ANP264: Great Discoveries in Archaeology looks at the history of archaeological discoveries around the world and how those discoveries have helped us to understand our shared past and cultural heritage. The course will focus on a series of key archaeological discoveries that over time have captured the public’s imagination. By exploring and scrutinizing these exciting discoveries, students address pivotal archaeological questions about our shared cultural heritage and gain a better understanding of the nature of archaeological inquiry (how and what archaeologists do what they do).
D2L
We’re only using D2L for three things this semester – (1) an online gradebook, (2) for the online midterm exam, and (3) for the online final exam. Everything else will live on the course website (this website).
ASSIGNED TEXTBOOKS & READINGS
There is no required textbook for this class. Instead, electronic readings (downloadable PDFs, websites, etc) will be assigned throughout the semester. Many of the online readings will be available through the MSU Library Electronic Resources System or accessible via MSU Google Drive (which will require your MSU Net ID to access). Refer to the Schedule for reading assignments.
It is extremely important to remember that all readings are mandatory for the class, and must be completed. Reading assignments will be included on the semester exams.
LECTURE SLIDES
All Lecture slides (in PDF format) will be made available in the Class Resources section of the course website. However, its extremely important to remember that not attending class and relying on the lecture slides to get you through the exams is pretty much a direct way to fail the class. You’ll quickly find that the class lecture slides are not packed full of line after line of text. They aren’t a direct reproduction of what is actually said during the lecture. So, you need to be sure to take good notes (and get the notes from one of your classmates if you miss class) if you want to do well in the class.
DUE DATES, SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS, EXAM DATES
Due dates are not negotiable. All assignments are to be submitted on their specific due date (refer to weekly schedule for exact due dates) If you know ahead of time that you are going to be away from a computer with an assignment is due, it is your responsibility to submit it before the due date if you don’t want to be penalized.
Only under extreme (and documented) circumstances will students be allowed to submit assignments after the due date without being penalized. Students who do not submit any of their assignments will be docked 15% for each 24 hour period for which it is late.
INCOMPLETES
Only under extreme and very unexpected circumstances will I consider granting an incomplete. Please do not ask for an incomplete if your situation for which you are seeking an incomplete was known and predictable (heavy schedule, etc) – I will absolutely not grant one.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
This class doesn’t have a formal attendance polity. This means that attendance isn’t taken at all. Students are paying to take this class and they’ve chosen (of their own free will) to take this class. As such. they should be treated like adults and not schoolchildren who are required by law to attend class. However, the flipside to this is that it is the student’s responsibility to take ownership of their success and performance in this class. Students who don’t attend class on a regular basis won’t do very well at all. Bottom line here is that students will get only so much out of the class as they put in to it.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
In accordance with Michigan State University’s policies on “Protection of Scholarship and Grades” and “Integrity of Scholarship and Grades,” students are expected to honor principles of truth and honesty in their academic work. Academic integrity means, amongst other things, not plagiarizing. Plagiarism includes submitting someone else’s work (words, ideas, etc.) as their own now will the knowingly permit another student to copy and submit their work. Additional discussion of academic integrity is available on the Ombudsman’s website: http://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/dishonestystud.html.
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
Article 2.3.5 of the Academic Freedom Report (AFR) for students at Michigan State University states: “The student’s behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the teaching and learning process for all concerned.” Article 2.3.10 of the AFR states that “The student has a right to scholarly relationships with faculty based on mutual trust and civility.” General Student Regulation 5.02 states: “No student shall . . . interfere with the functions and services of the University (for example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is obstructed or disrupted.
Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning environment in this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action through the Student Faculty Judiciary process.”
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a verified individual services accommodation (“VISA”) form. Please present this form to me at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc). VISAs are not retroactive, you cannot receive accommodations for an assignment or test if you hadn’t already provided your VISA.
LIMITS TO COURSE CONFIDENTIALITY
Essays, journals, and other materials submitted for this class are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University’s student record policies. However, students should be aware that University employees, including instructors, may not be able to maintain confidentiality when it conflicts with their responsibility to report certain issues to protect the health and safety of MSU community members and others. As the instructor, I must report the following information to other University offices (including the Department of Police and Public Safety) if you share it with me:
- Suspected child abuse/neglect, even if this maltreatment happened when you were a child,
- Allegations of sexual assault or sexual harassment when they involve MSU students, faculty, or staff, and
- Credible threats of harm to oneself or to others.
These reports may trigger contact from a campus official who will want to talk with you about the incident that you have shared. In almost all cases, it will be your decision whether you wish to speak with that individual. If you would like to talk about these events in a more confidential setting you are encouraged to make an appointment with the MSU Counseling Center.
REPORTING NON-ATTENDANCE
In compliance with federal regulations governing financial aid and veterans education benefits, instructors are required to report students who stop attending or who have never attended class. After the first week of classes, through the middle of the term of instruction, instructors who identify a non-attending student should notify their departmental office. Upon receiving a report of non-attendance, departmental representatives are encouraged to initiate an administrative drop.
Attendance is defined as physical attendance or participation in an academically-related activity, including but not limited to the submission of an assignment, an examination, participation in a study group or an online discussion. Instructors who do not take attendance may utilize key assessment points (e.g. projects, papers, mid-term exams, and discussions) as benchmarks for participation.
DROP FOR NON-ATTENDANCE
Students may be dropped from a course for non-attendance by a departmental administrative after the fourth class period, or the fifth class day of the term of instruction, whichever occurs first.