Kottak, C. P. (2008). Cultural anthropology.(12th ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill.

Ottenheimer, H. (2005) The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. Text and Workbook. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning.

Weiner, A. (1988) The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea. Belmont CA: Thomson Learning.

ANTH 344 Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3) An interdisciplinary, intermediate-level, exploration of contemporary issues in cultural anthropology and linguistics. Discussion covers variation in human social organization, ethnographic field methods, world views, and relationships amongst cultures, as well as cultural dimensions of language. Focus is on theory and its application in dealing with concerns in our global society. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ANTH 340, ANTH 344, BEHS 340.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• detail the central themes of cultural anthropology and linguistics (variation in human social organization, ethnographic field methods, worldviews, relationships among cultures, and cultural dimensions of language) as they are studied and used in the disciplines
• apply theory and concepts of cultural anthropology and linguistics to contemporary settings and concerns
• demonstrate the use of research methods and the tools cultural anthropologists and linguists use
• analyze the concept of culture, how anthropologists study it, and its essential role in our survival as a species
• outline the roles of cultural anthropologists and linguists, both within and beyond the academic community
• identify those concepts of cultural anthropology and linguistics that enable learners to be responsible global citizens

What does it mean to be human? Philosophers began asking this question long before writing was invented to record their thoughts. We are animals. Yet, because we are able to ask such questions and think about our role in the animal kingdom, we are somehow different. For the past two centuries, a particular branch of science called anthropology has made the study of humans its particular concern. Anthropology is concerned with all aspects of human existence, from the record of our development as a distinct species and the ways we communicate with one another to the various social institutions we have evolved that now enable us to inhabit every part of our world.

Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics will introduce you to the study of what it means to be human. The course begins with a brief history of the discipline and an introduction to the concepts that unify and guide the research of the four dimensions that currently make up the science of anthropology:

1. archaeology
2. biological anthropology
3. linguistic anthropology
4. sociocultural anthropology

To answer the questions of where we came from and why we behave as we do, biological anthropologists and archaeologists study the physical and material remains of our ancestors, whereas anthropological linguists and sociocultural anthropologists observe the behavior of contemporary human groups.

Grades will be determined as follows:
"How to Avoid Plagiarism" Tutorial 1%
Writing Assignment #1: Language Exercises 14%
Writing Assignment #2: Electronic Database Research 20%
Writing Assignment #3: Ethnographic Research 25%
Participation 15%
Final Examination 25%
TOTAL 100%

Grading Scale
The grading scale, based on 100 points, is:
A = 89-100 points
B = 77-88 points
C = 65-76 points
D = 50-64 points
F = 0-49 points

You are required to participate in class discussion, complete the "How to Avoid Plagiarism" tutorial , workbook assignments, an ethnographic research assignment, a research essay; and take the final examination. The final examination will cover material in all modules.

General Guidelines for Assignments

We will have a variety of assignments for this class, and you will have guidance for each assignment. Please carefully follow the guidelines below and the Course Schedule.

Late assignments will receive lower grades unless you have made a prior arrangement with your instructor. There will be a one-grade penalty for each week the project is late.

Extensions are given only to those who request them in advance.

Papers submitted together will not be accepted; i.e., work must be submitted in the order assigned and by the date assigned. If you submit all of your assignments together at the end of the term, they will be returned to you ungraded.

All assignments require your best writing skills. This means that you must write your assignments with well-developed paragraphs, complete sentences, and good grammar. Keep your standard English straightforward and check your spelling and grammar carefully. Poor spelling and grammar will affect your grade. You should include a final section that brings to a conclusion what you have written. You should also be careful to use your own words. If you quote or paraphrase an author, be sure to provide a citation and complete reference information.

Be very careful about citing your resources. If you use other people's ideas in your writing, you must give them credit. Failure to do so is considered plagiarism. Evidence of plagiarism can lead to a grade of zero or F on your assignment, a grade of F for the class, or even dismissal from the university. Be careful. Be thorough. Be honest.

Please use in-text citations in American Psychological Association (APA) style, as shown in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. To review APA style, see http://www.umuc.edu/library/citationguides.html. or a manual on APA style. List all documents used in a bibliography at the end of your paper, and follow bibliographic formatting as shown in UMUC's Guide to Writing and Research , or in the APA style guide mentioned above.

• Your papers should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins.
• On your paper, type your name, date, and the assignment topic.
• Please number your pages.

UMUC has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from Internet resources. Written assignments will be submitted to Turnitin.com for a plagiarism check. Therefore please submit your work in digital form directly to turnitin.com, to the WebTycho classroom, by email, or floppy disk as the instructor specifies. This protects those students who do their own work.

Turnitin.com will store your paper in their database throughout the term of the university's contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let your instructor know no later than the second week of class.

Writing Assignment #1: Anthropology of Language Workbook/Reader Exercises
Use the Anthropology of Language Workbook/Reader. For each chapter assigned, read the article first before answering the question. You must complete seven exercises; each is worth 2 points.
1. Chapter 1: Do Exercise 1.1
2. Chapter 2: Do Exercise 2.2 or 2.5
3. Chapter 5: Do Exercise 5.2 or Web Exercise 5.1
4. Chapter 6: Do Exercise 6.2
5. Chapter 7: Do Web Exercise 7.2
6. Chapter 8: Do Exercise 8.1 or 8.2
7. Chapter 9: Do Web Exercise 9.1 or 9.3
Writing Assignment #2: Electronic Database Research Project
This writing assignment requires the use of databases that are accessible through UMUC's electronic library. Please do not use popular search engines for this research. You must have at least five resources through UMUC's electronic databases. Your completed research topic should be 6 to 8 pages long.
Understanding Subsistence Patterns in the Modern World
Choose one subsistence style-foraging, horticulture, or pastoral -and describe one modern group that follows this subsistence pattern.
· Define the subsistence pattern.
· Describe how your chosen group sustains itself by following this subsistence pattern.
· Analyze the economic and political patterns, as described in your text, of your group.
· Explain changes in your group's way of life in the modern setting.
· Include in-text citations and a bibliography, including dates of access and databases used, following APA guidelines.
Writing Assignment #3: Ethnographic Research Project
I read and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
-Confucius
Choose one of the three topics below (Topic A , Topic B, or Topic C) to enhance your sense of what cultural and linguistic anthropologists do, how they think, and why their work is important.
Topic A: Mini-Ethnography
This is your opportunity to "do" anthropology-to do a mini-ethnographic study. One way of thinking of this project is that you are the proverbial Martian coming from outer space to learn about life on Earth. You are to choose a cultural setting to describe in a formal ethnography for your people back on Mars. Your completed project should be 7 to 9 pages long and have additional appendices. For both options, please clear your topic with your instructor in advance.
Preliminary preparation:
· Review Module 4.
· Read the CoursePack by Spradley and McCurdy (1989), How To Do a Fieldwork Project, as presented in your reading assignments.
· Choose a cultural setting on which to focus. It should be a narrowly defined situation. Your cultural scene may be new or one that is familiar to you. (See the Spradley and McCurdy CoursePack for suggestions.)
Write an ethnography using Spradley and McCurdy (1989) as your guide. Your finished ethnography should describe:
· the physical and social setting you are studying; i.e., the location, details about the social and cultural "artifacts," the persons involved, and any other defining aspects of the situation
· your methodology (describe how you went about your research)
· your findings (what you learned)
· your conclusions (what is important about what you learned)
· your role as participant observer (what your reactions are to being an outsider and how your perceptions have changed as a result of your work)
· how your findings (what you learned) relate to concepts presented in the course materials
Include in appendices a chart showing the taxonomies of your project. Also include your field notes and your survey or interview questions (if you used them). (See p. 362 in Spradley and McCurdy, 1989).
As you write your mini-ethnography, use the list shown above as a guide for the sections of your paper.
OR
Topic B:  Read and Report On A Personal Account of the Fieldwork Experience.
In this assignment you are to read one of the many books on the anthropological field experience by one particular anthropologist. There are a growing number of books in this category (your local librarian can help you or you can ask for help if needed, from UMUC’s online library). After reading this first person account:
· Note who the anthropologist was and where the fieldwork described was conducted.  If multiple experiences are discussed note how the settings differed from each other.
· Describe the training and educational background of the anthropologist .
· Discuss the idea of real versus ideal behavior, both of the people studied and of the anthropologist. What did the anthropologist think were his or her greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses?
· Describe the most serious or trying difficulties experienced by this anthropologist.
· Note things which seemed to be out of the anthropologist’s control and how the anthropologist responded to these challenges.
· Based on this account, what qualities do you think are most important for successful anthropological fieldwork?
· Assess your own strengths and weaknesses and which of these you think would be of greatest benefit or detriment to you.
· Note whether this book made you more or less interested in becoming an anthropologist. Did it intrigue you or was it a reality check?

OR
Topic C: Career Biographies and professional Histories
Search for three career articles either biographical or autobiographical, in anthropological journals such as The American Anthropologist, Human Organization, or Practicing Anthropology.
· Compare the careers of three anthropologists by first describing their training and educational backgrounds and noting whether they remained in the specialties for which they trained or ended up working in a different type of anthropology than they had anticipated, and why.
· What theoretical interests did they have and did these govern their choices?
· What do they seem to have in common with each other and what seems quite different? Can you make any generalized observations about anthropologists based on these three?
· What do they describe as the most interesting aspects of their careers?
· Do they recommend that others follow their career path?
· Do they make it seem like an attractive career option. Why or why not?

Other Assignments
How to Avoid Plagiarism Assignment
In the first week of class, please go to UMUC's Online Writing Center and take the self-help tutorial on How to Avoid Plagiarism or review a plagiarism manual produced by UMUC’s English Writing Workshops.
Participation
You are expected to contribute to class discussion. You are strongly encouraged to respond to each other to advance the dialogue and to deepen your understanding of a topic. Your participation grade includes responding to your classmate. Be sure to read your assigned readings in advance. This is to be an informed discussion. For online participation, be sure to check your submissions for spelling and grammar accuracy.