Introduction to Anthropology:

Sex, Food, & Death

ANTHROPOLOGY 1AA3E - Fall Semester 2013
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Wade
Email: wadeand@mcmaster.ca
Course Location: Togo Salmon Hall 120
Course Time: Thursdays 7PM - 10PM
Instructor Office Location: CNH 515
Office Phone: 905-525-9140 x23916
Instructor Office Hours:
Thursdays 2PM 3:30PM
Mondays 3PM 5PM (Open Hours)
Or By Appointment
TA Office Hours & Location: TBA
Required Texts:
Sex, Food, and Death Custom Edition
for McMaster University
(incl. Peer Scholar access card)
Festin, Terry Richardson

This course will introduce students to the field of anthropology and its sub-disciplines through the
discussion of some big questions that anthropologists investigate in contemporary and past
societies. Some of the issues explored in this course include; sex, gender, food, illness, and
death from archaeological, biological, cultural, and linguistic perspectives. Through this course
you will develop an understanding of how the anthropological approach can be used to better
understand the human condition, past and present.
If I have done my part in this course, and you yours, you will come away understanding:

the diversity of research in the sub-disciplines of anthropology related to specific themes

the theories, methods, and techniques used by anthropologists

the human place in nature from an anthropological perspective

the relevance of anthropological knowledge and practices to society as a whole

how to think critically about contemporary issues and debates

how to enhance your comparative, analytic, and critical thinking skills through the reading
and written assignments

Academic Accommodations
The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance
with the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This occurs through a collaborative process
that acknowledges a collective obligation to develop an accessible learning environment that both
meets the needs of students and preserves the essential academic requirements of the
University's courses and programs.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require
any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to
contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly the Center for Student Development) at
http://sas.mcmaster.ca/ for any specific question regarding an accommodation.
Occasionally illness or other medical issues make it impossible to meet deadlines or to take
exams as scheduled. Students are responsible for arranging make-up exams/assignments with
the instructor.
For McMasters policy on accommodation for medical illness see:
http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/calendar/2013-14/pg2246.html
For a downloadable Student Absence Form see:
http://www.mcmaster.ca/msaf/
Providing such documentation is submitted, reasonable effort will be made to accommodate your
situation. Make-up exams will be in essay format. If documentation is not provided, a
penalty of 10% per day will be imposed on late assignments; missed exams will be given a
mark of zero. Work submitted more than 1 week late will not be accepted and will receive a
grade of zero.
Avenue To Learn (ATL)
This course is supplemented by an Avenue To Learn component that you can access at:
http://avenue.mcmaster.ca using your MacID and password.
Once at the course site you will see a home page with basic information about this class as well
as a series of icons that will connect you to course content such as this syllabus, lecture
overviews, announcements, Pearson learning tools, interesting links, etc. Additionally, each
lecture will be video recorded and you will be able to access the videos and lecture PPTs through
Avenue.

Use of Electronic Devices (including laptops):

No electronic devices of any kind (including but not limited to cell phones, Blackberries, iPods,
other MP3 players, voice recorders, etc.) will be allowed during examinations. Laptops and other
data devices may only be used during lectures for note taking or other course-related purposes.
Voice recorders (digital or tape) are not allowed without express permission. Disruptive use of
electronic devices during class time may result in a request that you leave the classroom.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to
ensuring that a degree from McMaster University is a strong signal of each students individual
academic achievement. Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by
other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g., the grade of zero on an
assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: Grade of F assigned
for academic dishonesty), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on
the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, Appendix
3, http://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/AcademicIntegrity.pdf
The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1.

Plagiarism, e.g., the submission of work that is not ones own for which other credit has
been obtained. (Insert specific course information, e.g., style guide)

2.

Improper collaboration in group work. (Insert specific course information)

3.

Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

Correspondence
I check my email regularly throughout the week, so you can expect a response within ~48 hours.
Please put 1AA3 in the subject line of your email and include your name and student
number at the end of all correspondence. Effective September 1, 2010, it is the policy of the
Faculty of Social Sciences that all e-mail communication sent from students to instructors
(including TAs), and from students to staff, must originate from the students own McMaster
University e-mail account. This policy protects confidentiality and confirms the identity of the
student. It is the students responsibility to ensure that communication is sent to the university
from a McMaster account. If an instructor becomes aware that a communication has come from
an alternate address, the instructor may not reply at his or her discretion.
Email Forwarding in MUGSI: http://www.mcmaster.ca/uts/support/email/emailforward.html
*Forwarding will take effect 24-hours after students complete the process at the above link

Marking Scheme
Critical Thinking Assignment #1 [15%]

Midterm Exam [25%]

Critical Thinking Assignment #2 [25%]

Final Exam [35%]

Critical Thinking Assignments 1 & 2 [15% & 25%]

These are two short written assignments using Peer Scholar, an online writing tool designed to
help you develop your skills in critical thinking, providing constructive feedback, and producing a
well-written, concise argument. The Access Card for Peer Scholar is included with your required
textbook for Anthropology 1AA3 (through the Bookstore). You will be given an assigned reading
two weeks before the due date of your final draft.
*Assignments are to be completed using Peer Scholar: www.pearsoned.ca/highered/peerscholar
*Assignments submitted by e-mail will not be accepted.
Note: The Government of Ontario requires that students be provided a no-extra-cost option for
obtaining course credit. There are two copies of the required 1AA3 textbook on reserve (on 2
hour loan) in Mills library. If you do not want to purchase the access card to Peer Scholar, you will
be required to complete an alternate (paper copy) assignment worth 40% of your final grade. This
assignment will be a 3000-word essay due by 5PM on November 14, 2013. In order to choose
this option, you must inform Dr. Wade in writing (email is acceptable) by September 19, 2013.

The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the
term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme
circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and
communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to
comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check his/her McMaster
email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.

Date

Lecture

Assignments

Sept 5

Topic 1 What is anthropology?

What do anthropologists do?
Why study the past?
What kind of career can I have with a Social Science degree?

Ch 1
pp.1-17, 24-34

Sept 12

Topic 2 Illness and Death

How do different cultures deal with illness?
What factors influence health and access to health care?

Ch 4
pp.166-178

Sept 19

Do humans have the same diseases now as they did in the past?
How can we investigate health in the past?

Sept 26

How do different cultures view death?

What constitutes death?

Oct 3

What happens to bodies after death?

What can we learn about a person by looking at the skeleton?

Critical Thinking #1
Topics assigned

Readings

Ch 4
pp.178-185
Ch 4
pp.186-194

Critical Thinking
#1 Final Draft

Ch 4
pp.194-210

MIDTERM EXAM
Oct 10

Ch 5
pp.223-247

Topic 3 Humans and the Environment

What is the earliest evidence for humans?

Oct 17

How and when did humans start to intentionally change the

environment?
How do we define development?
How are humans still transforming the earth?

Ch 5
pp.250-282

Oct 24

Topic 4 Sex and Gender

How are men & women different (or are they)?
What is the difference between sex & gender?

Ch 2
pp.40-52

Oct 31

MIDTERM RECESS NO CLASS

Nov 7

Does sex/gender affect our roles in society?

How do we investigate gender in the archaeological record?

Nov 14

Topic 5 Food and Nutrition

Why do we eat what we eat? Cross-cultural perspectives on food.

Nov 21

What are the different ways that humans acquire food?

Nov 28

When and where did humans start producing food?

Final Exam Review

Dec 6-20

FINAL EXAM

Critical Thinking #2
Topics Assigned

Ch 2
pp. 47-81
Ch 3
pp.97-110

Critical Thinking
#2 Final Draft

Ch 3
pp.110-130
Ch 2
pp. 52-65
Ch 3
pp.131-150