Objectives:

-Students will understand the relationship between cows, pigs, wars and witches according to the book by Marvin Harris -Students will be able to critically analyze the book by evaluating its premises and conclusions -Students will develop a deeper understanding of cultural relativism and the effects that it can have on one’s interpretation of the world

Time Frame:

1 hour

Materials:

-Printed copies of “Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches” for each student -Whiteboard/Projector

Procedure:

-Have students read the assigned chapter of the book in advance so that they are prepared to discuss it in class (10 minutes)

-Start the class off with a discussion of the premise of cultural relativism and how this concept informs the book. Ask questions such as: What is the definition of cultural relativism? In what ways is this concept important to consider when interpreting events from different cultures? (15 minutes)

-Lead a discussion of the chapter’s main points. Have students discuss in pairs why Harris might make the argument he does. (20 minutes)

-Discuss the implications of the chapter. Ask questions such as: What are the implications of this argument for the way scholars interpret the actions and beliefs of other societies? How has this chapter challenged or reaffirmed your own views on cultural relativism? (15 minutes)

Conclusion:

Conclude the lesson by having students reflect on the implications of cultural relativism when studying societies, as well as how this applies to their daily lives. Have a class discussion on how they can apply the concepts they’ve learned to their own lives. (10 minutes)