ANTH 008 WORLD PREHISTORY

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1 ANTH 008 WORLD PREHISTORY SPRING 2015 INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Instructor: Office Hours: E- mail: Website: Taryn Rampley Online by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is survey of world prehistory. We will examine the cultural history of humankind, from the beginning of tool- use in the Old World to the rise of complex societies in both the Old World and New World. Particular focus will be on major prehistoric events including the origins of modern humans, the Upper Paleolithic, the beginnings of agriculture, and the rise of social complexity. This class is interactive and takes advantage of anthropology s holistic perspective and the overlap with other subfields and disciplines. Students are expected to be engaged in discussion and to participate in learning activities. REQUIRED TEXTS Fagan and Durrani People of the Earth: An Introduction to World Prehistory. 14th ed. Pearson, New York, NY. ISBN: STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Outline the major episodes that define human prehistory in terms of location, relative dates, and contributing circumstances. 2. Develop an awareness of the uniqueness of human biological and cultural evolution. 3. Recognize human culture as an adaptive system. 4. Trace and understand major events in human prehistory which lead to the modern day human condition. 5. Analyze the rise of social complexity and the emergence of the state. 6. Explain the relationship between the environment and cultural adaptations in prehistory. 7. Outline the different theories related to the origins of sedentism, agriculture, and state systems. 8. Critically analyze and evaluate interpretations of archaeological data and current debates within archaeology. 1

2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING Students are expected to keep up with the readings, activities, assignments and discussion postings on a weekly basis. DISCUSSION BOARD (20%) This class is not self- paced, nor is it independent study. Students in an online class are expected to actively contribute to the learning of the entire class. In this way, it is more social than a traditional class. In order for us to learn from each other, you will be required to participate in an online discussion board where you will be expected to post substantive responses to one or two prompts per week. Your participation grade for the class will be based both on the number of times you post, and the quality of your postings. You must make a total of three posts per week in each forum. Prompts and/or instructions will be provided for each forum. Posts must be spread throughout the week. You will not receive any points if all of your week s postings are made within one 24- hour period or if your only post is made after the Thursday deadline. This provides you both adequate time to complete the readings, and also to reflect on your classmates posts so that you may respond. You are encouraged to post earlier if you are ready to. WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS (20%) Each week you will complete a short on- line quiz via Blackboard. Because they are for your benefit, quizzes may be taken open book/open note as you prefer. You will be allowed three attempts to earn the best possible grade. In addition, some weeks you may be assigned an article to read or an activity to complete. If an article is assigned, you will prepare a brief (about 100 words) summary of the reading, including the author s main point and premises. If an activity is assigned, instructions will be provided. Late assignments will not be accepted. Weekly Assignments are due by 11:55 pm on Sundays. TERM PAPER (20%) You must submit a paper that is words in length (4-5 pages, double- spaced), excluding bibliography and illustrations. You must include at least three (3) sources. Web sites and general encyclopedias are not acceptable. Find scholarly books (or parts of books) and journal articles. Late papers will not be accepted. MIDTERM & FINAL EXAMS (20% EACH) Material covered on the exams will include material covered in assigned readings, activities, and films (if applicable), and will address each topic. The exam format may consist of modified true/false, matching, definitions, maps, multiple choice and essay. When grading exams I am looking for mastery of course material; specifically I will look for: Understanding of the general concepts presented in class. Ability to use the terms. The student should be able to provide specific, detailed examples in written sections of the exam that parallel details provided in course materials. Written sections must be comprehensible to the reader. Although I will be more lenient on exams than on the paper, writing ability may impact your grade. 2

3 TYPICAL WORK FLOW Note that I ve required that your initial discussion board post be completed by Thursday. This is done as a way to facilitate collaboration and discussion periodically throughout the week. Mon Tue Wed Thursday Fri Sat Sunday First day of the class week. Initial discussion board post. Discussion board responses due. Quizzes due. Other weekly assignments (if assigned) due. GRADING RUBRIC FOR DISCUSSION BOARD Since the discussion board component of this class may be new to students who have never enrolled in an online course, below is a rubric for how discussion board postings will be graded Quality (25%) 100% (3.75 pts) coherent, thoughtful, and engaging. 80% (3 pts) coherent, thoughtful, and engaging, but may lack depth and detail. 60% (2.25 pts) competent but are not original or engaging. 40% (1.5 pts) rudimentary and superficial. 20% (0.75 pts) rudimentary and superficial. Facts (25%) 100% (3.75 pts) Uses materials from the course readings and/or lectures to statements. 80% (3 pts) Uses materials from the course readings and/or lectures to statements, but may not be used accurately or adequately. 60% (2.25 pts) Does not sufficiently statements with materials from the course readings and/or lectures. 40% (1.5 pts) Does not statements with materials from the course readings and/or lectures. 20% (0.75 pts) Does not statements with supporting materials. Frequency (50%) 100% (7.5 pts) Posts at least 3 contentengaging posts a week (original plus 2 responses to other students postings). 50% (3.75 pts) Posts at least 2 contentengaging posts a week (original plus 1 response to other students postings). 30% (2.25 pts) Posts content engaging original post, but does not respond to other students postings. 30% (2.25 pts) Does not post contentengaging original post, but responds to at least 2 other students postings. 5% (0.375 pts) Does not post contentengaging original post, but responds to at least 1 other student s postings. 3

4 GRADING RUBRIC FOR WEEKLY SUMMARY During the term, you will occasionally read an article available to you online. As part of your weekly assignment, you will prepare a brief summary of this reading and respond to a prompt or question. This is the rubric that will be used to grade your summary Quality (70%) excellent paraphrasing of the most relevant idea(s) and significant details. good paraphrasing of the most relevant idea(s) and significant details. adequate paraphrasing of the most relevant idea(s) and significant details. substantial copying of key phrases and minimal paraphrasing. substantial copying of indiscriminately selected phrases and sentences. Prompt (30%) Response to the question is coherent, thoughtful, and engaging. Response to the question is coherent, thoughtful, and engaging, but lacks depth and detail. Response to the question is competent, but not original or engaging. Response to the question is rudimentary and superficial. Does not respond to question/prompt. 4

5 GRADING RUBRIC FOR TERM PAPER This is the rubric against which your paper will be graded. This gives you an idea of the expectations for your paper. You will see that you are graded not only on quality of content, but also for the mechanics of your paper, so it is important that you proofread carefully Thesis Statement Clearly and concisely states the paper s purpose. It is engaging and thought provoking. Clearly states the paper s purpose. States the paper s purpose. Incomplete and/or unfocused. Quality of Content (50%) Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples supported by scholarly sources or observation. Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples supported by scholarly sources or observation. Information clearly relates to the main topic. Details and/or examples are given but are not supported by scholarly sources or observation. Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic. Facts (10%) Cited materials are used to opinions and statements. Cited materials are used to opinions and statements, but may not be used accurately or adequately. Does not sufficiently opinions and statements with cited materials. Does not opinions and statements with supporting materials. Organization Ideas are arranged logically to support the thesis or argument. They flow smoothly and are clearly linked to each other. The reader can follow the line of reasoning. Ideas are arranged logically to support the thesis or argument. They are usually clearly linked to each other. For the most part, the reader can follow the line of reasoning. In general, the writing is arranged logically, although occasionally ideas fail to make sense together. The reader is fairly clear about what the writer intends. The writing is not logically organized. Frequently, ideas fail to make sense together. The reader cannot identify a line of reasoning. Conclusion The conclusion is engaging and restates the thesis. The conclusion restates the thesis. The conclusion does not adequately restate the thesis. Incomplete and/or unfocused. Tone The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for an academic research The tone is generally professional. For the most part, it is appropriate for an academic research The tone is not consistently professional or appropriate for an academic research The tone is not professional. It is not appropriate for an academic research paper. 5

6 paper. paper. paper. Mechanics (2.5%) No errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling. Almost no errors in punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Many errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling. Numerous and distracting errors in punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Usage (2.5%) No errors in sentence structure and word usage. Almost no errors in sentence structure and word usage. Many errors in sentence structure and word usage. Numerous and distracting errors in sentence structure and word usage. Bibliography (# of references) At least three citations. At least two citations. At least one citation. Sources absent. Quality of References References are professional journals or other approved scholarly sources. The reader is confident that the information and ideas can be trusted. Although most of the references are professionally legitimate, a few are questionable (e.g. trade books, popular magazines, internet sources, etc). The reader is uncertain of the reliability of some of the sources. Most of the references are from sources that are not professional or academic, and have uncertain reliability. The reader doubts the accuracy of much of the material presented. There are virtually no sources that are professionally reliable. The reader seriously doubts the value of the material. Sources absent. Length Paper is the number of words specified in the assignment. Paper has more or fewer words than specified in the assignment. 6

7 COURSE SCHEDULE Week Materials 1 Introduction Orientation & Introduction Chapter 1 Introducing World Prehistory 2 Human Origins Chapter 2 Human Origins Chapter 3 Archaic Humans 3 Diaspora (Part 1) Chapter 4 Origins and the Diaspora Begins Chapter 5 Europe and Eurasia 4 Diaspora (Part 2) Chapter 6 The First Americans Chapter 7 After the Ice Term Paper Abstract Due 5 First Famers (Part 1) Chapter 8 Agricultural and Animal Domestication Chapter 9 The Origins of Food Production in SW Asia 6 First Farmers (Part 2) Chapter 10 The First European Farmers Chapter 11 First Farmers in Egypt and Tropical Africa 7 SPRING BREAK 8 First Farmers (Part 3) Chapter 12 Asia and the Pacific Chapter 13 The Story of Maize: the Americas 9 MIDTERM EXAM MIDTERM EXAM CHAPTERS Old World Civilizations (Part 1) Chapter 14 The Development of Civilization Chapter 15 Early Civilizations in SW Asia 11 Old World Civilizations (Part 2) Chapter 16 Egypt, Nubia, and Tropical Africa Chapter 19 Hittites, Minoans, and Mycenaeans 12 Old World Civilizations (Part 3) Chapter 17- Early States in South and Southeast Asia Chapter 18 Early Chinese Civilization 13 Old World Civilizations (Part 4) Chapter 20 Europe Before the Romans Term Paper Due 14 Native American Civilizations Chapter 21 Mesoamerican Civilizations Chapter 22 Andean Civilizations FINAL EXAMS WEEK FINAL EXAM CHAPTERS COURSE POLICIES AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES E- mail Policy: Your college student e- mail address is the official e- mail address for this class. All correspondence from me will be sent via My Site or Blackboard. If you have your e- mails forwarded to a personal e- mail account, it is your responsibility to make sure that your e- mail filter is not sending correspondence to the SPAM folder. You should consider checking your school account periodically. Extra Credit Policy: Extra credit may be offered at the instructor s discretion and will be posted to Blackboard. Make- up Policy: I rarely permit make- up exams except in the case of verified illness or emergencies. Please note: if for any reason you must miss an exam, contact me via PRIOR to the exam deadline. Late Work Policy: Late work will not be accepted. Please be sure that when you turn in your work, that all components are attached. 7

8 Online Access: It is not a requirement of this course that you submit work from your home computer, but it is a requirement that you submit work on time. Save a copy of all of your work on a jump drive or CD so that if something happens to your computer you will still be able to go to another computer to turn in your work on time. My computer froze/died or My internet connection was down are not acceptable excuses for late or missing work. This is part of taking an online course always have a backup plan just as you would to get alternate transportation to class if your car broke down. Travel: If you travel during the term, make sure you know where there will be internet access BEFORE YOU GO as I expect you to always be able to find a connection. I do not make work available early, or extend dates, unless the college servers are down. I was out of town or I am going out of town are not acceptable excuses for late or missing work. Student Demeanor: Please treat everyone with courtesy and respect. I encourage all students to participate openly and freely in course discussions, and I expect you to respect the opinions of others. This does not mean that you have to agree with everything I or another student says, but you must disagree in a non- threatening, respectful and productive manner. Quality of Work: This is a college course, therefore, I expect college- level work. Your ability to clearly express thoughts and ideas will be considered in the grading of your work. Cheating and Plagiarism: I have a zero tolerance policy for cheating and plagiarism. Doing either will result in a failing grade on the course assignment, and may result in a failing grade in the class depending on the severity of the infraction. A separate Academic Integrity Policy is available. You are expected to have read and comply with it, and the Student Code of Conduct. Cheating and plagiarism are clearly defined in both documents. Withdrawals: Students who do not log- on and participate in the required discussion board(s) by 11:55 pm Thursday of the first week of class may be dropped from the course. In addition, if you do not log- on and participate for the equivalent of two consecutive weeks you may be dropped from the course. However, do not expect to be automatically dropped if you stop attending. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are officially withdrawn by the drop date, or you may receive an F for the course. Students with Disabilities: Students requiring accommodations for a disability that may affect class performance are requested to schedule an appointment during the first week of the semester with a staff member in Special Services so that accommodations and any academic adjustments can be authorized. Special Services is located in the Student Services Center, SSC 113. The phone number is (949) SPECIAL NOTES You may collaborate with other students in this course as you work on homework assignments, but you must turn in your own original work done specifically for this course. If you are found to have violated these restrictions you may receive a failing grade on the assignment or in this class, and your actions will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct for administrative review. I do not provide study guides prior to exams. Terms that are taught in this class must be spelled correctly and writing should reflect that of a college level course; I reserve the right to weigh such abilities when figuring grades. I will be lenient to some extent on exams, but not on papers, which the student will have ample time to review prior to submission for grading. 8