Anth 2110 2023_24 Syllabus

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McMaster University *

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2110

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Anthropology

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Oct 30, 2023

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Core Concepts in Anthropology AP/Anth 2110 (6.0) Fall 2023-Winter 2024 Course Information Course Instructor: Dr. Lisa M. Davidson E-mail: lmdavids@yorku.ca Office Hours & Location: Mondays 3pm- 3:30pm of by appointment (VH 2054) Course Time & Days: Mondays 11:30am- 2:30pm Class Location: HNE 032 Course eClass site: click here to enter Land Acknowledgment York University recognizes that many Indigenous Nations have longstanding relationships with the territories upon which York University campuses are located that precede the establishment of York University. York University acknowledges its presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. It is now home to many First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region ( LA&PS Land Acknowledgement ). Course Overview Course Description What are the different ways that we, as anthropologists, research and analyze culture? What is ethnography and what are anthropological approaches to ethnography? This course is designed to familiarize students to key concepts in sociocultural anthropology by focusing on the craft of ethnography; specifically, how ethnography is imaginative, creative, experimental, affective, and collaborative. We will also attend to the dynamics and conundrums in knowledge production, such as whose voices are heard and which voices are obscured, notions of ‘truth’, authenticity, and identity, the problems and challenges in researching and representing trauma and crisis, and finally, the politics of research conception and reception. In doing so, we will unpack and consider the ethnographic peculiarities of weaving argument and narration to explain how diverse groups of people: seek out a better life, ensure their continuity; mark out their differences and identity; interact with others, strangers, and things, and finally, find meaning through their aspirations, (im)mobility, experiences, decisions, and understandings of their world and how they imagine what their lives could be. In the fall term, students will learn about the politics of representation, archival research, and data-driven storytelling. In the winter term, students will critically engage with contemporary concepts, theories, and paradigms of socio-cultural Page 1 of 15

anthropology. By the end of the course, students will have a firmer grasp on the place of power in research creation and dissemination and will demonstrate this capacity by developing a research proposal. Course Learning Objectives By the end of this course, students will be able to:  Develop anthropological understandings on ethnography as method and practice.  Describe and assess anthropological approaches to ethnography and how data is developed into an argument and narrative.  Understand approaches and challenges to archival research.  Analyse, design and assess a set of research questions for future studies in ANTH 3110: Acquiring Research Skills .  Apply knowledge and theories from the study of ethnography to community-focused experiential education Course Format and Organization Our class is scheduled for in-person meetings. While there will be some classes that will be held lecture-style, this will not be the norm. Most classes will take the shape of a seminar where each student is expected to contribute to class discussions and as workshops, where students will collaborate on in-class activities and work on projects . The last four weeks of each term are scheduled as student workshops in preparation for term assignments. Fieldtrips: Please note that in the Fall term, we have fieldtrips to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre ( 6 Garamond Ct, Toronto; transportation to and from campus will be provided) where we will learn more about data-driven storytelling. Technical Requirements The only expected platform to be used in this course is eClass through which students will interact with course materials and course director. Other platforms, such as Canva, may be used to support students’ data-driven storytelling projects. If you need technical assistance, please consult the University Information Technology (UIT) Student Services web page. For more specific assistance, please write to askit@yorku.ca . Course Communication Plan and Office Hours Important updates, reminders, and comments on class matters will be posted to the course announcement area in the eClass course room, which will be pushed to the email address you are using for your eClass profile. If you have any questions about the course, lecture material, and other logistics (not related to the course content), you are strongly encouraged to post your questions on the Q&A forum in eClass. Students are welcome to respond if you know the answer; I will log onto the discussion forum once a week to respond to any unanswered queries. Page 2 of 15

Email: Ideas are best discussed in person and email is not an alternative to meeting with me during office hours or by appointment. I will respond to email within 48 hours (Monday to Friday). Please ensure the course code (Anth 2110) is in the subject header and kindly use your York University email address. If you have an emergency, ensure that you put “URGENT” in the subject header. Lecture Cancellations? An announcement will be made on eClass. Please ensure that your preferred email address is updated on eClass . I will do my best to provide advance notice, recognizing that many students commute to campus. Course Evaluation Assessment Due Date Weight % Critical Reflection Paper October 16, 2023 (11:59pm, upload to eClass) 5% Quiz (online) November 6-8, 2023 (11:59pm, timed quiz on eClass) 5% Data-Driven Story Telling Project: i. Portfolio (15%) ii. Term Project (15%) December 11, 2023 (in-person submission to the Department of Anthropology) by 4pm 30% Test (in-person) February 12, 2024 (during class) 10% Research Proposal: i. Draft Research Proposal (5%) ii. Feedback and Workshop (5%) iii. Final Research Proposal (20%) Draft due March 25, 2024 (in class) Feedback Due April 1, 2024 (in class) Final Proposal Due April 8, 2024 (eClass) 30% Participation and Discussion: i. Fall Term (10%) ii. Winter Term (10%) December 4, 2023 (11:59pm, eClass) April 1, 2024 (11:59pm, eClass) 20% Page 3 of 15

100% Assessment Descriptions Critical Reflection Paper (5%) The critical reflection paper is your intellectual reaction to course readings. The paper is not a summary of the readings. A successful critical reflection will focus on themes that you see between readings and to make critical linkages and connections. The goal is for you to develop the capacity to place authors “in conversation” with each to assess how particular concepts and perspectives are debated. The critical paper should be no more than two-pages, double spaced. (Due October 16, 2023; submit on Turnitin on eClass). Quiz (5%) In the fall term, you will have one quiz to complete. The quiz will consist of multiple choice and fill in the blank questions. This is “open book”, timed quiz that you will complete on eClass in the “Fall Assignments” section. You will have three days to submit your quiz (Due November 6- 8, 2023; submit on eClass). Data-Driven Story Telling Project (30%) In the fall term, you will choose a photograph from a selection provided to you by the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. From the photograph, you will consider what stands out to you based on your anthropological observation. You will then carry out research to uncover the context, significance, and meaning (and more!) of the photograph, specifically what stood out to you. The goal is to locate, critically assess, and determine relevant data and to develop a story, framed by anthropological concepts and perspectives, for a non-anthropological non-academic audience. You may work as individuals or in groups of no more than three people. There are two formats to this project: you may develop either a podcast (including transcript) or poster with two-page article. All student work will be assessed and provided brief feedback by members of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre; select student work may be placed in an exhibit at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. There are two parts to this assignment: (1) a portfolio, where you will: create a work flow document; describe the allocation of duties (only if working in groups); materials consulted; all rough work, and participate and contribute in student feedback sessions, and (2) the final polished project. More information will become available after the fall reading break. (Due December 11, 2023, 4pm, in-person at the Department of Anthropology). In-Class Test (10%) The winter test covers course material (lectures, films, readings) from the winter term. The format will be short answers, long answers and/or an essay question. The test will be held in- person during our lecture on February 12, 2024. Page 4 of 15

Research Proposal (30%) In the winter term, you will design a research proposal, which is the one of the initial steps that anthropologists (and other researchers) must do before carrying out field research. A research proposal is not an essay; it requires you to justify the relevance of your proposed research. For the research proposal you are required to provide: an introduction; a discussion of your context of research; a very brief overview of your methods; a discussion of your positionality, and a conclusion. I will go over each part in detail in the winter term. There are two parts to your research proposal: (a) workshopping a draft version of your proposal and providing feedback to your peers (submitting a draft is worth 5% and providing peer feedback is worth 5%), and (b) submission of your final research proposal (20%). The research proposal that you develop in this course, may be redeveloped in Anth 3110: Acquiring Research Skills . The draft is due on March 25, 2024; feedback is due on April 1, 2024; the final submission is due April 8, 2024 (11:59pm, submit on Turnitin on eClass). Participation and Discussion (10% Fall Term, 10% Winter Term) You are expected to: (a) participate in and contribute to class discussions, workshops, and peer assessments and (b) complete assigned readings ahead of lecture. The aim of ‘class participation’ is for you to explore, respond, and develop your ideas on course material and to respond to your peers. The goal is to deepen your insights through thoughtful responses, offered in a respectful manner. This will help cultivate a supportive class environment for discussions and debates. Class participation will be assessed at the end of Fall term and at the end of Winter Term. At the end of term, you will self-assess your participation and contribution to class learning with a letter grade (see grading scheme on pg 6), justifying your grade with critical qualitative assessment. However, your professor reserves the right to change your self-assessed participation grade when appropriate. *Participation and discussion assessment is influenced by the “pedagogy of ungrading” by Jesse Stommel. Submitting Assignments Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but also on time. Assignments are to be handed in through eClass, and at times, in-person or through arrangements made with your professor and teaching assistant. At times, a hard copy of an assignment (ie your data-driven storytelling portfolio) is required. More details on submission requirements are available on eClass. Assignments that require ‘hard copies’, ie in-person submissions, may be dropped off at the Department of Anthropology (second floor, Vari Hall) during office hours. Late Work Policy Assignments received later than the due date without prior arrangements will be penalized 3% per day including weekend and holidays. Penalties comes into effect immediately after the deadline (date and hour) has passed. Have you read the syllabus until this point? Congratulations! Email your professor an Easter egg meme before the start of our lecture on September 18 to receive a bonus participation mark. Please continue to read important information on late work. Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, parental or familial obligations, compassionate grounds, etc., may be considered. Page 5 of 15

…And life happens. Sometimes, there are unexpected circumstances despite our best intentions. All students will receive one opportunity to submit one assignment one week late without penalty and without reason. Students must communicate that they are initiating the “life happens” pass. **Exceptions: Students may not invoke this pass for the data-driven storytelling presentations (impacting portfolio marks) and submission and feedback of draft proposals** N.B. If there are ongoing challenges that you are experiencing that are impeding your ability to meet assignment deadlines, please contact Accessibility Services (see pg 16). Missed Tests and Exams Students who miss a course quiz and/or test may request accommodation from your professor. For the winter term, students may require supporting documentation for missing a quiz or test. Extended requests for accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty. Grading The grading scheme for this course conforms to the 9-point system used in undergraduate programs at York University. For a full description of the York grading system, visit the York University Academic Calendar . GRADE GRADE POINT PERCENT RANGE DESCRIPTION A+ 9 90-100 Exceptional A 8 80-89 Excellent B+ 7 75-79 Very Good B 6 70-74 Good C+ 5 65-69 Competent C 4 60-64 Fairly Competent D+ 3 55-59 Passing D 2 50-54 Marginally Passing E 1 (marginally below 50%) Marginally Failing F 0 (below 50%) Failing How to Use Citations Anthropology uses Chicago Style as citation practice. If you are majoring or minoring in Anthropology, you are expected to use Chicago Style: Chicago Style Overview , YorkU Libraries Page 6 of 15

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