Sociology Agriculture Assignment

Please use paragraphs, proper grammar, and college level writing.  Upload directly to the dropbox in D2L in .doc, .docx, pdf, or .rtf format ONLY.

No late work accepted.

Background:

You should read Chapter 7, “Subsistence Methods”, which describes how people get their food.  To us in the USA, we often think of ourselves as just ‘consumers’ (industrialized).  But in reality, our subsistence method is based on agriculture (we have farmers that grow food, have surplus and sell to markets).  Ch. 8 (Economic Systems) will also be helpful in thinking about this topic.

See the chart in your text.  Remember, there are 4 main subsistence methods:  H/G (hunters/gatherers), Horticulture, Pastoralism, and Agriculture. (note: not Industrialism).

We say that h/g are ‘food foragers’ and the rest are ‘food producers’.

It’s also a good idea to realize that although humans have been around for millions of years (and changed a lot over that evolutionary history), we have only been ‘food producing’ for about 10,000 years.  Also, pay special attention to p. 142-143 about the difference in WHAT was domesticated in the Old World and the New World.

FIRST:

1. Read your text (Chapter 7 and 8). Pay special attention to p. 157 (chart) and the info

about “food foragers” and the “food producers”.  Ch. 8 (Economics) is also

useful for understanding Subsistence Methods.

2. View the info posted under UNIT 2 in CONTENT – including watching the videos on

subsistence methods.

3. Read the Agriculture Article “Worse Mistake in the History of the Human Race” by

Jared Diamond (under CONTENT button, UNIT 2).

4. View the “Ag Review Powerpoint” under UNIT 2.
5. Think about how parts of culture are interconnected: subsistence methods, economic

systems, population size, etc.

After you’re done with all of your readings and watching of videos….You’re ready!

Please note that this assignment has multiple parts, and you should know that you can upload multiple documents to the same dropbox, called “AGRICULTURE ASSIGNMENT”.  In this assignment, you will be uploading a picture (jpeg or png) or pdf to the dropbox.  You will also be creating a doc, .docx or pdf to be uploading separately to the same dropbox.

Email me if you have questions.

DO NOT USE ANY OTHER WEBSITE INFO – USE ONLY COURSE MATERIAL!

PART 1: Subsistence Chart (8 points)

First, Download and print the “Blank Subsistence Chart” that is posted under d2l under the ASSIGNMENTS tab.  You need to print this out. You MUST HAND WRITE THE INFO INTO THIS CHART.

1. Using your textbook only, use the culture examples in Ch. 7 to write in some key points in the columns and rows. ONLY use your textbook for this part.

Remember the four subsistence methods are: h/g, horticulture,

                                                                              pastoralism, agriculture

It’s fine to use bullet points, and you don’t have to use complete sentences.  These can be BRIEF!

When you are done WRITING IN THE INFO (do NOT do this on the computer), take a picture of this chart (or scan it) and upload it to the dropbox called “Agriculture Assignment”.  If you don’t have a printer, just draw it out completely.

PART 2: Ag Flowchart (5 points)

After you have read the article by Jared Diamond (“The Worst Mistake in the History of…”) that is posted in Unit 2, and have watched the Powerpoint (called Agriculture Review), see the last slide of that powerpoint.  It shows a flowchart stemming from the word “surplus”.

2. Please finish this flowchart, adding key words that show the “consequences of agriculture” that happened soon after the 10kya mark. You should hand draw the flowchart and then take a picture of it (or scan it) and upload it separately to the dropbox.

Be sure to add key vocabulary words and arrows to show how things are interrelated.  Remember that you are showing the “consequences of agriculture” in this flowchart—consequences that go beyond just talking about food.

Consequences can be positive or negative!  What social consequences are there to switching to this subsistence method at/around 10,000ya?  Be sure to draw many of these in your flowchart for a chance at full credit.

PART 3: Culture  (7 points)

3. Using information from the “Subsistence videos” posted under Unit 2, pick just ONE culture that was mentioned, and give some details about that culture. Not only summarize some things about that culture’s subsistence method, but tell why you found that culture particularly interesting.  SUMMARIZE in your own words in just one large paragraph.

Please note if you use the exact wording from the video narration this is considered plagiarism.  Watch the video, close the video. Sit and think for at least five minutes. Then sit and write up your summary WITHOUT the video open. (4 points)

4. Discuss the relationship between population size and the characteristics of subsistence methods by commenting on the statement “It would be impossible for Chicagoans today to live by hunting and gathering as their subsistence method”. (3 points)