ANT 320
Fall 2007,
MW
Dr. Barbara Hoffman
CB 145, 216.687.3549
Office Hours: MW
THIS IS A HYBRID WEB
COURSE
From their earliest
history, human cultures have expressed beliefs in the supernatural and in the
ability of human beings to communicate and interact with unseen beings, powers,
and forces.
This course explores the
evolution of religious practices, examines the commonalities they share and the
fascinating array of variations across a wide spectrum of cultures and
societies.
A holistic anthropological
approach to the subject highlights the interconnections between religions and social
structures, economies, political systems, the arts and symbolic expression.
Required Text: The Anthropology of Religion,
Magic, and Witchcraft by Rebecca and Philip Stein.
Other readings on
Electronic Course Reserve (ECR)
Evaluation:
Attendance &
Participation 25%
Online Journals 25%
Other Assignments 25%
Research project 25%
Attendance
Class meets on campus only
2 days/week (MW). You receive credit for each class that you attend. Missing a
class for any reason other than those specified in CSU’s
official missed-class policy (http://www.csuohio.edu/faculty_senate/missedclasspolicy.doc)
means you won’t
receive that day’s attendance credit.
Tardiness and leaving
early: unless you have received permission from the instructor to do otherwise,
arriving more than 10 minutes late for the class or leaving more than 10
minutes before the end of the class may disqualify you for attendance credit
for that day.
Makeup assignments may be
negotiated with the instructor, but are not guaranteed. It is always wise to
inform the instructor in advance if you know you must be absent. Failure to do
so automatically disqualifies you from making up missed work; however, advance
notification by itself does
not guarantee that you’ll be permitted to makeup the work.
Participation
What you learn in this
course will largely depend on how much effort you put into it. This is a
300-level course, and you are expected to treat it with the professionalism and
respect you would a job. Just as you would not expect to thrive in a job by just
showing up and occupying a chair, mere attendance will not result in a passing
grade in this class. Come to class prepared, having read the material
assigned week in the syllabus by the first day class meets each week, and be engaged
in the discussions, both in-class and online. Both venues will offer you the
opportunity to ask questions and make comments. Active listening in class is
also a valuable part of participation.
Journals
You will write 10 journal
entries online at the Blackboard CE6 website in response to assignments I will
post there. Your journals will be private in that only I will see them. I may
respond to them, request you make adjustments, write more, consider
things from a different angle, etc. as I see fit.
Other Assignments
These may include short
answer or essay questions, experiential exercises, online exercises, and quizzes,
among others.
Research Project
You will do a comparative
study of one aspect of religious practices common to a number of cultures and
report back to the class about your findings. Your report may take the form of
a written paper (8-10 pages), a summary of which you will present to the class,
or a Power Point presentation of equivalent length (20+ slides). Guidelines and
suggested topics TBA.
Statement on Plagiarism
The
CSU Student Handbook (p. 17) describes plagiarism as “stealing and/or using the
ideas or writings of another in a paper or report and claiming them as your
own. This includes but is not limited to the use, by paraphrase or direct
quotation, of the work of another person without full and clear
acknowledgment.” In the case of
plagiarism “another person” can mean a published author of a book, magazine,
journal etc.; an electronic resource found on the World Wide Web; another
student’s work; or a paper writing service which sells papers for a fee. In order to avoid unknowingly plagiarizing,
students are encouraged to utilize resources available from
Common Myths about
Plagiarism:
http://www.csuohio.edu/writingcenter/WAC/Common%20Myths%20about%20Plagiarism.doc
Plagiarism Quiz:
http://www.csuohio.edu/writingcenter/WAC/Plagiarism%20Quiz.docand
In addition, students
may wish to set up an appointment with a tutor in the writing center to check
their work for plagiarism (216-687-6981).
Plagiarism is a serious
offense and will be treated as such. Cases of
plagiarism will be reported to the Department Chairperson. Students who plagiarize will minimally earn a
failing grade for the assignment and may earn a failing grade for the
course. Substantial cases of plagiarism
will also be subject to CSU disciplinary action. For more information about CSU’s academic dishonesty policies, see http://www.csuohio.edu/studentlife/conduct/acadregs.html
.
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Statement Regarding Rights and Responsibilities of
Students with Disabilities
Please notify your instructor at the beginning of the term of
any disability that may affect your participation or performance in this course
so that we might work together to provide the best possible outcome. Likewise, should anything occur during the
term that changes the status of your abilities, please inform your instructor as
soon as possible. Further information on
CSU’s policies regarding disabilities are available under “Information for Persons with
Disabilities” on the CSU Affirmative Action webpage at:
www.csuohio.edu/affirmative_action/information_disabilities.html.abilities
are available under “Information for Persons with Disabilities” on the CSU
Affirmative Action webpage at:
www.csuohio.edu/affirmative_action/information_disabilities.html.
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Course Outline
Week 1 The Anthropological Study of Religion
Aug. 27-31 Reading:
pp. 1-29
Online
journal entry 1
ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES SLIDES
September 3rd – Labor Day – No Class
Week 2 Evolution
of Religion
Sept. 5-7 Reading:
Nacirema Article
Online
work: Nacirema Assignment
Week 3 Worldviews
and Mythologies
Sept. 10-14 Reading:
pp. 30-56
Online
journal entry 2
Week 4 Symbolism
and the Sacred
Sept. 17-21 Reading:
pp. 57-79
Online journal entry 3
Week 5 Ritual
Across Cultures
Sept. 24-28 Reading:
pp. 80-105
Online journal entry 4
Week 6 Altered
States of Consciousness and the Sacred
Oct. 1-5 Reading:
pp. 106-122
Online journal entry 5
Week 7 Religious
Practitioners
Oct. 10-12 Reading:
pp. 123-139
Online journal entry 6
Week 8 Magic
and Divination
Oct. 15-17 Reading:
pp. 140-166
Online journal entry 7
Week 9 Souls,
Ghosts, Ancestors: Death and the Afterlife
Oct. 15-26 Reading: pp. 167-196
Online journal entry 8
Weeks 10-11 The Entities of the Supernatural:
Gods, Spirits, Forces & Powers
Oct. 29-Nov. 9
Online journal entry 9
November 12 – Veteran’s Day – No Class
Weeks 12-13 Witchcraft
Nov. 14-21 Reading: pp. 223-240
Online journal entry 10
November 22-25 Thanksgiving Recess
Week 14 Contemporary
Configurations: the Search for New Meaning
Nov. 26-30 Reading: pp. 241-280
Week 15 Student
Research Presentations
Dec. 3-7 NOTE:
class will meet on-campus all 3 days this week