ISS 315: Section 002 (4 credits)

Spring Semester 2011

GLOBAL DIVERSITY AND INTERDEPENDENCE

M W 10:20 AM - 12:10 PM in 326 Natural Sciences Building

Dr. John H. Davis, Jr. Heather Yocum, MA

Department of Anthropology Department of Anthropology
340 Baker Hall Baker Hall
Email: davisjrj@msu.edu Email: yocumhe1@msu.edu
Office Hrs: W 2:45-4:45 PM (in Cyber Café) Office Hrs: TBA

Katherine Betka
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Welcome to ISS 315: Global Diversity and Interdependence. The specific aim of this
course is to train students to become competent stewards of the so-called “global village”
by assisting them with developing a nuanced understanding of processes of globalization
and their differential impact among various peoples and places of the world. During the
semester we will be reading several books, each of which provides a unique vantage
point from which to ponder the primary theme of the course. The following required
books are available for purchase at local bookstores and also on reserve at the main
library:

1. Nancy Abelmann, The Intimate University: Korean American Students and the
Problems of Segregation
2. Carol Gluck and Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing (eds), Words in Motion: Toward a
Global Lexicon
3. Pietra Rivoli, The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy: An Economist
Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade
4. Paul Farmer, Partner to the Poor: A Paul Farmer Reader
5. Savo Heleta, Not My Turn to Die: Memoirs of a Broken Childhood in Bosnia

Additional reading material will be made available via ANGEL. Keeping up with reading
assignments and attending lecture should improve one’s performance. I have structured
this course in a manner such that consistent effort is rewarded.

We will also be taking advantage of i>clicker. These may be purchased along with
textbooks at bookstores OR rented through the ASMSU i>clicker rental program. To rent,
go to the ASMSU Business Office (307 Student Services) and make a $30 deposit. Use
the i>clicker and when you're done, just return it for a full refund!

Grading: This course operates on a point system. Students will be able to earn a variable
number of points for a range of activities including exams, quizzes, impromptu in-class
assignments, occasional extra credit assignments, etc. There will be three exams worth
100 points each. In-class quizzes and exercises will account collectively for another 100
points. Depending on the class dynamic, there may be an additional 50 points up for
grabs.
 ISS 315: Section 002 (4 credits)
Spring Semester 2011

It is expected that each of you will do her/his part to create and maintain a
positive learning environment for one another. Should you need incentive, I will take
steps such as reducing the number of opportunities to accumulate points (i.e.
decrease the number of extra credit opportunities, quizzes, etc.). There will,
however, be no reduction in the number of points needed to earn a particular grade.

The grading scale is as follows:

4.0 350+ (CURRENTLY ABOUT 450 POINTS POSSIBLE)
3.5 325-349
3.0 300-324
2.5 280-299
2.0 260-279
1.5 240-259
1.0 220-239
0 0-219

Important Dates:
9 February: Exam 1
23 March: Exam 2
27 April: Exam 3
***There is no final exam.***

Important Information:
 It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand this syllabus. Changes or
modifications will be announced in class and disseminated via ANGEL or email.
 To facilitate communication this course will be relying on ANGEL
(https://angel.msu.edu). You will need an internet connection to access ANGEL.
Please consult ANGEL for the most recent course information. Check ANGEL
frequently. You will be responsible for information posted to ANGEL.
 Makeup exams may be taken only for medical reasons, family emergencies such
as a funeral, or unavoidable official University business. A written excuse is
required. All makeup exams will be essay exams. All makeup exams must be
scheduled prior to the time of the original exam. Unless there is a compelling and
documented excuse, all makeup exams must be completed within one week of the
original exam.
 Lectures and visuals used in the classroom are the property of the instructor and
permission is NOT given for lecture material to be sold.
 Normal standards of civility are to be observed. In other words students will not
talk among themselves in class, use cell phones, read the newspaper, or disturb
the class by arriving late or leaving early, etc. Students who have a legitimate
excuse for leaving early should let the instructor know before class starts.
 Readings are to be completed before class.
 Take-home extra credit opportunities will be limited to those who have completed
all in-class assignments and quizzes.
 ISS 315: Section 002 (4 credits)
Spring Semester 2011

 Be sure to do your best when working on an extra-credit assignment. Extremely

poor work will be assessed a negative point value and lower your overall point
tally. In other words, there is something to lose. This is not to suggest that grading
will be harsh or severe. Rather, it is simply a quality control mechanism which
discourages the submission of hastily prepared work.

Class Schedule

10 Jan: Course Overview

(Homework) Assignment #1: What does “globalization” mean to you? Explain
in no more than one paragraph. Submit via the appropriate Drop Box on ANGEL.

12 Jan: Conceptualizing Globalization

Reading:
James Watson (ed), Golden Arches East: McDonald’s in East Asia, excerpt
located in Readings folder on the Lessons tab of ANGEL.

17 Jan: NO CLASS (MLK)

19 Jan: video: The Japanese Version

Reading:
a) Words in Motion (WIM): Introduction
b) Mei Zhan: Other Worldly (excerpt)

24 Jan: Ethnographically Excavating the “Ethnoscape”

Reading: The Intimate University (IU): Intro & Ch. 1

26 Jan: Tropes and Trajectories

Reading: IU: Ch. 2, 3

31 Jan: Ties That Bind

Reading: IU: Ch. 4, 5

2 Feb:
Reading: IU: Finish book

7 Feb:
Reading:
a) WIM: Chapters by Tsing (pp. 40-64) & Shami (pp. 151-173)

9 Feb: EXAM 1

14 Feb: Navigating the Global Economy

video: The Cost of Living
Reading: The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy (TTGE): Part 1
 ISS 315: Section 002 (4 credits)
Spring Semester 2011

16 Feb:
Reading: TTGE: Part 2

21 Feb:
Reading: TTGE: Part 3

23 Feb:
Reading: TTGE: Part 4

28 Feb:
Reading: Partner to the Poor (PtP): Foreword, Introduction, and Part 3

2 Mar:
Reading: PtP: start Part 2

7 Mar: NO CLASS (Spring Break)

9 Mar: NO CLASS (Spring Break)

14 Mar:
Reading: PtP: remainder of Part 2

16 Mar:
Reading: PtP: Part 4 and Conclusion

21 March:
Reading: PtP: Part 1

23 Mar: EXAM 2

28 Mar: video: Triumph of Evil

Reading:
a) Uwem Akpan, “My Parents’ Bedroom” (accessible via ANGEL)
b) WIM: Chapter by Gluck (p. 83)

30 Mar:
Reading: Not My Turn to Die (NTTD): read through page 41

4 April:
Reading: NTTD: pp. 42-149

6 April:
Reading: NTTD: Finish book.

11 April: video: Calling the Ghosts

 ISS 315: Section 002 (4 credits)
Spring Semester 2011

13 April:
Reading: WIM: Chapters by Abraham (p.21) and Chatterjee (p.240)

18 April:
Reading: WIM: section Words that Set Standards

20 April: TBA

25 April: Recap of the semester. Tie up any loose ends.

27 April: EXAM 3