or an F at my discretion. You may pay a fine and petition to be reinstated. Additional unexcused absences will result in your being dropped without future reinstatement. No credit will be given for a course in which absences, both excused and unexcused, total more than 30% of the hours of the course (i.e., as many as 14 class hours, counting each class as 1 hour). Should you approach this limit, you will be asked to withdraw from the course (if possible). I reserve the right to drop you from the course as a warning once you have at least 6 total absences. If you are dropped for any reason, reinstatement is not guaranteed and will be granted only if a plan for success is presented. Note well: Absences may adversely affect your grade, as outlined above under the topic Course Requirements. A drop from your only Bible course may affect your ability to enroll in the next semester.

Please turn off cell phones before entering class. If you should have wireless service in the classroom, do not use your messaging service on your laptop or PDA. I reserve the right to count you absent should you disregard this. Cell phone use for voice or text during a test will result in failure of that test.

Incompletes

If (and only if) you are unable to complete assigned work for the class because of an extraordinary life-event, you may request a grade of Incomplete. The request must be made through the registrar's office seven calendar days prior to the last day of class, and the vice president for academic affairs reviews these requests. The procedure is defined in the OVU catalog.

XI. Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

If you have a diagnosed disability and need special accommodations, please notify the Office of the Provost before or immediately after your first scheduled class meeting. After your disability has been verified, inform your instructor and your instructor will work with you and the Office of the Provost to insure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in the course.

XII. Bibliography:

Bastien, Joseph William. 1978. Mountain of the condor: metaphor and ritual in an Andean Ayllu. American Ethnological Society: Monograph 64 (series editor Robert F. Spencer). St. Paul: West Publishing Company Reprint, Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 1985.

Grunlan, Stephen A., and Marvin K. Mayers. 1988. Cultural anthropology. 2nd Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Hiebert, Paul. 1983. Cultural anthropology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Keesing, Felix M. 1965. Cultural anthropology : the science of custom New York: Holt,Rinehart and Winston.

Luzbetak, Louis J. 1970. The church and cultures. Teckny, IL: Divine Word Publications.

Nida, Eugene A. 1954. Customs & cultures: anthropology For Christian missions. New York: Harper & Brothers. Second Edition, Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library Pub., 1975.

XIII. Course Calendar:

MAJOR EXAM DATES: Exam 1 -- Monday, February 6, 2017
                  Exam 2 -- Wednesday, March 15, 2017
                  Exam 3 -- Wednesday, April 12, 2017
                  Final Exam -- Wednesday, May 3, 2017
                                8:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

Course Plan

WEEK ONE: 
 1/ 9/17 -- Introduction to the Course
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 1, pp. 1-15
 1/11/17 -- Introduction to Anthropology
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 1, pp. 15-23
                           (#1 over all of chapter 1)
 1/13/17 -- History of Anthropology

WEEK TWO: 
                 homework: read in Hiebert
 1/16/17 -- Material Culture
                 homework: read in Hiebert
 1/18/17 -- Material Culture
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 8 (#2)
 1/20/17 -- Economic Organization

WEEK THREE: 
                 homework: read "Be Careful, Little Hands" (#3)
                           http://bible.ovu.edu/missions/msb/becarefu.htm
 1/23/17 -- Economic Organization
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 5 (#4)
 1/25/17 -- Social Organization
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 6, pp. 113-129
                           and chapter 2, pp. 34-41 (#5)
 1/27/17 -- Social Organization

WEEK FOUR:
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 6, pp. 129-155 (#6)
 1/30/17 -- Social Organization
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 7 (#7)
 2/ 1/17 -- Social Organization
                 homework: read in Hiebert
 2/ 3/17 -- Social Organization

WEEK FIVE: 
                 homework: study for exam
 2/ 6/17 -- Major Exam
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 9 (#8)
 2/ 8/17 -- Political Organization
                 homework: read in Hiebert
 2/10/17 -- Political Organization

WEEK SIX: 
                 homework: read in Hiebert
 2/13/17 -- Social Control
                homework: read in Hiebert
 2/15/17 -- Health and Hygiene
                 homework: book report on Hiebert due
 2/17/17 -- Health and Hygiene

WEEK SEVEN: 
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 10 (#9)
 2/20/17 -- Religion
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 11 (#10)
 2/22/17 -- Religion 
                  homework: TBA
 2/24/17 -- Video on New Guinea Marriage

WEEK EIGHT: 
                 homework: TBA
 2/27/17 -- Religion 
                 homework: summarize case study: Azande
 3/ 1/17 -- Religion 
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 12 (#11)
 3/ 3/17 -- Art

SPRING BREAK

WEEK NINE: 
                 homework: TBA
 3/13/17 -- Play
                 homework: study for exam
 3/15/17 -- Major Exam
                 homework: TBA
 3/17/17 -- Language (sounds of the world)

WEEK TEN: 
                 homework: TBA
 3/20/17 -- Language (sounds of the world)
                 homework: summarize case study: Kaluli
 3/22/17 -- Language (sounds of the world)
                 homework: read Rosman & Rubel, chapter 3 (#12)
 3/24/17 -- Language

WEEK ELEVEN: 
                 homework: TBA
 3/27/17 -- Language
                 homework: summarize case study: Hmong
 3/29/17 -- Language
                 homework: TBA
 3/31/17 -- Language

WEEK TWELVE:
                 homework: summarize case study: Yanomamo
 4/ 3/17 -- Language
                 homework: TBA
 4/ 5/17 -- Language
                 homework: summarize case study: Ojibwa
 4/ 7/17 -- Language
Last Day to Drop a Class with a "W"--Stick with it to the end!

WEEK THIRTEEN: 
                 homework: TBA
 4/10/17 -- Language
                 homework: TBA
 4/12/17 -- Major Exam
                 homework: Study for exam
 4/14/17 -- Good Friday (no classes)

WEEK FOURTEEN: 
                 homework: read Hiebert, chapter 5
 4/17/17 -- American Culture
                 homework: extra credit maps due
 4/19/17 -- American Culture
                 homework: TBA
 4/21/17 -- Worldview and Values

WEEK FIFTEEN: OVU Lectureship
                 homework: read Hiebert, chapter 3
 4/24/17 -- Culture Shock
                 homework: read Hile article (#13)
                           http://bible.ovu.edu/missions/msb/culshock.htm
 4/26/17 -- Culture Shock/Language Shock
                 homework: read Hiebert, chapter 4
 4/28/17 -- Identification and Ethnocentrism (Dead Paper Day)

WEEK SIXTEEN: Final Exam Week
                 homework: study for final exam
 5/ 3/17 -- Final Exam (8:00 - 9:50 a.m.)

N. B.: Homework is listed before the class for which it is due!

THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE MODIFIED AS THE TEACHER FEELS NECESSARY!


Bruce Terry's Home Page
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