Course Objectives:
        The purpose of this course is to fulfill the university's general education goals by helping students to learn the processes anthropologists use to gain knowledge. They will become familiar with the philosophy that guides anthropological research, and will understand the relationship of anthropology to other major traditions of society. In the process they will become acquainted with the broad cultural foundation of human societies. Students will learn about communication abilities that we share with other animals and the distinctive skills that set us apart from other living creatures. They will briefly study the role of religion, economics, politics and kinship in culture.

        Each student is expected to READ ALL ASSIGNED MATERIAL, whether it is COVERED IN CLASS or NOT. You are expected to TAKE GOOD NOTES on ALL READINGS and LECTURES, as well as REVIEW these once each week in preparation for classroom discussions and examinations.  Knowledge of basic terms, concepts, theories, vocabulary and key personalities is required.

Course Requirements:

1. Vigorous class participation.

2. Study groups. To be explained in class. Three persons per group.

3. Quizzes:  May be given at any time throughout the semester without warning.  Be prepared daily!

4. Controversial essay.   Imagine that you tutor for the SIUE Anthropology Department thereby helping students your age and rank who attend school on a Navaho Reservation. Up-to-date books are rare, yet Indian youth hunger for accurate information. They have heard of the Out of Africa" theory of human origins, but they cannot find reliable sources of information concerning the Pro's and Con's of the lively debate occurring in anthropological circles on the Australopithecine. Are these creatures our oldest known ancestors? How old are they? Was sexual dimorphism common among their populations? Did they make tools, fires or houses? What did they eat? Where they vegetarians (Herbivorous) or meat eaters (Carnivorous)? Could they talk? How large were their brains? Did they walk upright? Which makes the Australopithecine close to humans, bipedal locomotion or a large brain? Did they live in groups? If so, how large were their groups? Which creature is older Meave Leakey's Australopithecus Anamnesis or Donald Johanson's Australopithecus Afarensis, and what of Tim White's Ardipithecus Ramidus, is it a chimpanzee or a hominid? How old is each? Which of these fossils is still the best known and most complete of all early hominid fossil finds? Your job is to type a three page essay that spells out the issues, i.e. Iets them know what is being argued, by whom and why. After informing them of the basic issues then you are to state which argument you prefer and why, and explain to them how you arrived at your conclusion. English is not the mother tongue of many of these students, so keep your language clear, simple and interesting. Your essays will teach them Western anthropological concepts and may help to keep their minds alive until their tragic circumstances on their reservations improve or they can find jobs elsewhere. Give them the help that you would want if you were in their shoes. (The St. Louis Zoo has an interesting exhibit on human origins in its Living World section, on your left as you enter the zoo, it contains a statue of "Lucy, " time lines and brief explanations of major fossils.)

Please purchase a clean folder and print or type your full name, the course title and the course number on either the cover or a separate title page. The arguments needed for this essay can be found in Donald Johanson's short article "Lucy" at the Reserve Desk of the SIUE library also in  Donald .
Johanson's National Geographic article dated March 1996 titled " Dawn of Humans: Face-to Face with Lucy's Family " at the Reserve Desk of the SIUE library and Meave Leakey's National Geographic Article titled " Dawn of Humans: The Farthest Horizon " September 1995 at the Reserve Desk of SIUE's library. Geoffrey Cowley wrote a fine summary titled "Humankind's First Steps, " in Newsweek, August 28, 1995. See also your Haviland textbook Anthropology. , pages 136-158. The ambitious student might read either Donald Johanson's book Lucy or Richard Leakey's The Origin of Humankind. Feel free to consult other sources as well, such as the American Anthropologist or Cultural Anthropology or a host of other fine sources.

Use at least five KEY WORDS (identified by bold type in the Haviland text) from the reading. Your argument should contain five to seven major points that support your thesis with evidence. Use examples to illustrate each point, where possible. After demonstrating that you understand what you read, then write a second page that shows that you can use this information by relating it to what you are learning in at least one other class, through reading or from personal experience.

This assignment is worth 25% of your total grade. A FIRST DRAFT is due in class for peer review on June 9, 1999. Schedule your "individual conferences" on June 10th, llth, or 12th. The FINAL PAPER is DUE on or before June 24.
 
 
5.   Examinations.  There will be four examinations. The first exam will be May 27, 1999. The second exam will be June 3, 1999. The third exam will be June 10, 1999 in class. Your fourth examination will be 11:00 A.M. on Thursday June 17, 1999.

6.  Quizzes.  May be given at any time. You will usually be notified one class period in advance.

7.  Grading.  A letter grade "C" indicates acceptable performance; a grade of "B" indicates excellent
                        performance; and an   "A" is reserved for outstanding performance that demonstrates
                        originality and an ability to apply what has been learned in this course to daily life or to
                        other courses.

8.  Summary of Grade:
 

a. Class participation	10%
b. Controversial book review essay	25%
Due dates:  6/9, 6/10-12, 6/24
c. Examinations:
1. First  exam  5/27	15%
2. Second exam 6/03	15%
3. Third exam. 6/10	15%
2. Fourth exam 6/17	15%
TOTAL	100%

9. Text used: Each student must have his or her own copies of the following text, which are
                          available from the SIUE Textbook Rental Center in Lovejoy Library.

a. Haviland, William.    Anthropology.  Eighth Edition.
b. Podolefsky, Aaron  and Peter J. Brown.  Applying Anthropology:  Fifth Ed.
c.  Francis Berdan.  The Aztec of Central Mexico:  An Imperial Society.

These books are also available from the SIUE Lovejoy Library Reserve Desk under Anthropology 111.