From time to time the professor assigns additional readings to supplement the assignments given in the syllabus. These items become part of the required reading for the class.
Anthropology
"Geronimo's Buttons," TLS, August 8, 2008.
Read this article in connection with the introduction and first chapter in Social & Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction. Use it to gain more perspective on how the field of anthropology developed.
Food
These newspaper and magazine articles should be read in relation to the discussion of food in chapter 2 of Social & Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction.
Michael Pollan, "Unhappy Meals," New York Times, January 28, 2007.
"Food For Thought," Economist, July 17, 2008.
David Loyn, "Long Era of Cheap Food is Over," BBC, May 29, 2008.
"Catching a healthy life," Tulsa World, August 18, 2008
“Instead of Eating to Diet, They’re Eating to Enjoy,.”
New
York Times,
September 17, 2008
“6
Food Mistakes Parents Make,”
New
York Times,
September 15, 2008
Intelligence
"Gut Instinct's Surprising Role in Math," New York Times, September 16, 2008.
Read in connection with Box 6.2 on page 72 of Psychology: A Very Short Introduction
Poverty
"Tulsa, state schools' free meal eligibility rises," Tulsa World, August 18, 2008.
Read this article in connection with Maril's study of Oklahoma poverty.
Ruth
The Old Testament Book of Ruth, in English Translation
Read this material in connection with the discussion of types of marriage in Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction.
Science,
Social Science and Society
Michael
J. Shanahan and Ross Macmillan.
Biography and the Sociological
Imagination: Contexts and Contingencies.
New York and London: W.W.
Norton, 2008. Read pages 5-9.
Read this material in connection with the discussion in
Sociology: A Very Short
Introduction of science and sociology as a
science. Ask yourself: what is
science, and in what senses (if any) is sociology scientific?
L. Gregory
Jones, “Monkey Business,” Christian
Century, September 9, 2009.
Ask yourself: in what sense(s) , if any, is this a scientific report?
Scientific Research
"Publish and be wrong." Economist, October 9, 2008.
1. Samuel Chapter 8 (from the Old Testament)
Evaluate this material in light of Kenneth Minogue's discussion of despotism in chapter 1 of Polit1cs: A Very Short Introduction.
2. Political Geography (PowerPoint outline from Dr. Tait)
Become familiar with the following terms: state; sovereignty; centripetal and centrifugal forces.
3. "War of Words in Divided Belgium" (BBC News)
Analyze this article in terms of the distinction between centripetal and centrifugal forces.
History
"Beyond the facts." TLS, September 26, 2008
Ask yourself, What is history? What do historians do? Relate this article to Arnold's book.
"Buy, buy, buy." Review of Jan de Vries, The Industrious Revolution: Consumer behavior and the household economy, 1650 to the present. TLS, September 26, 2008
Read this with an eye to discovering how new historical research can open up surprising perspectives on what seemed to be familiar topics.
"Lost capitals." Review of Andrew Louth, Greek East and Latin West: The Church AD 681-1071. TLS, September 26, 2008
Read this with an eye to discovering (a) how challenging it can be to recover ancient texts and (b) how new historical research can change the focus of study of important topics.
Philip Jenkins. "Long-Lost Christians: The Church's Forgotten History," Christian Century, November 4, 2008.
Read this with an eye to learning how historical scholarship can challenge our entire understanding of somethign we think we know very well.
Obama's Speech on Race (March 2008)
Links to Speech and Comments on Speech
"Obama's Quandary," Matt Frei of the BBC (PDF File)
"The Wright Context," Christian Century, April 22, 2008
"The Rest of the Story," Christian Century, April 22, 2008
"Obama Caught Between Pulpit and Politics," Christian Century, April 22, 2008