ANT1001 Introductory Anthropology

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

Anthropology is the study of being human, in all its depth, breadth and range. Anthropology's interest in human social life is very broad, and the discipline umbrella covers sub-disciplines that have emerged to deal with specific aspects of human life that range from the study of material culture to the analysis of popular culture, from public health policies to the value of sport. While anthropology's main focus may once have been on non-industrial ways of life, it is now focused upon what it is to be human in a wide range of contexts and places. This makes for a very broad focus - indeed, anthropology is alone in the social sociences in its claims of being able to produce holistic knowledge of humans - but anthropology is a distinctive discipline that produces very specific knowledge based on indepth ethnographic research over long periods of time. This ethnographic practice, combined with particular theoretical insights or lenses, produces 'uncommon knowledge', a kind of knowledge that goes beyond the taken for granted. This kind of knowledge is increasingly being put to use to address some of the world's most compelling, intriguing, fraught and difficult questions, including those that have arisen around war, gender discrimination, racism and other unequal divisions of power. This course will explore the ways in which anthropological knowledge can offer new and useful insights into a range of contexts in which human social life is conducted.

SYNOPSIS

This course introduces students to the ways in which anthropological data is obtained and understood in a close look at ethnographic techniques and theoretical insights, and looks closely at what use anthropology's 'uncommon knowledge' might be in the contemporary world.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.

Demonstrate an appreciation of the extent of cultural variation and social difference in the contemporary world;

2.

Demonstrate an appreciation of the interpretive strengths of anthropology in the study of the contemporary world;

3.

Demonstrate a capacity for an an interest in continuing to explore the diversity of cultures including their own;

4.

Demonstrate a knowledge of the value and importance of specific anthropological knowledge;

5.

Demonstrate an emergent ability to critically assess representations made of other cultures including popular and ethnographic representations;

6.

Have an appreciation of the importance of difference and of seeing that difference in cultural relativist terms in the modern world system and a sense of respect for the multiply of cultures inside Australia and beyond;

7.

Demonstrate a sense of the ways in which anthropology constitutes its objects and generates and presents knowledge;

8.

Demonstrate and use the following graduate attributes: essay writing skills, discussion skills gained from participation in tutorial/online situations, critical response skills gained from tutorial/online participation, skills in critical reading and theoretically informed writing within set parameters.

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

ANT1001 Introductory Book; Selected Readings

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Basham, R 1978, Urban anthropology: the cross-cultural study of complex societies, Mayfield, Palo Alto, Calif.

Bates, D 1996, Cultural anthropology, Allyn and Bacon, Boston.

Bates, D & Plog, F 1990, Cultural anthropology, 3rd edn, McGraw Hill, New York.

Bodley, J 1999, Victims of progress, 4th edn, Mayfield, Mountain View, Calif.

Bodley, J 2001, Anthropology and contemporary human problems, 4th edn, Mayfield, Mountain View, Calif.

Bodley, J 1988, Tribal peoples and development issues: a global overview, Mayfield, Mountain View, Calif.

Coon, C 1976, The hunting peoples, Penguin, Harmondsworth, England.

Cuba, L 2001, A short guide to writing about social science, 4th edn, Longman, New York.

Howard, MC 1996, Contemporary cultural anthropology, 5th edn, Harper Collins, New York.

Keesing, R & Strathern, AJ 1998, Cultural anthropology: a contemporary perspective, 3rd edn, Harcourt Brace, Fort Worth.

Langness, LL 2005, The study of culture, 3rd edn, Chandler & Sharp, Novato, Calif, vol REV.
(Rev Edn)

Podolefsky, A & Brown PJ 1999, Applying anthropology: an introductory reader, 5th edn, Mayfield, Mountain View, Calif.

Robins, R 2001, Cultural anthropology: a problem based approach, 3rd edn, FE Peacock, Itasca, Ill.

Sahlins, M 1968, Tribesman, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Schulz, EA & Lavenda, RH 1995, Anthropology: a perspective on the human condition, Mayfield, Mountain View, Calif.

Service, E 1979, The hunters, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Shanin, T 1988, Peasants and peasant societies, 2nd edn, Penguin, London.

Wolf, E 1966, Peasants, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Essay 1 - review paper on anthropological principles/practices. This assessment is aligned with all Objectives.

2.

Assignment - Research Portfolio. This assessment is aligned with all Objectives.

3.

Online discussion group is graded weekly on evidence of preparation and quality of written contributions to online discussions. This assessment is aligned with all Objectives.

4.

Students will be advised of the official exam date after timetable has been finalised.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   This course contains a discussion forum where students' participation is formally assessed and successful participation in that discussion group is required to complete the requirements to be awarded a passing grade in the course. There are no other attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them, or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chances of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances and without prior approval, then a penalty of a maximum of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late, up to a maximum of 10 working days, at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   The exam for this course is a CLOSED examination, and candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.