Anthro 106
Prof. Varisco
Fall 2002
 
STUDY GUIDE FOR A106 CONCEPTS 
 
MIDTERM EXAM CONCEPT STUDY GUIDE (to be held on 10/15/02)
FINAL EXAM CONCEPT STUDY GUIDE (to be held on 12/17/02)
Suggestions for Studying
Sample Concept Study Notes
EXTRA CREDIT
MIDTERM EXAM CONCEPT STUDY GUIDE
(for midterm on 10/15/02)
 
 
The short-answer questions on Exam #1 will be based on key concepts, ideas, and approaches covered in class through 10/10/02. I indicate the main reading for the concept, but you are also responsible for what is said in class lectures. It is important to know not only the "definition," but also be able to provide an example from the course or apply the idea to something new. I will choose questions from the following key issues for this exam.
 
• What factors distinguish Sunni from Shia Muslims? (Ahmed 1999)
 
• How did Dan Bradburd's traveling among nomads differ from the accounts of earlier travelers? (Bradburd 1998, ch. 3)
 
• How did the decision-making process for moving Komachi camp differ from what Bradburd expected? (Bradburd 1998, ch. 7)
 
• Why does Bradburd think earlier Western travelers considered the Komachi religious fanatics? (Bradburd 1998, ch. 9)
 
• Why were Komachi tents better adapted to the local environment than the one brought to Iran by Bradburd? (Bradburd 1998, ch. 11)
 
• What is the postmodern critique of ethnography? (Bradburd 1998, ch. 22)
 
• How has modern technology harmed Bedouin pastoral practices in Saudi Arabia? (Covington 1997)
 
• How do outsiders identify the Rashaayda? (Young 1996, ch. 2)
 
• What non-pastoral tasks do the Rashaayda do in the dry season? (Young 1996, ch. 2)
 
• How do Rashaayda women contribute to the household in the migratory season? (Young 1996, ch. 2)
 
• What kind of traditional spirits do the Rashaayda believe in? (Young 1996, ch. 3)
 
• What are the three kinds of names among the Rashaayda? (Young 1996, ch. 3)
 
• How does Rashayyda ethnocentrism differ from that Young knew from America? (Young 1996, ch. 4)
 
• What kind of authority can Rashayyda women earn? (Young 1996, ch. 4)
 
• Why does El Guindi think Egyptian women took up the veil in the 1970s, despite the liberal policies earlier enacted by President Nasser? (El Guindi 1999)
 
• How does El Guindi interpret the Islamic concept of 'awrah? (El Guindi 1999)
 
• How do the Tuareg Muslims view women? (Worley article)
 
• What rights for women does the Quran provide? (Nahle article)
 
 
 
FINAL EXAM CONCEPT STUDY GUIDE
(to be held on 12/17/02)

• Reasons why Raufa al-Sharki stop wearing the veil? (al-Sharki 1990)

• Social symbolism of Yemeni tribal dancing (Adra 1997)

• Principles of tribal honor code in Yemen (Adra 1997)

• Religious views on coffee in Middle East (Lunde 1973)

• Social function of qat chew in Yemen (Varisco 1986)

• Social significance of qat chewing as identity marker (Varisco 1986)

• Islamic legal protection of Jews in Yemen (Klein-Franke (1987)

• Role of women in Yemenite Jewish society and poetry (Caspi 1985)

• Reasons why Mahfouz received the Nobel Prize in Literature (Luxner 1989)

• Major social differences between expensive and cheap theaters in Cairo (Armbrust 1998)

• How did Nerval contribute to stereotyping of "Orient" (Simpson 1989)

• Feminist critique of National Geographic (Steet, ch. 1)

• How "Islam" or the "Mohammedan Mind" is portrayed in National Geographic (Steet, ch. 2)

• Factors that led to decline of "pearling" in Arabian Gulf (Varisco 1991)

• Impact of French colonization on Lebanon's ethnic and religious conflict (Barrett 1989)

• Impact of military occupation on Palestinian family of Abu Jamal (Hilterman 1993)

• What does Swedenburg think was the social symbolism of the "kufiya" headdress among Palestinians? (Swedenburg 1987)

• Edward's view of why the Taliban took over in Afghanistan (Edwards 2002)

• How are cartoons politicized in Arab countries (Douglas 1994)

• Symbolic importance of Ramses in Egyptian society (Douglas 1994)

• Political symbolism in "The Finger" folk tale (Varisco 1988)

 
Sample Concept Study Notes
 
In order to provide an example of what I would consider "comprehensive" study notes for a concept, consider the notes you could take for the concept:
 
 SAMPLE CONCEPT: How does Rashaayda pastoralism lead to gender inequality? (Young, ch. 2)
[Note: the main discussion is on pp. 61-66]
 
• Sexual division of space (women need to stay near tents) (p. 61)
-- not necessary for pastoral production
-- due to cultural reasons(Arab tradition influenced by Islam) and safety issue
• Legal constraints -- women rarely inherit property (p. 61-62)
• Economic difference: women's wealth not productive (e.g., jewelry, cash), while men make money thru breeding and trading (p. 62)
• inequality limited by realities (e.g., limit to size of herd that can migrate or market demand, sons of first wife may oppose father's second marriage) (p. 63,66)
• co-wives theoretically equal; her father and brother may support her if this is not case
 
 
 
Suggestions for Studying:
 
• Keep notes on the issues listed above as you read about them or hear about them in class lectures. One way to do this is to write each issue at the top of a file card or sheet of paper and jot down notes as you read and study that will serve as a study guide for the concept exam.
• I will be glad to look over your notes to make suggestions (except at the last minute before the exam!). The best way to do this is to make an appointment and come to my office, where we can go over them together.
• If you do not understand the idea from the reading or as it is discussed in the relevant class, you need to ask for clarification in that class, email me or come and see me in my office.
 
Extra Credit:
 
Each student in the class has an opportunity to earn extra-credit points while at the same point properly preparing for the first two exams. Students who hand in their study notes (these can be hand-written) at the time of the exam can earn up to 3 extra credit points, according to the following criteria:
 
3 points (comprehensive and concise notes for each concept)
2 points (adequate notes for each concept)
1 point (adequate notes for at least half of the concepts)
 
NOTE: If you choose not to prepare seriously for the exam, you will probably not do well on it.