South Puget Sound Community College

Syllabus
Course: Pacific Island Cultures
Department: Anthropology
Course Number: &227
Credits: 5

Course Description:
This course investigates the cultures and peoples of the Pacific, with an emphasis on Polynesia.
The origins of Pacific islanders, prehistoric voyaging and trade, monumental architecture, the
“mysteries” of Easter Island, and cultural changes caused by European contact are examined.
Prerequisite: Engl&101 recommended

Quarter/Year: Fall 2010

Days: MW
Section: IZ
Time: 1:15-3:15 pm

Professor: Dr Patrick Chapman

Office Location: 23-205
Office Hours: MTW 330-430, Th 12-1, F 11-12
Phone Number: 596-5476
e-mail: pchapman@spscc.ctc.edu
Website: http://pchapman.spscc.edu

Materials Required:
The Tiwi of North Australia (3rd ed.) by C.W.M. Hart, Arnold R. Pilling and Jane C. Goodale
The Sambia: Ritual, Sexuality and Change in Papua New Guinea (2nd ed.) by Gilbert Herdt
Nest in the Wind: Adventures in Anthropology on a Tropical Island (2nd ed.) by Martha C. Ward
Unity of Heart: Culture and Change in a Polynesian Atoll Society by Keith and Anne Chambers

COURSE FEATURES/POLICIES:
Academic Honesty: All work is to represent own efforts rather than to be copied from another.
Cheating will result in an F grade for the class.
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Financial Aid: Students receiving financial aid should ALWAYS check with Financial aid prior to
withdrawing, signing an incomplete contract, changing to an audit, or receiving an F or V grade
in a class.”

Class Participation/Attendance: Attendance is not taken but failure to attend class negatively
impacts your grade.

Missed Exams and/or Assignments:

For each day, including the weekend, the papers are late you lose one letter grade (10%).
To prevent viruses from infecting my computer, I do not open e-mail attachments - no
exceptions!

No makeup exams are given. If you miss a test the lost points will be added onto your final
exam total. Thus, if you miss a test your final exam will be worth 300 points instead of 200
points. If you take all of the tests and the final, and one of your test scores is 10% or more lower
than all of your other test scores, then that test will be dropped – this does not apply to the
final exam. If your final exam is 10% or more lower than all of your other test scores, and you’ve
taken them all, then the final exam will be reduced to 100 points instead of 200 points.

Use of electronic equipment is forbidden during tests.

Readings: For each chapter assigned from the texts write one paragraph (about 3 sentences)
summarizing the chapter and also include a critical thinking question (a question you have
about the material you have read). The paragraph must be typed and is due at the start of class.
No late summaries will be accepted. I will accept them via e-mail before 1:15 if you cannot
attend class (no attachments). No late assignments accepted. 2 points per chapter

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND EXPECTATIONS

Evaluation:
Readings 2 points each (80 total) – 12% of total grade
Papers 50 points each (100 total) – 15% of total grade
Tests 100 points each (300 total) – 44% of total grade
Final 200 points – 29% of total grade

Grading Scale:
A 93-100%
A- 90-92%
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B+ 87-89%
B 83-86%
B- 80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69%
D 63-66%
D- 60-62%
F 0-59%

Incomplete: Because of extenuating circumstances, I may consider issuing an Incomplete. The

student is eligible if the student is halfway through the course, is earning at least a C, and is able
to complete the course by working with the instructor no later than the subsequent quarter. If
you are considering this option you must speak with me to determine if it is feasible.

Support Services Available:

Library, Writing Lab in building 22
Disability Support Services located in building 27

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE/CALENDAR/DUE DATES:

Week Topic Important Dates Reading

1 Intro & Australia Tiwi intro
2 Australia Sept 29 = Test 1 Tiwi 1-5
3 Australia & Melanesia Tiwi 6-8
4 Melanesia Sambia intro-3
5 Melanesia Sambia 4-7
6 Near Oceania Oct 25 = Test 2, Oct 27 = advising
7 Micronesia Nov 1 = Paper 1 Nest intro-6
8 Micronesia & Polynesia Nest 7-11, Unity
preface, 1& 2
9 Polynesia Unity 3-6
10 Polynesia Nov 24 = Test 3 Unity 7-10
11 Polynesia Nov 29 = Paper 2
12 Finals week Final = TBA

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the successful completion of this course the student will have:
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A. The cultural and biological diversity of the native Pacific islanders
B. The impact of western culture on the native Pacific island cultures
C. The origins of the indigenous Pacific islanders from scientific and native
perspectives
D. The basic aspects of the geology and ecology of the Pacific and how they affect
the native cultures

COLLEGE WIDE ABILITIES :

A. Think logically and critically
B. Multicultural awareness

COURSE CONTENT:
A. Survey of Pacific geography and ecology
B. Examination of the people and cultures of prehistoric Australia
C. Overview of Pacific linguistic relationships
D. Examination of the people and cultures of Melanesia and Micronesia
E. Examination of the people and cultures of Polynesia
F. Examination of the role of the Pacific environment on the Polynesian phenotype
G. Overview of Pacific monumental architecture
H. Examination of the different Polynesian cultures, including Hawaiian, Maori, Tahitian,
Samoan and Rapa Nui
I. Examination of the anthropological controversies surrounding Easter Island
J. Examination of the impact of western colonization on the different Pacific societies