Anthropology 474, California Archaeology

Fall, 2003

MWF, 9:30 to 10:55 am; DDH F-100

Instructor: Dr. Mark Q. Sutton

Office Hours: MWF, 1:00 - 2:00 pm; or by appointment.

Office: DDH CC 218, extension 3153

Required Texts: California Archaeology by Michael J. Moratto

Before California by Brian M. Fagan

The purpose of this course is to discuss in detail the archaeology of California, from its initial colonization to European contact. The student should finish the course in command of facts and figures and with an understanding of culture process, from early hunter-gatherers to complex chiefdoms. This course is demanding and will require an effort from us all to successfully complete.

Grading will be based on a research paper proposal (20 pts.), a midterm exam (100 pts.), a research paper (200 pts.), and a comprehensive final exam (200 pts.), a total of 520 points.

Final grades will be assigned on a strict percentage basis:

100% to 90% = A

89.99% to 80% = B

79.99% to 70% = C

69.99% to 60% = D

below 60% = F

1. A written proposal (worth 20 points) for your research paper is due on October 13, 2003 and should contain the text of your proposal and a brief bibliography of references you had look at so far. It will be returned to you with comments and suggestions. The 20 points will be awarded upon timely submission, the proposal will not be graded for content. Ten points will be deducted for late submissions. THE RESEARCH PAPER PROPOSAL MUST BE TYPED.

2. The research paper (200 points) will consist of research on some aspect of California prehistory or prehistoric adaptation. The paper must be at least 15 pages long (graduate students must complete papers at least 25 pages long). The paper is due on November 17, 2003. If you wish to turn in a draft early, I will comment on it, return it to you, and you can revise it. This will result in a better paper (and a higher grade). Twenty points will be deducted for late submissions. THE RESEARCH PAPER MUST BE TYPED.

3. The midterm exam will be given on October 10, 2003. It will be worth 100 points and will consist of a combination of objective (true-false, multiple choice, etc.) and subjective (essay) sections, split about 50-50. YOU MUST ANSWER THE ESSAY QUESTIONS IN A BLUE BOOK.

4. The final exam will be given on Friday, November 21, 2003 (8:00 to 10:30 am) and will be cumulative, worth 200 points, and consist of a combination of objective (true-false, multiple choice, etc.) and subjective (essay) sections, split about 50-50. YOU MUST ANSWER THE ESSAY QUESTIONS IN A BLUE BOOK. We can discuss the possibility of having a cheat sheet for the final.

5. An incomplete will rarely be given and only for University-sanctioned reasons. Incompletes will require additional work (e.g., longer papers or harder tests). Make sure you look at the class schedule for the various rules and dates regarding withdrawal from courses.

Each class session will begin and end on time. I do now want to be treated as a TV. I do not appreciate people coming into class late or leaving early, or getting up to go to the bathroom or get a snack, or talking when I am talking. This behavior is distracting to me and to the other students. If there is a special arrangement to be made, talk to me. NO food or drinks are allowed in the classrooms. I do not appreciate cell phones and pagers in class, please turn them off prior to class. I reserve the right to lower your grade if your behavior becomes a problem.

Plagiarism is a very serious offense. Using published or unpublished material without citing the source is plagiarism. You may use someone else's material if you enclose it in quotation marks and precisely reference its source. Such material, however, should be used sparingly. Simply paraphrasing someone else's materials by minimal rearrangement of the wording also is plagiarism. It is an equally serious offense if you write a paper for someone else, or copy someone else's work, or allow someone to copy your work: this is cheating. Plagiarism and cheating result automatically in a grade of F. University regulations require also that a letter be entered into the student's file regarding the infraction, and any second offense will lead to dismissal from the University.

The following suggestions are selected from Moss and Holder (1982).

1. Plan before you write. Your essay should start with a thesis sentence that answers the question directly and states the conclusion you have come to after thinking about the question. Feel free to jot down (on the back of an exam page, for example) a brief outline of the major points you will use to support your thesis.

2. Write the essay, following your outline. Though your essay should be factual, you may not have enough time to write all the details you know. Therefore, you must be selective. Choose those facts, details, examples, or other points that will best support your thesis.

3. Keep your thesis in mind as you write. Time is short so do not allow yourself to be distracted by a side issue. Everything you include should be pertinent to answering the question and supporting your thesis. Do not include irrelevant information just in the hopes that it will show that you know something.

4. Proofread your essays at the end of the exam period. It is easy to misspell even simple words, to omit letters or words and to construct sentences with incorrect grammar when you are writing under pressure. Make any corrections or additions neatly.

Moss, A, and C. Holder

1982 Improving Student Writing: A Guidebook for Faculty in all Disciplines: Pomona, CA: Graphics Communications Service of CSU Pomona.

Your paper will consist of your research into a topic on California prehistory and a guideline on how your paper should be organized is provided below. A primary thing that I look at in grading papers is a demonstration that you made a genuine effort in the paper. If you can show that you did the work, you will get a good grade. Your paper should include the following sections.

1. INTRODUCTION: Briefly describe your research topic, why it is important, and why you are interested in it.

2. BACKGROUND: Provide a detailed discussion of the problem or issue. Give a history of the development of the ideas, who thinks what and why.

3. THE EVIDENCE: What is the current evidence that bears on the question? Discuss this material in some detail.

4. CONCLUSIONS: What conclusion does the evidence support? Are there alternative explanations or other models that may be useful? Discuss what can be said about the topic now? If opinions differ, what is the current majority view? What is your view? Where can we go from here?

5. REFERENCES: Your paper must have a minimum of 15 references, at least seven (7) of which must be from scientific journals. Sources such as newspapers, magazines (e.g., Time or Newsweek), and encyclopedias are NOT acceptable, you must use books and scientific journal articles. Textbooks are NOT acceptable, go back to the references in your text and use them. Follow the style of the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology (the style guide is published in Vol. 14, No. 1). It will take calender time to get your library materials. I will not accept internet references. BEGIN YOUR WORK ASAP! The primary book in this class is 25 years old, make sure you consult more recent materials. Much is available in American Antiquity, the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, and many other sources. Do the research.

All students in this class have access to the CSUB library and its services. You can go to the physical library or you can access it on-line at http://www.lib.csubak.edu/. You can search the library catalog, look at on-line journals, order books on interlibrary loan, etc. However, to view or check out materials and/or use interlibrary loan, you must have a CSUB student ID. Get one ASAP. If you have difficulty, contact Jamie Jacks at (661) 664-3372 or jjacks@csub.edu. You would be well advised to get to the library early and often.

EXTRA CREDIT

If you would like, you may do an extra paper for extra credit. The paper would be no longer than eight (8) pages (typed), have at least five (5) references, and deal with a topic having nothing to do with your regular term paper. The topic must be approved by me first. Such a paper will be worth up to 50 points.

TOPIC READINGS

1 Introduction, Geography, and History of Research Moratto, chapters 1, 11

Fagan, chapters 1, 7-9, 15

2 Peopling of the New World and the Paleoindian Period Moratto, chapters 2-3

Fagan, chapters 2-3

3 Prehistory of the Southern Coast Moratto, chapter 4

Fagan, chapters 4-6, 13, 14

4 Prehistory of the Central Valley Moratto, chapter 5

Fagan, chapter 12

MIDTERM October 10, 2003

PAPER PROPOSAL DUE October 13, 2003

5 Prehistory of the Delta and Central Coast Moratto, chapter 6

Fagan, chapter 11

6 Prehistory of the Sierra Nevada Moratto, chapter 7

7 Prehistory of Northeastern California Moratto, chapter 9

8 Prehistory of the North Coast Moratto, chapter 10

Fagan, chapter 10

9 Baja California (if time permits) None assigned

10 Prehistory of the California Deserts (if time permits) Moratto, chapter 8

PAPERS DUE November 17, 2003

FINAL November 21, 2003 (8:00 to 10:30 am)