A good way to study is:

1. Review (that means "[re] = again ; [view] = look at it ") the definitions of terms, vocabulary words and root words.  Learn what  "animism," "paddle and anvil," and "the three sisters" mean, for example. Some find flash cards helpful (tape them to your bathroom mirror), especially for the first test.  Click for a link to the $5 Words where you will find a bonus of things included on the first exam.

2. Review the Notes for the quarter.  Refer back to the syllabus to determine which Notes are covered in each quarter.

3. Review the Readings for the Quarter.  Refer back to the syllabus to determine which Readings are covered in each quarter.

4. Review the notes you made while viewing special materials for the Quarter, like videos or films.

5. Review your notes for lecture.

6. Once we begin to explore individual cultural regions:

a.  List all of the material culture objects you can think of for each unit:  wikiup, obsidian blade, pottery, mortar hopper, metate and mano, pine nuts, tules, deer disguise, etc.

Let's use a tule balsa for an example.  Simply apply the five journalistic inquiries: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and you will be sure to hit all of the important things.

WHO?  Used by the Paiute of the Great Basin, the Pomo of Northcentral CA, the Yokuts, etc.

WHAT? a canoe made from bundles of tules tied together with tule rope

WHEN? archaic and historic times for work, modern times for cultural renewal

WHERE? still and slow moving water, ie lakes, marshes, ponds, estuaries, bays

WHY? to gather sea food, water fowl and plants; to transport goods and people; in modern times to encourage cultural solidarity

b.  List all of the most important resources of an area and determine the material culture objects they are converted into:  tules, pine trees, clay, hematite, deer grass, rabbit, deer, etc.

Let's use tules as an example and list as many uses as we can.

duck decoys (stuffed into a pelt), clothing and mats (loom woven), housing (mats or bent poles covered with thatch), boats (bundled and covered with pitch or asphalt sealant), food (root and pollen), insulation, rope, traps, weirs, shoes, baskets (twined), rain and snow gear.

c.  Learn the imports, exports, unique products.

d. Apply what you have learned about the Isms, social systems, and tradition to your interpretation.