Tourist with local Guatemalans in Central Park in Antigua, Guatemala. Photo by Ruth Anaya
All the domains of life can be studied under the topic of anthropology. While you have been exposed to many interesting topics, much more remains to be studied, explored, and experienced. For that reason this unit will provide a collective experience when each student will present their culture trait presentation.
This is also the unit and the week when you can revisit a topic you wished you could have studied more, or pick up on a topic that wasn’t covered. The unit is intentionally unstructured to give you freedom and time to conclude with something that is compelling.
Note: This unit will be structured differently then other units. Be sure to carefully follow the directions provided by your instructor.
When you have completed this unit, you should be able to:
During this Learning Lab, each student will be presenting their Culture Trait Presentation. More information and directions for this assignment can be found on the “Assignment - Culture Trait” tab on the side of the page in Unit 10.
In addition, your Facilitator will also be leading a discussion, during this Learning Lab, that will focus on exploring reviewing or exploring ideas you learned throughout the course. During this discussion, consider:
Note: Students will be assessed, during Learning Lab’s, based on the “Participation”* criteria. This criteria can be found under the Assignment tab at the top of the page - it is important to review this information prior to the Learning Lab.
During your Learning Lab for Unit 10, each student will be expected to present their Culture Trait project. This will be an oral presentation supported with visual media.
Expectations and instructions are outlined below…
Note: The selection of a topic will take place during Unit 6. This will provide students with time to complete their research and develop their presentation.
To begin this assignment, each student will select a cultural topic. A list of topics has been provided below:
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Students are encouraged to present on other cultural topics that have not been included on the handout above.
IMPORTANT: Once you have selected your topic, you will need to seek out approval from the Facilitator. Each student will need to present on a separate topic and the Facilitator will keep track of who is presenting each topic. The Facilitator can also help focus and clarify topics if you are struggling.
Once you have chosen a topic, and had it approved by the Facilitator, it is time to begin your research (this will have been approved during Unit 6).
Once you have identified your topic, each student will begin their research. It is expected that each student use at least 3 resources as part of this process. As you involve yourself in the research, consider using:
These will help engage an audience and support their understanding of the subject matter. Additionally, ensure that you source each image.
Presentations should be well-organized. Be sure to incorporate effective use of headings and subheadings to highlight/emphasize important information.
It is expected that all relevant content for the presentation be included in the “Notes” section at the bottom the slides (this section is found at the bottom of each slide when using PowerPoint). This section should include the main themes/ideas/information you will be conveying as part of your presentation.
Each student must include a “Re-Cap” slide as part of their presentation. The purpose of this slide is to highlight one important point you want to ensure each member of the audience understands about your topic. This should be specific and concise.
It is expected that each presentation also include one “Question” slide. The question slide should provide a prompt “to think.” It should not be a question straight forward question of a fact. Instead, end with a question that requires an explanation, a perspective or reflection. Why questions are a good approach as they focus on understanding. I also recommend that you personalize the question (e.g. Why do you think that..?).
If you are planning on using any video clips as part of your presentation, please let the Facilitator know the day before your presentation - this will allow them time to set up the necessary technical equipment.
The following criteria will be used to assess your assignment:
Once you have completed your PowerPoint, and before presenting, upload your presentation to the Culture Trait Presentation Assignment dropbox at the bottom of the page.
Please note that this assessment will count towards 15% of your final grade for this course.
For this, final assessment in the course, each student will develop an UnEssay. The information below provides an overview of what is expected. Additionally, you will also find instructions for this activity.
The purpose of this assignment, is to produce a creative cultural item: an UnEssay. Throughout this course, and during the Learning Lab for Unit 10, you have been exposed to a wide range of aspects that cultural anthropologists investigate in their study. This activity, provides an opportunity to focus on a topic of your interest. Each student will design and deliver a creative piece of work on their chosen topic.
As mentioned above, this assignment is intended to allow for flexibility and creativity - each submission will look different. To begin, follow the steps below - they will guide you through the process and help you develop out your final submission for this activity:
Step 1 {-}
Reflect on what you learned - choose your own topic:
The resources for this unit depend on your interests. Therefore, nothing is given as required reading or viewing. However to spark interest and extend your awareness, I ask you to view these three sites. Thereafter, explore on your own.
“The Good Life” is a short talk about the meaning of happiness, and the difference between happiness and the good life. Watch and listen to “What is the good life?” (3:09).
Browse the Survival International website and watch There you go(2:21), a short, satirical film that tells the story of how ‘development’ robs “tribal people of their land, self-sufficiency and pride and leaving them with nothing.”
Honor-based Violence Awareness Network has an interactive art exhibition that portrays gender-based violence in Pakistan “where the concepts of honour and shame are fundamentally bound up with the expected behaviours of families and individuals, particularly those of women.”
After reviewing the resources above, take some time to brainstorm some possible topics - use these ideas to identify your final topic that will serve as the basis for your UnEssay.
If you are still struggling to identify a topic, consider doing your Unessay on the topic, “the Good Life”, as this topic can have meaning, and value, to you personally. As part of this, the following questions may serve as useful guides:
Ultimately, this question has to do with your own values - present what “the good life” means to you.
You can also discuss your idea with your course facilitator so that you get feedback and input, and have clarity about what it is you hope to do.
Step 2 {-}
Create and present:
This assignment provides an opportunity for each student to be creative. Your final submission should be accurate, interesting, and as complete and/or convincing as the topic allows. Consider the following suggestions:
Step 3 {-}
Submit a statement about your work:
The success and assessment of this project is based on you being creative, compelling, and effective. Creativity here refers to evidence that you have put thought into it, and that it is something clearly produced by you. I will define compelling and effective according to this post by Ryan Cordell (http://s17tot.ryancordell.org/assignments/unessays/).
An UnEssay is compelling when it shows some combination of the following:
In terms of presentation, an UnEssay is effective when it shows some combination of these attributes:
The following criteria will be used to assess your assignment:
Once you have completed your project, submit your assignment by uploading it to the UnEssay Assignment dropbox at the bottom of the page.
This activity will represent 5% of your overall grade for the course.
Before you move on to the next unit, check that you are able to:
Appreciate different cultures and the unique features that define or describe a culture group.
Discover and express your view or learning about something you take pride in because you have understood something new, and found a voice to express it.
Present your Culture Trait PowerPoint. End with one recap and one question. The guidelines for doing this assignment are in a separate handout.
As a presenter:
As a listener, you also need to be able to:
Ruth - some more direction/instruction here might help students
The resources for this unit depend on your interests. Therefore, nothing is given as required reading or viewing. However to spark interest and extend your awareness, I ask you to view these three sites. Thereafter, explore on your own.
“The Good Life” is a short talk about the meaning of happiness, and the difference between happiness and the good life. Watch and listen to “What is the good life?” (3:09).
Browse the Survival International website and watch There you go(2:21), a short, satirical film that tells the story of how ‘development’ robs “tribal people of their land, self-sufficiency and pride and leaving them with nothing.”
Honor-based Violence Awareness Network has an interactive art exhibition that portrays gender-based violence in Pakistan “where the concepts of honour and shame are fundamentally bound up with the expected behaviours of families and individuals, particularly those of women.”
The success and assessment of this project is based on you being creative, compelling, and effective. Creativity here refers to evidence that you have put thought into it, and that it is something clearly produced by you. I will define compelling and effective according to this post by Ryan Cordell (http://s17tot.ryancordell.org/assignments/unessays/).
An UnEssay is compelling when it shows some combination of the following:
In terms of presentation, an UnEssay is effective when it shows some combination of these attributes:
it is readable/watchable/listenable (i.e. the production values are appropriately high and the audience is not distracted by avoidable lapses in presentation).
it is appropriate (i.e. it uses a format and medium that suits its topic and approach).
it is attractive (i.e. it is presented in a way that leads the audience to trust the author and his or her arguments, examples, and conclusions).
Students are also expected to practice the following throughout the course: