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 human beings, their cultures, behaviour and products. As a professional discipline it originated in the 19th century and has developed continuously into a number of very active sub-disciplines. Although it initially concentrated its studies in ancient or non-industrial peoples, more recently it has expanded its interest to incorporate people wherever they may exist. By emphasizing the use of intensive and extensive fieldwork it is the only one of the social sciences to claim to attempt to represent humans and their ways of life holistically. By studying this subject students will begin to appreciate the richness, creativity, ingenuity, diversity and intelligence of humans everywhere. Through the production of uncommon knowledge anthropology addresses 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

The study of human communities, their societies and cultures, is approached through the perspectives of Cultural Anthropology and students are presented with the major theories, concepts and debates of this field of study. Students will also read a variety of material representing the current diverse interests and concerns of anthropologists.

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 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).

Kottak, CP 2009, Anthropology: the exploration of human diversity, 13th edn, McGraw Hill, New York.
(ANT1001 Introductory Book; ANT1001 Selected Readings 1 & 2.)

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 & Bacon, Boston.

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

Bodley, J 1990, 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 1998, Cultural anthropology: a contemporary perspective, 3rd edn, Harcourt Brace, Fort Worth.

Langness, LL 2005, The study of culture (rev. edn), 3rd edn, Chandler and 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, Tribesmen, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Schultz, 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.

Tutorial presentation - Review paper on anthropological principles/practices will be discussed in class.

2.

Essay - this assessment if aligned with all Objectives.

3.

Tutorial participation is graded weekly and is defined as ongoing attendance and active participation in discussions about readings, and active participation in tutorial activities. 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:
   It is the student's responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. For this course, normal class attendance consists of
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 / grades 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 11 Dec 2009.