CORE 140A AFRICAN CULTURES

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CORE 140AAFRICAN CULTURES

• Dr. James Stewart

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OUTLINE

• Introductions
• Exceptions
• Syllabus
• WebCt
• Pre-Assessment Survey
• Country/Presentation Sign-Up
• Final Project
• Next Class

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EXPECTATIONS

• Keep an open mind
• Avoid making broad generalizations about Africa
  and Africans
• Be open to new thoughts on people who are in
  situations not of their making
• Avoid stereotypical preconceptions
• Think outside your comfort zone

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SYLLABUS

• Class Readings
• Tests
• Course Resources
• Weather Schedule
• Grading Policy
• Office Hours

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CLASS PARTICIPATION

• See Student Handbook for definition of excused
  absences
• More than 3 unexcused absences will affect your
  final grade
• You will get handouts that follow the readings
• Class discussions will center around the main
  topics from the handouts
• Active participation is expected

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WebCT

• Primary mode to communicate
• Visit at least once between classes
• Valuable tools to aid in your success
• Syllabus
• Maps
• Multimedia presentations
• Guidelines for presentation/paper
• Sign-up sheets for country presentation
• E-Mail (Your Private E-mail)
• Discussions (public discourse between you and
  classmates/instructor

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WebCT HELP

• Please remember that you will use your Network
  Name and Network Password to access WebCT. If you
  are having trouble with your Network login
  information, you will need to contact the help
  desk at x4357. To change your network password,
  you can visit https//webmail.kings.edu/iisadmpwd/
  . If you are a new Network account, you will
  need to change your password before you are able
  to successfully log in to WebCT.

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FINAL PROJECT

• Country Assignments
• Select a country that you would like to research
• If your country is taken, you may negotiate
• You will research certain aspects of your country
  and present your findings at the end of the
  semester
• Class Presentation
• Research Paper

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FINAL PROJECT GUIDELINES

• Presentation
• 5-10 minutes
• Audiovisual (PowerPoint preferred)
• Follow headings from your paper
• Include graphics to make the presentation more
  interesting (pictures of currency, food, people,
  geography, maps)
• Dont include minutia (telephones, airports,
  roads, televisions) unless it is used to make a
  point
• DO NOT read your paper or your slides (use note
  cards if needed)
• Sell your country!

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FINAL PROJECT GUIDELINES

• Research Paper
• The paper must be 8-10 pages, double-spaced in
  Times New Roman 12 point font and use the
  provided template
• The paper will contain a cover sheet,
  bibliography, and a map depicting its location in
  Africa. (Does not count towards the 8-10 pages)  
  
• You must use at least 5 sources, two must not be
  from the Internet (magazine article, EBSCO,
  LEXIS/NEXIS, book, etc)
• You may use any style to references your sources
  (APA, MLA, etc), but you MUST cite the references
  in the paper
• The paper must contain at least the following
  (headings preferred)  
• Short history of the country/current
  government/leadership  
• Geography/Demography   
• Culture (language, religion, currency, cuisine,
  customs)          
• 2 current major issues facing the country today
  (economic, political, environmental, medical)

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PRE-ASSESSMENT SURVEY

• Survey
• Used to get an assessment of your preconceptions
  and misconceptions about Africa and its people
• Write a letter to a friend on your upcoming study
  abroad to South Africa
• Turn in next class period

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What Do We Know About Africa?

• Draw a map of Africa without referring to any
  sources.
• Add to it any political (cities and countries),
  physical (mountains, deserts, rivers, oceans, and
  historic (religions, events, wars, people,
  current events, leaders...) details that you know
  of
• Give 3 words that you associate with Africa
• Geography
• Demography

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NEXT CLASS

• Discussion
• Discussion Of Culture
• Reading
• PowerPoint - Culture