Aim and Scope of Course:

This is a three field course designed to acquaint advanced undergraduate and graduate students with current and sometimes controversial issues in anthropology. At the close of their graduate or undergraduate careers students often specialize in particular areas of study and seem to forget that anthropology is an interdisciplinary discipline (the same may be said of academics).  While it is impossible for anyone to keep abreast of all new developments across all fields of anthropology, students should be aware of basic research and contentious issues in physical, archaeology,  and cultural anthropology. In addition, many of these issues receive widespread publicity in the press and it is always interesting for an insider like yourself to see how it is portrayed. The aim of this course is to make you knowledgeable and conversant in some of these issues.

All the readings present at least two sides of an issue (e.g., peopling of the Americas, the ecologically noble savage debate) consisting of original positions, new data, methodological critiques, and alternative explanations.  At times these debates are heated and partisans frequently resort to logical fallacies in order to make their points. You will learn how to spot such tactics such as ad hominem ("If you were better trained you would not have made such a stupid statement") ad popularum (The majority of anthropologists do not take this position, therefore you are wrong"), and the naturalistic fallacy ("That theory cannot be correct because it is immoral").  Visit Brian Yoder's Fallacy Zoo for a humorous examination of widely used logical fallacies.  Unfortunately, the page is not fully functional.  An even better source on logical fallacies can be found at Fallacy Files.  But more importantly, I hope to give you some tips on evaluating theory, methods, research design, and data analysis that will help you determine the strengths and weaknesses of what you read.
 

Weekly Plan
Each week you will read the assigned articles held on reserve in the Geology Library (room 10 Bessey Hall,  in the basement) or on-line (see weekly readings below). Please make copies and bring them to class.  Copies can be made in the Geosciences Library or, if on-line, you can print them locally.  When you come to the seminar to discuss the assigned readings you should have made notes on each of the articles and have prepared a provisional outline that will eventually become a reaction paper of  2.5 pages (undergrads) or 4 page (grad) you will turn in at the next meeting.  The reaction paper should describe the issue or issues, positions taken, and your assessment of the controversy.  The reports are due the next seminar date (i.e., readings discussed in the current week are due the following week at the start of the seminar).  Unpredictably, I will ask to see your preliminary notes and outlines, so bring them with you.  You will be graded on your reaction papers and seminar participation. There will be no final or term paper.

Guide to Writing Summaries