Balick, M.J. and P.A. Cox.1997. Plants, People and Culture, the Science of Ethnobotany. Scientific American Library, New York.

George-Kanentiio, D. 2000. Iroquois Culture and Commentary. Clear Light Publishers, Santa Fe.

Journal articles and book chapters placed on reserve in the library.

Plotkin, M.1994. Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Amazon Rain Forest. Penguin Books, New York.

There will also be additional books on reserve in the library at various times throughout the semester. You will be notified in class, as these materials become available.

This is a Perspectives II course in Biology (BIO260G) or Anthropology (ANT341G) and is also a global perspectives course. This course requires previous completion of a PI in both the natural sciences and social sciences. In this course we will focus on the way people incorporate the use of plants into their cultures. This includes exploration of plants as food, medicine, material goods and for spiritual enhancement. Additionally we will integrate botanical studies with cultural anthropological aspects of plant use including indigenous cultures’ world views/cosmology and how their worldview impacts healing practices, spiritual practices, and biological conservation with regard to plants. Students will learn the application of anthropological theories, methods and concepts to the study of the role of plants in society. Students will also learn plant classification and identification, plant ecology, and issues in conservation.

1. Understand ethnobotany as a multidisciplinary subject.
2. Appreciate a diversity of cultural approaches with regard to their view and use of plants.
3. Develop skills necessary for ethnobotanical research including survey research.
4. Learn the basic terms and techniques necessary to identify plants to species.
5. Develop skills needed to present results of projects in PowerPoint or web page format.

Because this course covers such a wide range of subject, there is no such thing as a dumb question. Chances are, if you are thinking it, someone else has the question, too. Please ask your questions!

Examinations (200 points) There will be two exams: a mid-term and final exam which will be comprehensive, with emphasis on the material covered since the previous exam.

You must have a valid, pre-approved excuse to miss an exam. It is your responsibility to make up any missed exams. Exams must be made up within one week of the absence. It is to your benefit NOT TO MISS EXAMS.

Group presentation (1 at 50 points): As a group of three you will prepare a presentation on a food used by a culture other than your own. Each team will make a presentation to the class on a plant of botanical, agricultural or ethnobotanical interest. (See the attached list for plant suggestions.) [Plants Presentation] These plants are all food sources so a food sample should also be provided. There should be enough for each member of the class to have a taste.

Attendance and Participation (50 points): Class attendance will greatly enhance your ability to succeed in this course. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to provide a valid written excuse within a week. If you plan to miss a class for a scheduled academic activity, please notify the professors in advance. Attendance is based on three factors: Arriving prepared for class on time, staying the entire class period, and staying awake. If you have a choice between coming late or missing a class, choose the former. Failing to attend class will have a deleterious affect on your grade.

Participation will greatly enhance your ability to succeed in Ethnobotany. Participation includes asking pertinent questions in class, contributing to class discussions, sampling the food items provided, and other activities.

Talks and field trips (4 @ 25 pts. ea.): Throughout the course opportunities to explore other cultures will be provided. You should participate in at least four of these events. Two of these events are required: Dr. Mike Steinberg's lecture and a tour of the Earth Our Mother Trail at Ganondagan State Historic Site. For each event you should submit a brief report worth 25 points. The report should be one page in length, double-spaced and typewritten. It should 1) summarize the event, 2) discuss what was new to you, 3) discuss what was particularly interesting to you, 4) describe any changes in your worldview which have resulted from this activity. Reports are due one week after the activity is completed.

Guest Speaker Reflection Papers (25 pts. ea.): These are reports on guest speakers in class. Use the format for "Talks and field trips" above. Reports are due 1 week after each individual lecture.

Home garden project (100 pts):
This project is outlined in the project description attached at the end of the syllabus. 

Survey research project (200 pts.):
Our class will have the opportunity to participate in service learning as we develop and conduct a survey of inner city cultures and their use of gardens as well as perceived needs for community gardens. This will be a multifaceted project with details to be furnished in the early part of the semester.

Ethnobotany web page (100 pts.):
You will be asked to choose a country or people and report on their uses of plants. This material will also be presented in a web page. We will be learning how to create web pages using Front Page Editor as part of class. The format of the web page will be provided. On the due date you need to submit the web page on a diskette with all related graphic files and a print out of your page. Be sure to complete the top of the attached form "Ethnobotany Web Page" and include it when you submit your web site and report.

Cultural appreciation dinner: At the end of the course we will all gather together to share dishes from the countries we have been studying. Each group of two students will prepare a dish and should attend in traditional dress for the country or culture represented by their food item and bring an interesting story or myth, song or dance from that culture. We will select dishes during class, so there will not be duplication and a wide variety of cultures will be represented. This will be a great opportunity to share folk tales, songs and dances from each of the cultures – a time of celebration of diversity!

Turn in papers and projects on time. For each day the assignment is late, 10 percent of the project’s possible points will be deducted from the grade. Regardless of points, all papers and projects must be completed in order to receive a passing grade in this course.

Points for the course components are as follows:

Academic integrity is essential to the educational mission of Nazareth College; any form of academic dishonesty seriously impedes the free pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Hence, the college will not condone any form of academic dishonesty.

"Academic dishonesty" is understood as any act of deceit bearing on one’s own or another’s academic work, where "academic work" is understood to mean any activity pertaining to the educational mission of the college. Such acts include, but are not limited to, plagiarism in any form; the use during an exam of information or materials not authorized by the instructor for such use and any other activities which are designed to deceive an instructor in the evaluation of the level of the student’s achievement.

This course and its instructors, embrace both respect for the person and freedom of speech. In class we will promote civility and denounce acts of hatred or intolerance. The free exchange of ideas is possible only when concepts, values, and viewpoints can be expressed and challenged in a manner that is neither threatening nor demeaning. It is the policy of Nazareth College, in keeping with its efforts to foster a community in which the diversity of all members is respected, not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, marital or veteran status, or disability. Respect for the dignity of all people is an essential part of the college's tradition and mission, and its vision of the future.

Nazareth College provides appropriate support services and accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Please see the professors in private so that they may assist you with any needed support. For additional information, you may request a copy of the Nazareth College’s Students with Disabilities handbook. You are encouraged to make direct contact with Anne-Marie House, the Academic Counselor for students with Disabilities. She may be reached at 389-2754.

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