cultural and human ecology - anthropology 448 - … · cultural and human ecology - anthropology...

Cultural and Human Ecology - Anthropology 448 - Hudson - Spring 2012 - p.1

SYLLABUS

Cultural and Human Ecology

Instructor: Jean Hudson Class time: T/R 11:00-12:15 PM

Office: Sabin 225 (knock on door 215) Class location: Sabin G-28

Office hours: W 1:00-3:00 Website: http://d2l.uwm.edu

Phone: 414-229-2821

Email: [email protected]

COURSE DESCRIPTION This class focuses on the dynamic relationships between human cultures and their ecological environments. It uses basic concepts of anthropology, including the concept of culture as a dynamic system of learned behaviors and beliefs, to better understand how human beings adapt to and change their physical and social surroundings. We will look at different ecological contexts and the many ways that people have created economic, social, political, and ideological systems that can work - and sometimes fail to work – within those contexts. We will ground our discussions in a series of case studies, emphasizing non-urban settings and economies focused primarily on local subsistence rather than commercial-scale profit. We will focus on cases which offer some degree of ecological time-depth, where populations continue in the landscapes of their ancestors.

LEARNING GOALS This class is designed to help you build:

knowledge of human cultures, intercultural issues, and real-world challenges

skills in inquiry, analysis, and synthesis

skills in written and oral communication

skills in critical and creative thinking, teamwork and problem solving

READINGS

One required text: Human Adaptability by Emilio Moran, available in various online forms via google books, or for purchase in paperback form.

It is available at Google books as an ebook for about $36, viewable via the web, tablets, iPads, eReaders, and Smartphones, should you prefer any of those modes. (Google books will also allow you to read the first chapter – one of our first reading assignments - for free.) The google books link is:

http://books.google.com/books/about/Human_adaptability.html?id=8aJ7sspVZH0C

If you prefer hardcopy, online sellers such as Amazon have had it in paperback for about $38 new, $33 used. It is your responsibility to be sure you can get a copy in time, including any issues of availability or shipping time.

Additional required readings are available on-line via our D2L site or the campus library website.

WHEN ARE READINGS DUE?

Readings should be completed before the classes of the week for which they are assigned. In any given class

I may include a short writing exercise which requires you to briefly summarize key points or examples from the readings. To prepare for these, simply ask yourself, before you come to class: What were the three most important concepts from the readings? How were the case studies used to illustrate the concepts? Any in-class

exercises or group work count towards attendance and participation so there will be no make-ups for them.

COURSE GRADING SCALE

A = 93-100%

A- = 90-92%

B+ = 87-89%

B = 83-86%

B- = 80-82%

C+ = 77-79%

C = 73-76%

C- = 70-72%

D+ = 67-69%

D = 63-66%

D- = 60-62%

F = < 60%

mailto:[email protected]

http://books.google.com/books/about/Human_adaptability.html?id=8aJ7sspVZH0C


ASSIGNMENTS

All students:

Attend class and keep up with assignments. Part of the class time will be spent in discussion mode, which

means that you should be prepared to engage in discussion about the readings and other class materials,

such as films, exercises, and handouts. You will complete 2 research exercises that will involve: 1) map

work; and 2) a literature search. Any class may include graded work in the form of writing exercises or

group work. In combination these all contribute to the attendance and participation part of your grade. Graded items will be scored on a 0-1-2 scale, where 0 is no participation, 1 is partial effort or partial comprehension, and 2 is complete work with comprehension clearly demonstrated.

Take 5 quizzes. The first will concern key concepts, vocabulary, and theory. The rest will involve particular biomes and cultural case studies. All quizzes will be primarily multiple choice although they may include a few short answer questions.

Take a final exam. If you complete each of the 5 quizzes with a score of 90% or better, you may opt-out of the final and let your average quiz grade stand in for your final exam score.

Undergrads:

Be responsible for written and oral summary of one article from the journal “Human Ecology, an

Interdisciplinary Journal” dealing with a particular case study, which you will sign up for in advance. We will use the literature search exercise in class to help you identify potential articles. Your summary will take

the form of a powerpoint, following the template provided on our D2L site to answer a series of questions about the article and how it connects with our class readings. You will dropbox your ppt to the D2L site and use it to share information from your article during class via a 10-minute presentation. Follow the template for the structure, with special attention to citations, and follow the Class Schedule for due-dates.

Complete a final class project. You have a choice about the form of the project: either an 8-page formal

research paper OR the design of an educational game. Check our D2L site for details of the

requirements and the grading rubric for each, including citations to sources. For the research paper you must compare two case studies from the journal Human Ecology. They should share a common theme in terms of biome, cultural adaptation, or response to change. You are encouraged to use your presentation

article for one of them. For the educational game you may work individually or in teams with equal sharing of the resulting grade. The game will be played in class during the final week and evaluated for its educational merit; much of your grade will be based upon your written instructions, which must be explicit about your educational goals and how they are achieved by the game, and include cited references to source data and concepts from our readings.

Graduate students:

Research, write, and present in class a journal-worthy literature review on a topic relevant to the class.

Model length & style after Annual Reviews of Anthropology. Consult with me and confirm your chosen

topic by the third week of class. Ideally this topic will be relevant to your thesis or dissertation research.

Follow all relevant deadlines in the Class Schedule.

GRADING. Your grade for the course will be calculated on the following point distribution.

Undergrad Grad

Attendance & Participation (in-class exercises, discussion) 20% 20%

5 Quizzes 20% 20%

Article Summary (powerpoint & oral presentation) 20%

Final Project (paper or educational game) 20%

Final Exam 20% 20%

Literature Review 40%

Total 100 % 100 %


EXTRA CREDIT

You can earn extra credit by attending the various guest lectures offered by the Anthropology Department Colloquium Series, the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, and the Archaeological Institute of America, and lectures and films listed at www.sharetheearth.uwm.edu . Feel free to bring to my attention other relevant lectures or events occurring on campus or locally, just clear them with me ahead of time so they can be shared and so that I can okay them for credit. To get credit, turn in a one-page summary of key points from the lecture and its relevance to anthropological and/or ecological concepts. One point per lecture or event, up to 5 points total; due within a week of the lecture/event.

OTHER MATTERS.

If you have any questions about the class or problems with the assignments, please don’t hesitate to consult with me ASAP - most problems can be resolved with advance notice and some effort, but after-the-fact excuses cannot help you. The goal is for you to learn well and succeed.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES. Please consult the link below.

http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/SyllabusLinks.pdf

CLASS SCHEDULE Readings should be done before the first class in the week assigned.

WEEK TOPICS READINGS / ITEMS DUE

Week 1 Jan 24-26

Introduction & Syllabus

Anthropology, Ecology & Cultural and Human Ecology

D2L link to readings

- Marten – Chapter 1- What is human ecology?

- Marten – Chapter 3 – Human Population

- Marten – Chapter 7 – Coevolution and coadaptation

Text - Moran - Chapter 1 – People in Ecosystems

Exercise 1 – maps (biomes & making a living)

Week 2 Jan 31-Feb 2

History of Thought

Merging of Disciplines

Text - Moran - Chapter 2 – Theories of Human-Habitat

Text – Moran – Chapter 3 – Fundamental Concepts

Text – Moran – Chapter 4 – Change & Spatial Analysis

Exercise 2 – literature search (journal Human Ecology)

Week 3 Feb 7-9

Sustainability Anthropological Perspectives Emic Perspectives

Quiz #1 on Thursday:

Key Concepts, Theory

D2L link to readings

- Marten – Chapter 10 – Unsustainable

- Marten – Chapter 11 – Sustainable

- Marten – Chapter 12 – Examples of Sustainable

All – study for quiz

Grads – dropbox a 1-page explanation of your literature review topic, its relevance to this class, and its larger research significance within your subfield

http://www.sharetheearth.uwm.edu/

http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/SyllabusLinks.pdf


Week 4 Feb 14-16

Arctic Human Ecology

Discuss Readings

Film Reviews

Journal Articles – Hunters & Fishers

Text – Moran – Chapter 5 – Arctic Zones

If your article is due this week submit your work via our D2L site by Wed & be ready to present your article on Thursday

Week 5 Feb 21-23

Arctic Human Ecology cont.

Journal Articles – Herders (reindeer)

High Altitude Human Ecology

Discuss Readings

Film Reviews

Text – Moran – Chapter 6 – High Altitudes

If your article is due this week submit your work via our D2L site by Mon & be ready to present your article on Tuesday

Week 6 Feb 28-March 1

High Altitude Ecology cont.

Journal Articles –

Agro-Pastoralists

Comparative Work


Arctic & Highland Ecology

D2L readings - Goldstein: When Brothers Share a Wife / Tibet



Week 7 March 6-8

Arid Land Human Ecology

Discuss Readings

Film Reviews

Journal Articles – Hunter-Gatherers

Text – Moran – Chapter 7 – Arid Lands


Week 8 March 13-15

Arid Land Ecology, cont.

Journal Articles – Farmers & Pastoralists & Agro-pastoralists


Arid Land Human Ecology



Grads – dropbox your current list of citations by Friday

SPRING BREAK

(March 19-23)

final project progress check – where are you with the work for your final project? what remains to be done?

Week 9 March 27-29

Grassland Human Ecology

Discuss Readings

Film Reviews

Journal Articles – Pastoralists & Agro-pastoralists

Text – Moran – Chapter 8 – Grasslands


Grads – dropbox your annotated bibliography by Friday

Week 10 April 3-5

Grassland Ecology, cont.

Discuss Readings

Comparative Work


Grassland Human Ecology

D2L readings - Fratkin & Mearns 2003 - Galvin 2009



Week 11 April 10-12

Humid Tropics Human Ecology

Discuss Readings

Film Reviews


Foragers & Farmers & Animal Keepers

Text – Moran – Chapter 9 – Humid Tropics

D2L readings - Fortier 2009


Week 12 April 17-19

Humid Tropics Ecology, cont.

Discuss Readings


Foragers & Farmers & Animal Keepers

D2L readings - Rappaport 1967 - Lansing & Kremer 1993


Week 13 April 27-29

Oceans & Rivers as Biomes

Discuss Readings


Fishing for a Living

Quiz #5 on Thursday: Humid

Tropics, Oceans & Rivers

D2L readings - Ormerod 2003 - Grafton et al 2006 - Johannes 2002

If your article is due this week submit your work via our D2L site by Wed & be ready to present your article on

Thursday; ALL – study for quiz on Thursday

Week 14 May 3-5

Synthesis: Issues & Solutions?

Applied Anthropology Scenarios

Sharing Final Projects

Undergrads – your final project is due – dropbox any written elements via D2L before Tues morning & bring a hardcopy to class – we will use the paper topics in our applied scenario group work & discussion and we will play the games and evaluate their educational value

Grads – dropbox before Tues morning an updated version of your 1-page abstract and be ready to explain, professionally & succinctly, the topic of your literature review, its relevance to our class, the key issues debated and their proponents

Week 15 May 10

Sharing Final Projects, cont.

Wrap-up & Review for the Final

see above

FINAL DATE Friday, May 15 10:00 AM

Final Exam for those who did not opt-out via Quiz scores;

Grads – final version of your literature review paper is due via D2L

Any updates to the schedule will be posted on D2L or announced in class.

It is your responsibility to stay informed.

cultural and human ecology - anthropology 448 - … · cultural and human ecology - anthropology...

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