ANTH 385: Divine Lords and Earth Monsters: Archaeology of the Maya Semester: Meeting time: Classroom: Instructor: Office: Office hours: Office number: Email: Course Description Provides an overview of Maya society as part of the Mesoamerican culture area. Uses archaeological, ethnographic and ethnohistoric sources, works of art, and actual Maya hieroglyphic texts to explore all facets of Maya society through time. Topics include indigenous and scientific overview of Maya culture origins, social and political organization, interactions with other Mesoamerican civilizations, architecture, art, agriculture, hieroglyphic writing, mythology, cosmology and religion, the collapse, the Spanish colonial period, and contemporary Maya. Prerequisite/Corequisites: There are no prerequisites or corequisites for this class. Student Learning Outcomes o Student will be able to summarize the historical trajectory of Ancient Maya civilization (Topics 2- 11). o Student will be able to identify major time-periods of Maya civilization and related historical trends occurring during them (All topics). o Student will be able to explain how the Maya calendar works (Topic 5). o Student will be able to read and translate Maya hieroglyphic texts on a basic level (Topics 5, 6, 7, 8). o Student will be able to discuss the ritual and symbolic importance of geographic landmarks to the Maya (Topics 4, 8). General Education Learning Outcomes o Compare and contrast relationships within and between human cultures (Topics 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11) o Communicate effectively in writing, using conventions appropriate to various contexts and diverse audiences (Research project and Topic 5). o Find, evaluate, and use authoritative and/or scholarly information to comprehend a line of inquiry (Topic 5 and research project). o Apply numerical/mathematical concepts in order to illustrate fundamental concepts within fields of study (Topic 5). o Describe and/or apply principles and methods that are necessary to understand the physical and natural world (Topics 1, 2, 4, 5, 8). Expectations of students: o Students are here to learn and will be active and engaged participants in their education.
http://www.mesoweb.com/resources/handbook/WH2005.pdfStatementonUniversityWritingRequirementAllCSUundergraduatestudentsmustdemonstratecompetencyinwritingskillsasarequirementforgraduation.The All-UniversityWriting Requirementmandates every undergraduate course at theUniversitymust have awritingcomponentachievedinavarietyofways.Formoreinformationhttps://www.csusm.edu/policies/active/documents/all%20university%20writing%20requirement.htmlThis course requirementwill bemet throughMayahieroglyphic learningexercises, quizzes andexams, andaresearchprojectGrading(1000pointstotal)
v Onlinequizzes(100points)v 3Exams(600pointstotal) v Mayahieroglyphexercises(100points)v Researchproject(200points)
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Onlinequizzes(100points)OnlinequizzeswillbepostedeachFridayeveningon i-Learnandareduebeforethestartofclass thefollowingMonday.Thequizzeswillbebasedonthatweek’sreadingsandlectureandconsistofmultiplechoice,true-false,andmatchingquestions(~10questionseach).Theonlinequizzesaretobetakenindividually,withouttheaidofothers,althoughreadingsandpersonalclassnotesmaybeusedwhentakingthem.Unauthorizedcollaborationorsharingofquestions inanymedium(verbal,electronic,etc.)willbeconsideredaviolationofCSUSM’sAcademicHonestypolicy.Exams(600points)Thisclasshasthreetotalexams,amidterm(150points)ahieroglyphictexttranslation(250points),anda final exam (200 points). The midterm exam will consist of multiple-choice, true-false, matching,definitions and identifications, and short essay questions drawn from the readings, lecture, and filmswatchedinclass.Theformatofthefinalexamwillbesimilartothemidtermexamsbutwillbecumulative.ThehieroglyphictranslationwillbeatakehomeprojectwherebystudentswillbeMayahieroglyphicexercises(100points)Theseat-homeexercisesarefoundintheCoeandVanStonerequiredtext,supplementedwithfurthermaterialsfromothersources.Completionoftheseexercisesarevitalforpreparingforthefollowingclass’sworkshop.Researchproject(200points)Studentswillwrite an8-page researchpaperon a topic related toMaya archaeology. Possible topicsinclude Maya sites, biography of a Maya archaeologist and their work, an aspect of Maya life,interpretation,description,and/orhistoryofaparticularcarvedmonumentorartifactseeninamuseum,rebuttal of the ancient aliens theory. Papers must contain original research papers, use 6 academicsources,andcontainin-textcitationsandabibliography,bothinSocietyforAmericanArchaeologyformat(seelinkbelowand“Generalguidelines”documentoni-Learn).http://www.saa.org/Portals/0/SAA/Publications/StyleGuide/StyleGuide_Final_813.pdf.
COURSEPOLICIESAcademicintegritypolicyStudents are expected to adhere to the standards of academic honesty and integrity outlined in theStudent Academic Honesty Policy. All assignments must be original work, clear, and error-free. Allideas/materialthatareborrowedorparaphrasedfromothersourcesmusthaveappropriatereferencesto the original sources. Any quoted material should give credit to the source and be punctuatedaccordingly.Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy: Students are responsible for honest completion andrepresentation of their work. Your course catalog details the ethical standards and penalties forinfractions.Therewillbezero tolerance for infractions. If youbelieve therehasbeenan infractionbysomeone in theclass,pleasebring it to the instructor’sattention.The instructor reserves the right todisciplineanystudentforacademicdishonesty,inaccordancewiththegeneralrulesandregulationsoftheuniversity.Disciplinaryactionmayincludetheassignmentofafailinggradeforanexam,assignment,or theclassasawhole.Youareexpected tobe familiarwithCSUSM’sAcademicHonestyPolicy in itsentirety,foundhere:http://www.csusm.edu/policies/active/documents/Academic_Honesty_Policy.html
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Review the above policy, and after you have done so, e-mail me acknowledging you have read,understood,andwillabidebythepoliciesthere,aswellasthoselaidoutinthissyllabus.Studentsareexpectedtoabidebyalluniversityandcoursepolicieswhetherornottheyhavesentthisemailtotheprofessor.ADApolicyStudentswith disabilitieswho require reasonable accommodationsmust be approved for services byprovidingappropriateandrecentdocumentationfromtheOfficeofDisabledStudentServices(DSS).ThisofficeislocatedinCravenHall4300,andcanbecontactedbyphoneat(760)750-4905,orTTY(760)750-4909, and by email sent to [email protected]. Students authorized by DSS to receive reasonableaccommodationsshoulddiscusstheirneedwithmeduringmyofficehourstoensureconfidentiality.AttendanceandparticipationpolicyAttendanceandactiveparticipationinclassisrequiredaspartofuniversityanddepartmentpolicy,andwillhaveindirectanddirectimpactsonyourfinalgrade.Sinceyouwillbeexpectedtoknowthematerialcoveredinclassmeetings,discussions,andmoviesfortheexams,youshouldexpecttoattendeveryclass.If you are going tomiss class, please do not e-mailme and ask if we are going to go over anythingimportant,orifIcangooverwhatyoumissedinclass.Everythingwegooverisimportant,andIcannotgiveprivatelectures.Instead,ifyouneedtomissaclass,makearrangementsbeforehandwithoneofyourclassmatestotakenotesforyou,ifpossible,andthencomeseemeduringofficehoursforitemsyouneedfurtherclarificationon.Classparticipationcanaddorsubtractfromyourfinalgradeoutsideofthepointsystem,andmadeattheinstructor’sdiscretion.Forstudentswhoconsistentlymakepositivecontributionstoclassdiscussions,andwhocometoclasswellprepared,Imayraisetheirgradebyahalf-grade(e.g.,fromaBtoaB+).Likewise,studentswhoaredisruptiveinclass,arepoorlypreparedfordiscussions,orhaveanexcessivenumberofabsenceswillhavetheirgradereducedbyahalf-grade(e.g.,fromaCtoaC-).Studentsmissingmorethanhalfofthesemester’sclasseswillreceiveanFinthecourse,regardlessofstanding.ElectronicspolicyCountlessstudieshaveshowntakingnotesbyhandratherthanbycomputergreatlyimprovesretention(e.g.http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/).Thesesamesuiteofstudieshaveshowntheuseofelectronicdevicesfornon-classpurposesdistractsthosearoundyoufromlearningaswell.Foryourbenefitandthesakeofyourclassmates,keepelectronicsusetoaminimumduringclasstime,includinglaptops,aswellasusingdevicesfortweeting,instagramming,etc.Please,foralloursakes,turnofforsilenceyourphonesbeforeenteringtheclassroom.Ifelectronicusebecomesadistractiontoyourclassmates,orme,thosedeviceswillbebannedforeveryonefromtheclassroom.Absolutelynoaudioorvideorecording,orphotographingoflecturesispermittedunlessduetoneeddocumentedbyOfficeofDisabledStudentServicesandpreviouslyclearedwithmeduringofficehours.Ifyoumissedsomethingthatwasonaslideorsomethingremainsunclear,pleasedonothesitatetoaskmetogobackandclarify,askafellowstudentfornotesafterclass,orcomeseemeduringofficehours.EmailpolicyCollege is a professional setting and your e-mails here are formal communications with otherprofessionals.AlwaysuseyourCSUSMe-mailaccountwhene-mailingme.Iwillnotopenmessagessentfrom private accounts, especially those containing attachments. Each new message should have an
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informativesubject(e.g.,questionaboutclasstopic),apropergreeting(e.g.,DearDr.Spenard),andasalutationthatincludesyournameandmyclassyouareattending(e.g.,sincerely,YourName,ANTH370).Icheckmye-mailregularlyandwilltrytorespondwithin24hoursontheweekdays(M-R),and48hoursovertheweekend(F-Su).Ifyouhavenotheardfrommebythattime,resendyoure-mail,or,betteryet,cometalktomeduringofficehours.Typically,Iwillrespondtoe-mailsuntil9:00pmthenightbeforeamajor deadline (term paper, exam, etc.); however, I will not answer questions requiring complexresponses (e.g.,Canyouexplain the relationshipbetween temple state-level society inMesopotamia,again?).Suchquestionsarebestaskedduringclassorinofficehourswherewecanhaveaface-to-faceconversation.Ifyouhaveaquestionregardingadefinitionofaterm,orthelike,trylookingintheindexorglossaryofyourbook,ordoingaquickgooglesearchbeforesendingmeane-mail.You’llgetyouranswerquicker,andyou’llbeginlearningtobeanactiveparticipantwithyoureducationLateworkpolicyAllassignmentsandpapersareduewhenlistedinthesyllabus.Lateassignmentswillbepenalizedafulllettergradeforeachdaylate.Unlessotherwisenoted,allassignmentsmustbeturnedinduringclass.
