Course Syllabus

ANTH 001: Introduction to Anthropology

Overview

CATEGORY	INFORMATION
Credits	3
Prerequisites	None
Delivery	Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com)
Dates	See the Calendar.
Instructor	See the Orientation module under the Modules tab.

Description

Introduction to Anthropology covers the development of the scientific discipline, as well as the theories, methods, and data that form the basis of the study of ancient peoples, their cultures, and environments.  Lecture topics are illustrated with examples drawn from many parts of the world.

Students are encouraged to talk about course content and their performance with the Instructor.

Objectives

The primary objective in this course is to expose you to the broad range of human peoples and cultures that exist today and that existed in the past.  You will learn the basic methods and techniques followed by anthropologists and the terms that they use to communicate their findings.  When you leave this course, you will have a greater understanding and appreciation of human peoples and cultures around the globe, as well as the biological and cultural changes our species underwent to make us who we are today.

Organization

This course is made up of 15 lessons divided into 4 modules: Module 1 introduces Evolution and Physical Anthropology. Module 2 focuses on Classic Archeology, Module 3 studies Cultural Anthropology and Module 4 wraps up with a look into Modern Anthropology.

For each lesson, you will complete the following activities and assignments:

1. Read the assigned chapter or
2. Review the lessons
3. Complete the week’s assignment (e.g. watch video, take the quiz or exam, complete project, etc.).

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE COURSE CALENDAR
AND ARE AWARE OF ALL DUE DATES!

Online Learning and Attendance

This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. Students will have a designated timeframe (as identified on the course calendar) to complete all readings and assignments for each lesson. Students may work at their own pace within this timeframe (generally 1 week for lessons/quizzes/assignments, and 3 days for exams). However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Students are expected to log onto the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, participate in activities, and check course communications (i.e. updates and emails from the instructor).

Materials

Texts

There is one required text. In addition, you will need to purchase, rent, or stream one film:

Text

• Lavenda, R. H., and Schultz, E. A. (2020). Anthropology: What Does It Mean to be Human?. Oxford University Press. 5th edition [ISBN-13: 978-0197534434] Note: The text can be ordered through the virtual online bookstore.

Film

• The Quest for Fire (1981) – For Lesson 8

Several other films and videos are to be watched and can be found within the course content.

There are electronic resources on reserve for this course that can be accessed through the Penn State Libraries. To access your Course Reserves, please use the Library Resources link in the course navigation menu.

For any questions you may have about searching, viewing, or printing your Course Reserves, refer to the Viewing/Printing Electronic Reserves page at https://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/reserves/usingreserves.html.

Any additional readings or supplemental materials will be provided by your instructor via Canvas. All assigned readings are required unless otherwise noted.

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide (Links to an external site.) at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

Technical Support

The General Questions discussion forum should be the first recourse for communicating specific questions or problems related to course content or course-related materials. The Technical Help discussion forum should be the first recourse for communicating technical problems. Students are encouraged to respond to the problems and questions posted their by their peers.

Your message will be sent automatically to this course's technical support team, which is available 8am-5pm ET, Monday-Friday. Alternatively, you may click on Help for additional technical support resources. Please use the forms available on the Help website whenever possible and an Canvas support expert will assist you. When you report a problem, please be specific. Vague descriptions of the problem only delay assistance. Turnaround time is generally less than one business day.

Grading

Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below. 

Scale

LETTER GRADE	MINIMUM PERCENT
A	95
A-	90
B+	88
B	82
B-	80
C+	78
C	70
D	60
F	0

Deadlines

All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Students will not be able to go back and complete course work after the deadline has passed; it is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments and submit them in a timely manner. Waiting until the evening of the deadline to begin an assignment or lesson is highly discouraged. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments.

Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide (Links to an external site.) at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2891.

Students with an excused absence (hospitalization, jury duty, or family emergency) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g. upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Notes:

• Late Assignments: No late assignments will be accepted. All work must be completed by the due date.
• Feedback: You can expect feedback on written assignments within one week of the deadline.
• To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided in the next section. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.

ASSIGNMENT	POINTS
Quizzes	180
Projects	120
Exams	150
Total	450

Instructor Feedback and Response Time

Your instructor will reply to your questions, concerns, and comments in a timely manner, not to exceed 2 business days. The instructor will NOT respond to emails asking for information that can be found in the syllabus. If you are confused about information in the syllabus, please state this specifically. The General Questions or Technical Help discussion forums should be the first recourse for communicating specific questions or problems. Students are encouraged to respond to the problems and questions posted by their peers. If you need to contact the instructor by email, please use the Canvas email system. When corresponding with your instructor or classmates, please use appropriate language and etiquette. Email correspondence should be free of grammatical and mechanical errors. Email slang and lingo is not appropriate in any type of instructional setting.

Quizzes

Value: 9 x 20 PTS, 180 PTS total

There are 9 quizzes made up of multiple-choice questions. Each quiz will be based on the topics covered in the lesson (readings and video) that week.

Note: We do NOT recommend taking quizzes using the Canvas mobile app; use the web version of Canvas.

Projects

Value: 4 x 30 PTS, 120 PTS total

The projects take place at the end of a module.  Each project is unique and is intended to capitalize on the topics discussed during that particular module.

Exams

Value: 3 x 50 PTS, 150 PTS total

All three exams consist of multiple-choice and true-false questions, mostly the former.  The exams measure comprehension of the material introduced in lectures, videos, and the textbook.

Note: We do NOT recommend taking exams using the Canvas mobile app; use the web version of Canvas.

Discussion Board Guidelines

To receive full participation points, your posts and replies should meet the following criteria:
1. Posts and replies should be evenly distributed throughout the discussion period (not concentrated all on one day or at the beginning and/or end of the period).
2. Posts and replies should be a minimum of one short paragraph and a maximum of two paragraphs. Be complete, but be concise.
3. Avoid replies that are limited to 'I agree' or 'great idea', etc. If you agree (or disagree) with a post then say why you agree by supporting your statement with concepts from the readings or by bringing in a related example or experience.
4. Comply with instructor's directions to engage newly posted topics or leave worn-out ones that have already been covered.
5. Address the questions as much as possible (don't let the discussion stray).
6. Try to use quotes from the readings that support your posts. Cite page numbers when you do this.
7. Build on others' replies to create threads, quoting the portion of the message to which you are responding.
8. Bring in related prior knowledge (work experience, prior coursework, readings, etc.)
9. Be respectful when interacting with your classmates and instructor.

University Policies

Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes (see G-9: Academic Integrity).

Disability Access

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/campus-offices. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation described at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Nondiscrimination

Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office website at https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/.

Reporting a Bias Incident

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage at http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/.

Counseling and Psychological Services

Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.

Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online (Links to an external site.) at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website (Links to an external site.) at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/.

Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.

TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

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University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at http://www.psu.edu or Penn State News at http://news.psu.edu.

To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to https://psualert.psu.edu/. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.

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Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.