Below are the standards I developed for the Introduction to Anthropology course. In order to develop these, I consulted a number of textbooks, as well as consulting with professional colleagues, both within the realm of Education, as well as in the realm of Anthropology, on the concepts that they deemed important enough to include in the course.
Principles of Anthropology
ANTH.1 Describe the holistic nature of anthropology through the four fields approach: socio – cultural, linguistic, physical, and archaeological.
ANTH.2 Describe the empirical nature of anthropology through the development of hypotheses, theoretical paradigms, and corroboration from other researchers.
ANTH.3 Describe the research of early anthropologists, including Franz Boas, Margaret Meade, James Frazer, Claude Levi – Strauss, and Bronislaw Malinowski
ANTH.4 Discuss how the four separate fields utilize fieldwork to develop and corroborate scientific theories.
ANTH.5 Explain the utilization of the comparative method to both verify and falsify hypotheses.
ANTH.6 Identify the ethical standards anthropologists must adhere to regarding research with human subjects.
ANTH.2 Describe the empirical nature of anthropology through the development of hypotheses, theoretical paradigms, and corroboration from other researchers.
ANTH.3 Describe the research of early anthropologists, including Franz Boas, Margaret Meade, James Frazer, Claude Levi – Strauss, and Bronislaw Malinowski
ANTH.4 Discuss how the four separate fields utilize fieldwork to develop and corroborate scientific theories.
ANTH.5 Explain the utilization of the comparative method to both verify and falsify hypotheses.
ANTH.6 Identify the ethical standards anthropologists must adhere to regarding research with human subjects.
Physical Anthropology & Archaeology
ANTH.7 Describe the theoretical framework of evolution including:
ANTH.9 Identify the common traits of primates including visual acuity, specialized hands and feet, specialized forelimbs, prolonged pregnancy and infancy, enlarged brain, complex social behavior.
ANTH.10 Compare the four sets of primates:
ANTH.12 Describe the similarities and differences between humans and non – human primates including bipedalism, tool use, mating, and kinship.
ANTH.13 Describe the nature of archaeology and its use in understanding humanity’s past.
ANTH.14 Describe the methods of archaeological surveys and excavations.
ANTH.15 Explain the utilization and effectiveness of dating techniques used by archaeologists including relative dating, radiometric dating, dendrochronology, and molecular dating.
ANTH.16 Describe hominid evolution, including the location of fossil finds and evidence of tool use of the following
ANTH.17 Describe the key findings of prominent paleo – archaeologists including Raymond Dart, Louis Leakey, Mary Leakey, and Richard Leakey.
ANTH.18 Describe the human diaspora, including the debate regarding the multiregional hypothesis and the African origins hypothesis, archaeological evidence of hominid habitation, relative dates of major migrations, causes of hominid migrations, and impacts of hominid migrations.
ANTH.19 Describe the structure of paleolithic human societies including social hierarchies and subsistence strategies.
ANTH.20 Explain the Neolithic Revolution and identify the primary locations of the first sedentary human settlements including:
ANTH.22 Describe the changes to human societies brought on by the development of agriculture and pastoralism, including the alteration of social hierarchies, new methods of subsistence, disease, and demographic pressure.
- Genetic inheritance
- Mutations
- Natural selection
- Adaptation
- Speciation
ANTH.9 Identify the common traits of primates including visual acuity, specialized hands and feet, specialized forelimbs, prolonged pregnancy and infancy, enlarged brain, complex social behavior.
ANTH.10 Compare the four sets of primates:
- Prosimians
- Monkeys
- Apes
- Hominids
ANTH.12 Describe the similarities and differences between humans and non – human primates including bipedalism, tool use, mating, and kinship.
ANTH.13 Describe the nature of archaeology and its use in understanding humanity’s past.
ANTH.14 Describe the methods of archaeological surveys and excavations.
ANTH.15 Explain the utilization and effectiveness of dating techniques used by archaeologists including relative dating, radiometric dating, dendrochronology, and molecular dating.
ANTH.16 Describe hominid evolution, including the location of fossil finds and evidence of tool use of the following
- Australopithecines
- Homo habilis
- Homo erectus
- Neanderthals
- Cro – Magnon
ANTH.17 Describe the key findings of prominent paleo – archaeologists including Raymond Dart, Louis Leakey, Mary Leakey, and Richard Leakey.
ANTH.18 Describe the human diaspora, including the debate regarding the multiregional hypothesis and the African origins hypothesis, archaeological evidence of hominid habitation, relative dates of major migrations, causes of hominid migrations, and impacts of hominid migrations.
ANTH.19 Describe the structure of paleolithic human societies including social hierarchies and subsistence strategies.
ANTH.20 Explain the Neolithic Revolution and identify the primary locations of the first sedentary human settlements including:
- The Fertile Crescent
- The Nile River Valley
- The Indus River Valley
- The Yellow and Yangtze River Valleys
- Mesoamerica
- The Andes Mountains
ANTH.22 Describe the changes to human societies brought on by the development of agriculture and pastoralism, including the alteration of social hierarchies, new methods of subsistence, disease, and demographic pressure.
Culture & Cultural Diversity
ANTH.23 Describe the multi – faceted nature of culture.
ANTH.24 Citing specific sources, give examples of ways in which Culture can be both adaptive and maladaptive.
ANTH.25 Explain the concept of cultural norms and cultural constraints.
ANTH.26 Differentiate between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism.
ANTH.27 Explain the problems ethnocentrism creates in attempting to understanding different cultures.
ANTH.28 Describe potential problems arising from unfettered cultural relativism.
ANTH.29 Discuss the key mechanisms of cultural change including unconscious invention, intentional innovation, direct contact diffusion, intermediate contact diffusion, and stimulus diffusion.
ANTH.30 Describe the process of acculturation and its impact on cultural change.
ANTH.31 Describe globalization and explain its impact on cultural change.
ANTH.24 Citing specific sources, give examples of ways in which Culture can be both adaptive and maladaptive.
ANTH.25 Explain the concept of cultural norms and cultural constraints.
ANTH.26 Differentiate between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism.
ANTH.27 Explain the problems ethnocentrism creates in attempting to understanding different cultures.
ANTH.28 Describe potential problems arising from unfettered cultural relativism.
ANTH.29 Discuss the key mechanisms of cultural change including unconscious invention, intentional innovation, direct contact diffusion, intermediate contact diffusion, and stimulus diffusion.
ANTH.30 Describe the process of acculturation and its impact on cultural change.
ANTH.31 Describe globalization and explain its impact on cultural change.
Ethnicity & Race
ANTH.32 Explain the history of and impact of human classification theories including those created by Carolus Linnaeus, Johann Blumenbach, Franz Boas, and Ashley Montagu.
ANTH.33 Examine the difference between race, ethnicity, and nationality.
ANTH.34 Examine the social construct of race across various societies including the United States, Japan, and Brazil.
ANTH.35 Describe the process of assimilation and the creation of multicultural societies.
ANTH.36 Discuss issues common of ethnic conflict through specific examples including the Nazi Genocide of Jews and other ethnic minorities in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, the American genocide of Native Americans in North America from the 17th to the 20th centuries, the ethnic conflict in the former Yugoslav Republics in the 1990s, and the ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda in the 1990s.
ANTH.33 Examine the difference between race, ethnicity, and nationality.
ANTH.34 Examine the social construct of race across various societies including the United States, Japan, and Brazil.
ANTH.35 Describe the process of assimilation and the creation of multicultural societies.
ANTH.36 Discuss issues common of ethnic conflict through specific examples including the Nazi Genocide of Jews and other ethnic minorities in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, the American genocide of Native Americans in North America from the 17th to the 20th centuries, the ethnic conflict in the former Yugoslav Republics in the 1990s, and the ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda in the 1990s.
Language
ANTH.37 Explain how humans use of symbols, including language, to communicate with one another.
ANTH.38 Explain the nature of language, including the following:
ANTH.40 Examine semiotics and discuss the formation of meaning through language and symbols.
ANTH.41 Examine the role that language plays in the formation of identity.
ANTH.42 Examine the act of “code switching” within language.
ANTH.43 Discuss the role that language plays in the formation of ideology.
ANTH.44 Explain the theory of language acquisition in enculturation process of new language learners as developed by Elinor Ochs and Bambi Schieffelen.
ANTH.38 Explain the nature of language, including the following:
- Phonemes
- Morphemes
- Lexicon
- Focal vocabulary
ANTH.40 Examine semiotics and discuss the formation of meaning through language and symbols.
ANTH.41 Examine the role that language plays in the formation of identity.
ANTH.42 Examine the act of “code switching” within language.
ANTH.43 Discuss the role that language plays in the formation of ideology.
ANTH.44 Explain the theory of language acquisition in enculturation process of new language learners as developed by Elinor Ochs and Bambi Schieffelen.
Subsistence & Exchange
ANTH.45 Examine how environmental conditions can be used to understand subsistence strategies and cultural traits and adaptations.
ANTH.46 Examine various groups of modern hunter – gatherers in diverse parts of the globe including Australia, Sub Saharan Africa, and South America.
ANTH.47 Examine various groups of modern pastoralists in diverse parts of the globe including North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa.
ANTH.48 Differentiate between horticulture, extensive agriculture, and intensive agriculture.
ANTH.49 Identify and locate on a map various locations where horticulture, extensive agriculture, and intensive agriculture are used a means of subsistence.
ANTH.50 Examine the concepts and varying views of means of production, specialization, and alienation between various cultures.
ANTH.51 Describe the concepts of economization and maximization as perceived by various cultures.
ANTH.52 Discuss the concepts of the market principle, redistribution, and reciprocity.
ANTH.53 Examine the various forms of reciprocity, including generalized reciprocity, balanced reciprocity, and negative reciprocity.
ANTH.54 Examine the tradition of potlatching.
ANTH.46 Examine various groups of modern hunter – gatherers in diverse parts of the globe including Australia, Sub Saharan Africa, and South America.
ANTH.47 Examine various groups of modern pastoralists in diverse parts of the globe including North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa.
ANTH.48 Differentiate between horticulture, extensive agriculture, and intensive agriculture.
ANTH.49 Identify and locate on a map various locations where horticulture, extensive agriculture, and intensive agriculture are used a means of subsistence.
ANTH.50 Examine the concepts and varying views of means of production, specialization, and alienation between various cultures.
ANTH.51 Describe the concepts of economization and maximization as perceived by various cultures.
ANTH.52 Discuss the concepts of the market principle, redistribution, and reciprocity.
ANTH.53 Examine the various forms of reciprocity, including generalized reciprocity, balanced reciprocity, and negative reciprocity.
ANTH.54 Examine the tradition of potlatching.
Political Systems
ANTH.55 Define the term political organization.
ANTH.56 Describe social stratification as theorized by Max Weber, including the importance of economic status, power, and prestige.
ANTH.57 Describe the political – economic organization of bands and methods used to control social stratification.
ANTH.58 Describe the political – economic organization of tribal societies, including the role of the headman or big man.
ANTH.59 Describe the political – economic organization of chiefdoms, including the role of social status, kinship, and gender in governing.
ANTH.60 Discuss, and give examples of, open and closed class systems.
ANTH.61 Describe the political – economic organization of states, including its role in:
ANTH.56 Describe social stratification as theorized by Max Weber, including the importance of economic status, power, and prestige.
ANTH.57 Describe the political – economic organization of bands and methods used to control social stratification.
ANTH.58 Describe the political – economic organization of tribal societies, including the role of the headman or big man.
ANTH.59 Describe the political – economic organization of chiefdoms, including the role of social status, kinship, and gender in governing.
ANTH.60 Discuss, and give examples of, open and closed class systems.
ANTH.61 Describe the political – economic organization of states, including its role in:
- Codification
- Law enforcement
- Population control
- Fiscal control
Kinship & Marriage
ANTH.62 Describe the concept of family, including the nuclear and extended families.
ANTH.63 Examine various forms of family organization, including the zadruga and the tarawad.
ANTH.64 Examine various forms of marriage, including exogamy, endogamy, and polygamy.
ANTH.65 Discuss the various forms of descent common cross - culturally, including patrilineal, matrilineal, and bilateral.
ANTH.66 Differentiate between the concepts of bridewealth and dowry.
ANTH.67 Examine various marriage rituals, focusing on commonalities and differences cross culturally.
ANTH.63 Examine various forms of family organization, including the zadruga and the tarawad.
ANTH.64 Examine various forms of marriage, including exogamy, endogamy, and polygamy.
ANTH.65 Discuss the various forms of descent common cross - culturally, including patrilineal, matrilineal, and bilateral.
ANTH.66 Differentiate between the concepts of bridewealth and dowry.
ANTH.67 Examine various marriage rituals, focusing on commonalities and differences cross culturally.
Gender
ANTH.68 Differentiate between sex and gender.
ANTH.69 Examine the similarities and differences of gender roles between foraging societies, horticulturalists, and agriculturalists, and industrial societies.
ANTH.70 Examine the similarities and differences in gender stratification between matrilineal and patrilineal societies.
ANTH.71 Discuss the relationship between patriarchy and violence.
ANTH.69 Examine the similarities and differences of gender roles between foraging societies, horticulturalists, and agriculturalists, and industrial societies.
ANTH.70 Examine the similarities and differences in gender stratification between matrilineal and patrilineal societies.
ANTH.71 Discuss the relationship between patriarchy and violence.
Religion & Ritual
ANTH.72 Describe the concept of religion.
ANTH.73 Examine the role of religion cross culturally, including instituting social controls and relieving anxiety and uncertainty.
ANTH.74 Describe various forms of religion, including
ANTH.77 Describe the concept of rituals, including the use of formal, stylized, and repetitive actions.
ANTH.78 Discuss rites of passage.
ANTH.79 Describe Anthony Wallace’s theoretical concept of revitalization movements.
ANTH.80 Describe Peter Worsley’s theoretical concept of cargo cults.
ANTH.73 Examine the role of religion cross culturally, including instituting social controls and relieving anxiety and uncertainty.
ANTH.74 Describe various forms of religion, including
- Totemism
- Shamanism
- Olympian
- Communal
- Monotheistic
- Christianity
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- African traditional religion
- Chinese traditional religion
- Judaism
- Sikhism
ANTH.77 Describe the concept of rituals, including the use of formal, stylized, and repetitive actions.
ANTH.78 Discuss rites of passage.
ANTH.79 Describe Anthony Wallace’s theoretical concept of revitalization movements.
ANTH.80 Describe Peter Worsley’s theoretical concept of cargo cults.
Anthropological Theory
ANTH.81 Explain Evolutionism as developed by E. B. Tylor and Lewis Henry Morgan.
ANTH.82 Describe unidirectional evolution, including the three stages of societal evolution.
ANTH.83 Discuss the criticisms of Evolutionism emerging in the twentieth century.
ANTH.84 Describe Diffusionism as developed by G. E. Smith and W. J. Perry, including the inability of cultures to develop their own traits and institutions.
ANTH.85 Discuss the key criticisms of Diffusionism emerging in the twentieth century.
ANTH.86 Describe Historical Particularism as developed by Franz Boas, including his views on the importance of ethnographic fieldwork and the rejection of comparing disparate cultural groups.
ANTH.87 Discuss the impact of Historical Particularism on succeeding theoretical paradigms.
ANTH.88 Describe Functionalism as developed by A. R. Radcliffe – Brown and Bronislaw Malinowski, including the focus on social and cultural institutions in maintaining social hierarchies and meeting the needs of individuals.
ANTH.89 Discuss the importance of ethnographic fieldwork within the Functionalist School.
ANTH.90 Discuss the impact of Functionalism on succeeding theoretical paradigms.
ANTH.91 Describe the Culture and Personality School as developed by Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead, including the importance of socialization practices on personality patterns.
ANTH.92 Discuss the original ideas of gender developed through Benedict’s and Mead’s respective ethnographic studies.
ANTH.93 Describe Structuralist Theory as developed by Claude Levi – Strauss, including the concept that there is a universal model of the mind.
ANTH.94 Discuss Levi – Strauss’s use of myth as a means to develop his universalist model.
ANTH.95 Describe Cultural Ecology as developed by Leslie White, including the perception of increased energy consumption as a means of cultural change and adaptation.
ANTH.96 Discuss the contributions of Julian Seward to Cultural Ecology, including the theory that a given society’s environment dictates its cultural and social systems.
ANTH.97 Describe Cultural Materialism as developed by Marvin Harris, including his concepts of infrastructure, structure, and superstructure.
ANTH.98 Discuss Harris’ theory of cultural change through the influences which the structure, infrastructure, and superstructure have upon one another.
ANTH.99 Describe Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology as developed by Clifford Geertz, including the rejection of Cultural Materialism and the theory that culture is created through the organized collection of symbolic systems.
ANTH.100 Discuss the criticisms Geertz developed regarding earlier ethnographic works and the impact his theoretical paradigm had on succeeding ethnographies.
ANTH.82 Describe unidirectional evolution, including the three stages of societal evolution.
ANTH.83 Discuss the criticisms of Evolutionism emerging in the twentieth century.
ANTH.84 Describe Diffusionism as developed by G. E. Smith and W. J. Perry, including the inability of cultures to develop their own traits and institutions.
ANTH.85 Discuss the key criticisms of Diffusionism emerging in the twentieth century.
ANTH.86 Describe Historical Particularism as developed by Franz Boas, including his views on the importance of ethnographic fieldwork and the rejection of comparing disparate cultural groups.
ANTH.87 Discuss the impact of Historical Particularism on succeeding theoretical paradigms.
ANTH.88 Describe Functionalism as developed by A. R. Radcliffe – Brown and Bronislaw Malinowski, including the focus on social and cultural institutions in maintaining social hierarchies and meeting the needs of individuals.
ANTH.89 Discuss the importance of ethnographic fieldwork within the Functionalist School.
ANTH.90 Discuss the impact of Functionalism on succeeding theoretical paradigms.
ANTH.91 Describe the Culture and Personality School as developed by Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead, including the importance of socialization practices on personality patterns.
ANTH.92 Discuss the original ideas of gender developed through Benedict’s and Mead’s respective ethnographic studies.
ANTH.93 Describe Structuralist Theory as developed by Claude Levi – Strauss, including the concept that there is a universal model of the mind.
ANTH.94 Discuss Levi – Strauss’s use of myth as a means to develop his universalist model.
ANTH.95 Describe Cultural Ecology as developed by Leslie White, including the perception of increased energy consumption as a means of cultural change and adaptation.
ANTH.96 Discuss the contributions of Julian Seward to Cultural Ecology, including the theory that a given society’s environment dictates its cultural and social systems.
ANTH.97 Describe Cultural Materialism as developed by Marvin Harris, including his concepts of infrastructure, structure, and superstructure.
ANTH.98 Discuss Harris’ theory of cultural change through the influences which the structure, infrastructure, and superstructure have upon one another.
ANTH.99 Describe Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology as developed by Clifford Geertz, including the rejection of Cultural Materialism and the theory that culture is created through the organized collection of symbolic systems.
ANTH.100 Discuss the criticisms Geertz developed regarding earlier ethnographic works and the impact his theoretical paradigm had on succeeding ethnographies.