FACTOIDS

T.A. Chith Kudlu
Office Hrs: M/W 11:30-12:30 or appt
Office: McMillan 303

chith.prabha@gmail.com

T.A. Natalie Mueller
Office Hrs: T/R 12-1 or appt
Office: McMillan B20

ngmueller@gmail.com

• Does environment determine (or even shape) culture? Do cultures "evolve" as they switch from foraging to simple agriculture to intensive agriculture?
• In what ways are cultural uses of the environment controlled by population density? Is rising population density the primary cause of environmental destruction?
• Was Malthus right that population inherently tends to outstrip food production? Was he right that this is the prime cause of poverty? If not, why does this theory continue to be so influential? What practical effects have the theory had? In what ways is it a political theory as opposed to an ecological one?
• Are there sustainable intensive small farms in the world? If so, what makes them work?
• What was the "Greap Leap Forward," and how did it starve 30 million people? What does this episode tell us about smallholder agriculture?
• What was the "Green Revolution"? If its chief architect won a Nobel Peace Prize, why is violence attributed to it? Has it helped or hurt agricultural sustainability?
• How and why has food production become industrialized in this country? What roles have been played by science and capital? Who are the winners and losers in this fundamental change in food production?
• What are genetically modified crops? What is the debate all about? Are they critical to the fight against world hunger? What are the larger issues?
• What is "shash & burn" farming, and why do so many farmers practice it? Is it really the cause of rainforest destruction?
• Is conflict over resources the exception or the rule among indigenous peoples? Has European expansion done more to suppress or cause indigenous conflict?
• How does religion mediate human interaction with the environment? Can religious rituals act as regulators of humans and their key resources?
• What is happening with world population today? If we are threatened by impending overpopulation, why are many scholars concerned about falling fertility rates?
• What does "organic agriculture" really mean? What are the pros and cons of organic and local food? If they are really better for the environment, why do some say they are harmful?

Prerequisites. There are no prerequisites for the course.  This course may be used as a prerequisite for the Political Ecology seminar (Anth 4282) or Anthropology of Food (Anth 4215). The course goes particularly well with Prof. Childs' Population and Society.

Reading. We will read a selection of articles and book chapters, part of Ross's The Malthus Factor, and most of Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma and Becker's Hungry Ghosts. Most readings will be available on the web or Eres. Malthus Factor, Omnivore and Ghosts are available at the Mallinkrodt bookstore. There is no coursepack to buy. The reading load is moderate overall, but it is not uniform -- there are occasional peaks and troughs. Please look ahead and budget your time.

Optional readings may help you on the exams but often they offer further information that you will not be tested on. Ask me for details on any of the readings.

Grading and exams. Grades will be based on the following weighting:

        Quiz 1       2.5%
        Quiz 2       2.5%
        Midterm 1   28.0% 
        Midterm 2   28.0%
        Final       38.5%

        Eval          .5%  

• Quizzes emphasize the readings and they may include readings assigned for the day of the quiz.  They typically have 2-3 short essays. Quizzes will also include a short section on factoids (explained in the discussion on how to do well). Quiz 2 covers back to the preceding midterm.
• Midterms require more synthesis and analysis. They are cumulative but #2 emphasizes material since #1.
• The final is cumulative.
• All three exams will contain a mixture of objective, short-answer, and short-essay questions; the final may contain a longer essay. Sample questions and review questions will be provided on the web.
• The TA's grade all exams (always with input from the professor). If you have questions about the grading of any particular question, please see the TA's first.
• A grade of D is required to pass if taken P/F

Course grades will be on a modified curve, typically with 25-35% A, 35-50% B. Approximate curves will be given after each test, but final grades are based on total weighted scores, not on letter grades, to avoid rounding errors.

No extra credit assignments will be accepted, but I will read and evaluate practice answers prior to exams. Class participation is strongly encouraged (although it doesn't affect your grade); if you have comments or questions, don't be shy about raising your hand!

Make-ups. Absences from exams will be excused for debilitating health problems or varsity athletic obligations.  Requests for special treatment to accommodate flight schedules etc. will be cheerfully granted on the one condition that hell has frozen over.

The email record.  Please remember that any arrangements regarding your fulfillment of course requirements must be recorded in email and must include acknowledgement from me.  (For instance: "Dear Dr. Stone, when we spoke yesterday you agreed that because of my recent illness I could take a make-up midterm on Nov. 12.  Please acknowledge this arrangement.")  This avoids misunderstanding.

Course website.  This website will be used to maintain the syllabus (which may be changed somewhat during the semester), to facilitate access to readings, and to post supplementary materials ranging from news articles to class discussion to grade distributions.  Powerpoints and lecture notes will be available in a password-protected directory.