ANTH 305 Assignments

PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE (20%)
Attendance is required; after the first two weeks, a sign-in sheet will be circulated.  If you sign-in and depart, this will be noted.  There will be in-class discussions. If you are absent, you cannot participate. (See VIU General Regulations – Attendance.)

Active participation is contributing to all class activities; discussion is the primary one.  Credit will not be given to verbose individuals who enjoy the sound of their voices.  I am interested in the quality of comments and/or questions raised during discussion.  Be an informed participant, i.e., read assigned articles!

For those who are less confident about speaking in class, you can still participate through VIULearn.  Each student is expected to contribute to the various discussion topics throughout the semester (minimum of four posts), either by posting a relevant article, or commenting on one submitted by a classmate.  The latter should be substantive, i.e., an informed opinion, not one that states agreement.

Class Project: Street/Public Art in Nanaimo.  Besides the various items already identified through the City of Nanaimo’s Public Art Inventory, where else is there public or street art?  Include a short explanation for its inclusion.  The database will be located in VIULearn.

NOTE:  Submissions to VIULearn will be accepted up to Friday, December 14, 11:30pm.

To receive full credit for participation (quality counts!), you must 1) attend class,
2) participate fully in class activities (discussion, etc.), 3) contribute to the class project on public/street art, and 4) post to VIULearn.

OPINION PIECE (5%)
You are encouraged to learn outside the classroom by taking advantage of on- and off-campus events, for example, viewing a Worldbridger film (Nanaimo Campus, Thursday evenings).  During the semester, I will post other possibilities as I become aware of them.  Check with me if there is an event that you wish to attend not already identified.

Attend an event and submit an opinion piece (no more than 250-300 words) through VIULearn.

opin-ion \ ə-’pin-yə n \ n. 1 a: a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary 11th Edition)

As the above definition implies, I am interested in your response to the event. Your commentary is NOT to be a summary.  Be reflective, support your opinion.

NOTE: This is the only assignment that can be considered ‘optional’; there is no penalty if you do not complete this other than missing 5% of your mark.

IN CLASS FILM RESPONSE (15%)
After viewing XXXX, you will be presented a general question to respond in class.  Your response should incorporate what you have learned over the semester, as well as being an opinion.

Your response is to be written as an essay and be grammatically correct.  Spelling will not count.  You will be evaluated on critical thinking and understanding of the course content.

DUE:  October 25

IN-CLASS, CREATING A STATEMENT (25%)
As we have learned in listening to artists’ statements, their endeavours in expressing themselves visually have meaning and motive.  For this assignment, there will a maximum of six groups of 4-6 individuals.  Topics will be generated through class discussion.

Part 1: Based on the topic, students will research the issue at hand and bring their resources to the group to discuss.  Each student will provide a minimum of two items, submitting these through VIULearn.  They should be properly cited, with a rationale for their relevance to the topic.  Each individual’s contribution will be submitted and evaluated individually.  The group will merge these into one document to share with the whole class.  (10% of the 25%)

In class, there will be a discussion on how the topic/issue can be visually expressed.

Part 2: Creating a statement visually.  Two class periods will be allocated to work out some of the details.  The created piece is to be submitted as a group.  (10% of the 25%)

Part 3: Presenting the item to the class as a group; individually, submit through VIULearn, your reflection on the process.  (5% of the 25%)

The class will vote to determine, if a 2-dimensional statement might be professional printed.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (10%)
In preparation for the final project, students are to pair themselves to begin research on a topic with the same focus of this course.  You may want to consider a topic that has not been adequately covered in the course, such as, dating methods, conservation, ethics, or eco-tourism.  You should have a minimum of 7-10 references.  Depending on the topic, there should be a mix of articles and books or book chapters.  Follow citation references according to the Chicago Manual of Style (Author-Date). If you are having trouble finding sources, please see me.  Refer to my comments on “Using Internet Resources,” that is, be critical of the content!

Annotated bibliographies provide full citation sources, PLUS some form of brief summary or annotation of assessment.   Remember to alphabetize these.  For further information regarding annotated bibliographies, go to: VIU LibGuide Annotated Bibliographies.

Topics MUST be approved (Week 6, Nov 12) for your final project and are to be problem-based.  A solely descriptive poster or presentation will NOT be acceptable.  At the time of submitting your annotated bibliography, include the title and a statement on the topic (short paragraph).

DUE:  Nov 2

POSTER OR VISUAL PRESENTATION (25%)
Poster Presentation:  Academic conferences regularly accept poster presentations as a means of circulating information quickly and conveniently. It allows for more presenters than the usual forum of three to six speakers per session. This assignment will force you to be concise and to the point in stating: your problem, research, analysis and/or interpretation, and conclusion.

Each group of two students will indicate the rationale for their poster (no more than two minutes) and then respond to one or two questions (total presentation, maximum of ten minutes).  While the posters are on display, poster presenters should be ready to respond to any questions from their peers.  Remember each student will be critiquing ONE other student’s poster, as part of his/her participation mark.

Remember that an effective poster is visually interesting as well as informative. All text (even though highly informative) is not likely to invite an audience. Your task is to attract someone to a subject that interests you.

As with any research project, you need to cite sources (for images, as well as, the usual written information).  A final bibliography is to be attached submitted to VIULearn (your mark will be affected without it).

Use a standard fold-out presentation board (48″x36″) like those available at Staples or Michaels, or have your presentation (landscape-orientation) printed.

Pecha Kucha Presentation:  Your presentation is based on the annotated bibliography.  A final bibliography is to be submitted the day of your presentation (your mark will be affected without it).  A Pecha Kucha presentation is simply 20 slides with 20 seconds of commentary, so no more than 6:40 min.  The slides are automatically set to run at a 20-second interval.  Review article on making great Pecha Kucha presentations.  Submit to VIULearn.

Review the VIU LibGuide Presentation Design and Delivery.

You will be graded on

  • content,
    Your information should be relevant, informative, interesting, credible, and effective.  Does it contribute to our understanding of the question/issue posed?
  • presentation style, and
    Your presentation should be organized (well coordinated); speakers should have “presence” (eye contact, audible voice, good overall demeanor); and visual aids should be appropriate and enhance the presentation.  If you leave your audience “wowed” and informed, then consider your presentation style effective.

NOTE: Those doing a Pecha Kucha presentation should have it loaded onto the classroom computer ready to go!  Remember, the slides are on an automated 20-second interval.

  • discussion.
    This portion of your grade is based on the manner in which you handle questions and encourage audience feedback.

DUE:  Dec 4 & 6

NOTE:

  • No lates, please!   Assignments are due in class or, as noted, through VIULearn.  Only in exceptional circumstances (e.g., verifiable ill-health) and only when the instructor is notified will other arrangements be made. (See VIU General Regulations.)
  • Read “On Writing” to ensure that you understand my expectations of a writing assignment.
  • If you need help with your writing, please seek assistance from the Writing Centre, The Library, Nanaimo Campus, Fourth Floor, Room 474 Contact the Writing Centre at local 2115, or make an appointment online.  As well, refer to the numerous “how to” handouts available online.
  • Plagiarism will not be tolerated.  Students caught plagiarizing will automatically receive an F as their final grade. VIU Student Academic Code of Conduct (policy 96.01)

Last updated 2018-09-04