Course Requirements: Your grade will be based upon successfully completing the following learning endeavors. A total of 200 points can be obtained through these three activities.
You will take three (3) examinations. These exams are short answer and essay, covering in-class lectures, films and assigned PDF and HTLM readings. You are encouraged to use specific references from case study textbooks to illustrate your responses to essay questions. The second and final exams are not comprehensive. Exams must be taken at their assigned times and dates. In the event of a documented emergency, a make-up essay exam must be take within one week of returning to class. You must notify the instructor prior to an absence from an exam date (by phone or e-mail, or in person). To review materials prior to exams, see the individual "lecture outlines" on the web (see URL addresses below) and the Study Guide. The dates for the exams are listed on the "Topic, Assignments, and Dates" link.
Grading criteria:
Accurately presents the material requested in the questions.
Completely covers the breadth of issues posed in the questions.
Refers to and integrates appropriate case examples from the case study textbooks to illustrate concepts.
Makes theoretical and/or ethnographic connections with other tribes or related cultural expressions.
Reflects on the implications of the issues posed in the questions as they relate to the student's own experiences.
Written in a legible and well-organized style with concepts and illustrative examples clearly articulated.
You will write three (3) participatory-interpretative papers.
a. First select a content topic. To select a topic, consider the "topics" identified in the syllabus, e.g., "kinship" and "what is a rich man?", the corresponding case study readings from Fakhouri, Lansing, and Tonkinson, and what personally interests you. You can develop three different topics for each of the three papers, or select the same topic and explore it in all three papers. But what ever topics you select, you topic(s) must be developed in the three different cultures represented in our textbooks, i.e., among the Balinese, Mardu Aborigines, and Kafr El-Elow villagers.
b. Given the topic(s) you have selected and the corresponding readings in the textbooks and materials presented in class, create an imaginary setting or event, a story text narrative, with actual characters, including yourself, and a storyline, e.g., a segment of a marriage ceremony, a ritual, a day in the life of a family, or a subsistence activity, that conveys the meaning and significance of the topic(s) in question. Try to represent the specific event in time and space that is reflects the larger cultural context in question. With as much detail as possible, describe the rich texture of that setting, e.g., who, what, where, when, etc. Pay attention to the "little things," as well as the "big picture." But don't attempt to a too board and general. The detail of a cultural text often reveals what is most meaningful. The story text can be presented in a neutral, "objective" style, passively describing the events as they unfolded or in first person prose, chronicling the event or a scene as if you were a participant in that setting. Critically, attempt develop your story text conveying the perspective of Balinese, Mardu Aborigines, and Kafr El-Elow villagers.
c. After your have completed your story text, provide some of the historical and cultural context of the text, e.g., when the event typically takes place, who are the primary actors, under what circumstances does the event occur, a brief history, etc. In order to conduct good interpretative research, the context of a text must be fully appreciated.
d. You will then "eye juggle" and interpret the cultural meanings and significances of the story text narrative, providing a short interpretative narrative, e.g., discussing the ritual symbolism and stages of the rite of passage identified in the marriage ceremony. To interpret is not to summarize, but to identify the key symbols of the story text, and to articulate and reference the underlying cultural values and assumptions of that particular text. The interpretation should focus on the meaning and significance, and/or the role and function of the text. An interpretation should always seek to represent the perspective of the participants being described and avoid being ethnocentric. There can be no "correct" or "incorrect" interpretation of a text. But a landscape (text) can be thoroughly traveled (interpreted) by a properly outfitted explorer (utilizing the "eye juggling" techniques) or it may be tersely traveled by a poorly equipped adventurer. See Eye Juggling: Interpreting a Text for additional discussion, as well as an outline of that approach.
Your paper should be a minimum of six (6) full, double-spaced, 12 font-sized, typed pages, but no longer than nine (9) pages, and must conform to proper MLA or APA (American Psychological Association) style of parenthetical documentation. Keep a copy of the submitted paper. The papers are due on one week following their consideration as a "topic" in class. See the "Topics, Assignments and Dates" link.
Grading criteria:
The written story text narrative is presented with clarity, detail, and authenticity with regard to both the ethnographic content represented, and the characters and storyline developed.
The narrative story attempts to convey a "participant's perspective" (albeit an "elusive goal").
The ability to anchor the text in its historic and cultural context.
The depth of "eye juggling" interpretation rendered the text, i.e., the thoroughness in which the text is engaged and interpreted.
Conforming to proper APA or MLA format and style of parenthetical documentation.
A minimum of six (6) full pages in length for each paper.
Submitted within one week following the topic presentation in class, with the exception of the last topic. All papers must be submitted by the last day of class.
Class discussion and attendance. Come to class prepared, with questions on the assigned topic for the session and be ready to discuss that topic when called upon by the instructor. Volunteer your own insights on the readings and topics at hand, and ask questions. Participate. Class attendance will be not be formally taken, though attendance is expected. Repeated absences will lower your grade. The materials presented during class lectures and through the films are essential for successful completion of this course, and its exams and papers.
Grading and Point Distribution: Your final grade will be based upon the total points earned from the three exams (30 points each, for a total of 90 points), three participatory-interpretative papers (30 points each, for a total of 90 points), and class participation (for a total 20 points), for a possible 200 points for the semester's work. In cases of boarder-line decisions, class attendance will be taken into consideration. The following scale will determine your grade: 180-200 (90%-100%) = A, 160-179 (80%-89%) = B, 140-159 (70%-79%) = C, 120-139 (60%-69%) = D
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