I. REQUIRED TEXTS:

Asef Bayat, Street Politics.
Amitav Ghosh, In an Antique Land.
Lila Abu-Lughod, Veiled Sentiments.
Anne Meneley, Tournaments of Value.
Ted Swedenburg, Memories of Revolt.
Lisa Wedeen, Ambiguities of Domination: Politics, Rhetoric, and Symbols in Contemporary Syria.

Plus selected articles, on reserve in the Library and the Anthropology Department reading room (Main 332).

II. Course Objectives:

This course introduces students to some of the peoples/cultures of the Middle East, to critical issues facing the region, and to some important and innovative anthropological approaches to the study of this area. We take a thematic approach, rather than attempting to survey the entire region. The issues we deal with include: nomadism and gender, memory and the struggle for Palestine, the symbology of domination, street politics in Iran, female socializing, and the ethics of fieldwork.

III. Course Requirements:

          Reaction Papers (6) --------------------- 120 points (20 points each)

          Book report -------------------------------- 60 points

          Critical Essays (3) ---------------------- 180 points (60 points each)

          Participation ------------------------------- 40 points

                                            Total          400

1. REACTION PAPERS ESSAYS: 6 short papers, approximately 1 typed page, based upon the key readings assigned for the previous 1-2 weeks. The purpose of these essays is to (a) encourage you to keep up with the readings, (b) develop a synthetic understanding of course materials, and (c) raise issues for discussion that are pertinent to these materials. Be sure that your papers do not simply repeat arguments or discussions brought up in class. (30% of grade)

2. BOOK REPORT: Book report on an ethnography dealing with the Middle East. To be chosen by the student, from a list of books supplied by the instructor. A handout will be passed out later. (15%)

3. CRITICAL ESSAYS: Three papers, between 5 and 7 typed, double-spaced pages. These essays should engage with the major themes and topics of the readings in a critical fashion. (45%)

 4. PARTICIPATION: Participation in class discussion is expected and will be considered in assignment of final grades. Class lectures and discussions will cover material that supplements the readings, so please come to class—even if you are unprepared. KEEP UP WITH READINGS! (10%)

IV. Expectations

ALL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED AND DOUBLE SPACED.

Read these Writing Guidelines and Suggestions.

All work written for this course should be of a level appropriate to college students.
Mechanics and grammar DO count.
Please type and proofread carefully.
Everyone can improve his or her writing skills--even great writers.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Unexcused late assignments will automatically have 10% deducted from the grade, and must be turned in by the end of the week they were due. An additional 10% will be deducted each week thereafter.

Grading, attendance, etc. Final grades will be determined on the basis of total points earned on short papers, critical essays, book report and active participation in class (see above). Regular attendance is expected, and excessive absences may result in the student being dropped from class. I will make every effort to hold class in inclement weather.

Academic honesty: Provisions of the Code of Conduct of the University (see pp. pp. 320-28 of the 1999-2000 University Catalog) will be followed in this course.