[LauraV]

Health, Aging, and Society 2G03 - Mental Health

I took this course this year with E. Nouvet. She is a fairly young Anthropology teacher...emphasis on anthropology. Don't take this course if you are expecting to learn about mental health as a MEDICAL DISORDER.... the teacher is extremely biased and in her first couple classes completely tears apart the biomedical model. While the information is interesting and fairly easy to comprehend, she focuses on more "alternative" social problems of mental illness and spends a lot of time examining specific groups of marginalized victims (females, aboriginals, etc). Would not say that the research she uses has much "scientific evidence -- aka correlation/causation but is quite interesting if you are interested in the historical and social mechanisms behind mentally ill.

NOTE: She doesn't post her notes/slides online so you have to go to class (but there is also participation marks so you have to go to class anyways)

COURSE BREAKDOWN:

10% -- participation in class. Basically you go to class and there will be a really easy assignment (a few questions based on the movie you watched, etc) that you do IN CLASS and hand in, IN CLASS. You can also get marks for talking in class although I have no idea how she identifies you based on the size of the class.

2 x 15% SYNTHESIS -- Before the end of the semester you have to submit in person BEFORE the class two synthesis papers which are 2 pages double-spaced and essentially sum up the papers covered on that specific week in class and explain the significance.

35% MIDTERM --- midterm is worth more than the exam. There were maybe 3 short answer questions and one essay question (5-6 pages). Super easy to do well on, just make sure you use the KEY TERMS.

25% FINAL EXAM --- she gives you beforehand THREE essay questions to prepare, TWO will be seen on the exam, and you only have to answer ONE OF THEM!!!! aka easy exam. The entire exam is just the one essay question.

I attached the course outline for this past semester so you can see specifically what she focusses on week-to-week

Also I am an Honours Life Sciences student so for people who are in Social Sciences programs, this course could actually be very appealing to you!