Assignment: Discussion Board
120 points
Due: Every Friday through Sunday
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Each student is expected to participate in the weekly discussions. For one (1) of the weeks you will work with a small team to facilitate the discussion (see Team Project: Discussion Board Facilitation for complete instructions). For the most part, I will not take part in these discussions; however, I will be reading them and reserve the right to join in the conversations.
Minimum Requirements
On each of the weekly discussion boards, students must post a minimum of 500 words. How you divide your minimum word count is up to you; however you must post at least:
- an answer to at least two of the questions,
- comments to at least two of your fellow students’ answers, and
- at least one response to a comment left on one of your answers.
My hope is that you will participate more then the minimum. At the end of your comments and responses, please put the word count in parentheses. You can easily determine word count in a word processing program. Failure to include the word count will result in on (1) point deducted off your final score for each time it is not included. You must post in the appropriate week’s discussion board to earn credit. If you post after the deadline, it will not be evaluated by the team who is facilitating that week.
Expressing an opinion is not enough. You will be evaluated on the consistency and quality of your posts to the weekly discussion board. We (myself and the facilitators) will primarily be looking for how well you support your comments. I expect you to work to make meaning of the material of the course. We will look for depth of engagement, as well as level of critical thinking and inquiry. Success hinges on keeping up with readings, and referring to them as much as possible when you do respond. I also expect to see theory identification from time to time. I recommend that you look at the Student Evaluation form in the Team Project: Discussion Board Facilitation to get an idea of how the teams will be evaluating your participation.
Please note that it is impossible to get over a 2.7 in the class if you do not participate in the discussions and that is only if you ace all of the other assignments.
Assessment
Learn Actively: 20 points
- recognize key elements of human culture and have a basic understanding of fundamental cultural anthropology concepts: comments are in-depth and indicate an understanding of the readings (in other words, you make it clear that you’ve done the readings by using material from the readings to support your point); anthropological terminology and concepts used correctly
Communicate with Clarity and Originality: 25 points
- have begun to develop or improve your communication skills: postings are coherent, well-written, and substantial; posts are spell and grammar checked; no Internet chat room abbreviations used
- be able to clearly express your thoughts about human culture and adaptive processes: student can use class readings to discuss topics; posts are logical and easily followed
- know how to properly cite sources and provide complete citations for sources: readings are cited using author and page number; if bringing in supporting evidence not included in the textbook, complete citation is provided
Think Critically, Creatively, and Reflectively: 50 points
- The following outcomes are demonstrated through critical, thought-provoking comments
- Understand how to look at culture at various levels (individual, community, national) and from an anthropological perspective
- Be able to assess the interaction between culture, biology and the environment
- have learned to assess anthropological information in general and scholarly sources
- be able to interrelate your personal experiences and societal forces within the context of cultural anthropology
- understand that while there are various ways of being human and we are each unique, we also share some basic commonalities of experience and living
Interact in Diverse and Complex Environments: 25 points
- have some tools to use to help you identify ethnocentrism: student can recognize ethnocentric behaviors in readings as well as in themselves
- have worked on your cooperative and verbal skills through team work: student makes minimum required response
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