2U03 Slonim

							                              Anthropology 2U03
                              Plagues and People




Instructor:                                        Lectures:
Karen Slonim                                       Tuesday and Thursday
Address: CNH 428                                   7:00 – 10:00
ks9c3@mizzou.edu                                    ITB 137
Office Hours: Friday 12:30 – 1:30.
We live in an era obsessed with killer germs, epidemics and pandemics. There is a
growing sense of vulnerability as a growing list of pathogens becomes visible to
investigators. Epidemics and plagues, however, are not new; they have influenced the
course of human history for thousands of years. This course considers the origins,
antiquity, and impact of plagues on human societies from an anthropological, biosocial
perspective. The class sessions begin with an exploration of models and general
principles of infectious disease to establish a framework for understanding plagues. The
focus then shifts to a discussion of specific plagues. We will consider historic,
contemporary, and newly-identified plagues with a view to understanding why they
emerge, how their occurrence is intimately linked to human behaviour, and how they
transform societies.
By the end of this course, you will:
    * understand the relationship between human behaviour and the emergence of
        epidemics
    * appreciate the importance of studying historic plagues for understanding current
        and future plagues
    * have an anthropological framework for interpreting the biosocial origins and
        consequences of plagues
    * improve your critical thinking skills
Format: Lectures, readings, films
Evaluation: Learning Assessment (Best 2 of 3) 50%
            Final Exam 50%

Required Reading
Sherman, Irwin W. 2006. The Power of Plagues. Washington, D. C. ASM Press.
Available at Titles.
                                         Class Schedule




                     CLASS SCHEDULE ANTHROPOLOGY 2U03 - SUMMER 2010
Week   Date     Day                           Topic                        Required Reading
 1   22-Jun     Tue                Welcome and Introductions
     24-Jun    Thurs                     What is Plague                        Chapter 1
 2   29-Jun     Tue                Plagues in Human History                   Chapter 2,3
      1-Jul    Thurs              NO CLASS - CANADA DAY
 3    6-Jul     Tue         Emerging Disease & In-Class Assessment
      8-Jul    Thurs                    The Black Death                        Chapter 4
 4   13-Jul     Tue                      War and Plague                        Chapter 6
     15-Jul    Thurs                 The Forgotten Plague                Chapter 17 (p.395 - 400)
 5   20-Jul     Tue     The Speckled Monster cont'd + In-Class Assesment       Chapter 9
     22-Jul    Thurs                   The Secret Plague                     Chapter 12, 5
 6   27-Jul     Tue                     The White Plague                       Chapter 13
     29-Jul    Thurs        The Crippling Plague + The Fever Plague            Chapter 7
 7   3-Aug      Tue          The Hot Plague + In-Class Assessment              Chapter 8
     5-Aug     Thurs                Final Exam - IN CLASS



      Specific Guidelines for Tests
      Learning Assessments
      Best 2 out of 3 in-class assessments (50 minutes, 25% each) = 50%
      (see class schedule for dates)
      Each assessment will evaluate your understanding of all of the course material since the
      previous assessment. The assessments will consist of varying combinations of multiple
      choice, fill-in the blank, short-answers (e.g. definitions, short explanations, comparisons),
      and essay questions related
      Final Exam: The final exam will be cumulative, covering all of the material (films,
      readings and lectures) discussed through out the course. The format of this exam will be
      multiple choice, fill-in the blank, and short-answers (e.g. definitions, short explanations,
      comparisons)

      NOTE: There are NO EXTENSIONS or make-ups for learning assessments. If you miss
      an assessment, you are required to provide medical certification to your Faculty Office.
      Students are encouraged to complete readings prior to class so that they may be able
      to more fully participate in class discussions
Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by fraudulent means
and can result in serious consequences (e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, the loss
of credit with a notation on the transcript – such notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for
academic dishonesty”) and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For
information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic
Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at:

http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/policy/AcademicIntegrity.pdf

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

   1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other
      credit has been obtained.
   2. Improper collaboration in group work.
   3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

Further Help and Advice
Academic skills counseling (including aid with writing skills) and services for students
with disabilities are available through the Centre for Student Development (CSD). Please
visit the CSD website at: http://csd.mcmaster.ca/


Disclaimer

The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the
course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines
for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of
modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with
the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment
on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check his/her
McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any
changes.