ANT4002 Contemporary Issues and Debates in Anthropology

ANT	4002	87235	1, 2009	ONC	Contemporary Issues and Debates in Anthropology	1.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOART
Academic org:	FOA003
Student contribution band:	1
ASCED code:	090303

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

STAFFING

Examiner: Bryce Barker
Moderator: Lara Lamb

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in the following Program: BAHN

RATIONALE

This course is designed to facilitate student involvement in thinking about practical and theoretical debates within anthropology, with a view to understanding how anthropology and anthropologists engage with contemporary issues.

SYNOPSIS

This course examines central themes in contemporary anthropology today including key debates such as the issues of whether anthropology is primarily an explanatory or interpretive enterprise, positivism and relativism; the nature of culture; and the relationship between anthropologists and the people they study. Case studies of important issues that have resulted in debate within the discipline will be examined in detail. Examples of topics to be examined include the Hindmarsh Island Bridge controversy, the Chagnon/Tierney Yanomami issue and the Sahlins/Obeysekere debate about Lono and the meaning of the death of Captain Cook in Hawaii.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1.: Demonstrate a critical perspective on the contribution that anthropology can make to the understanding of contemporary issues.
2.: Demonstrate an awareness of key applications of anthropology to contemporary issues.
3.: Demonstrate an ability to locate such themes in a wider debate of anthropological theory.
4.: Demonstrate an awareness of ways that anthropologists respond to and develop strategies in response to problems encountered during and post research.

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Theoretical Orientations	25.00
2.	Specific Issues in contemporary Anthropology	25.00
3.	Ethical dilemmas - case studies	25.00
4.	Rethinking contemporary Anthropology	25.00

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).

Textbook to be advised

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.

Further references specific to case studies will be provided as part of course content.

Ingold, T 1996, Key debates in anthropology, Routledge, London.

Marcus, GE 1992, Rereading cultural anthropology, Duke University Press, Durham, NC.

McGee, JR & Warms, RL 2003, Anthropological theory: an introductory history, 3rd edn, Mayfield Publishing Company, London.

Moore, JD 1996, Visions of culture: anthropological theories and theorists, Altimira Press, London.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Directed Study	26.00
Private Study	139.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description		Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
CRITIQUE - 3000 WORDS		80.00	80.00	08 May 2009	(see note 1)
SEMINAR/ONLINE PARTICIPATION		20.00	20.00	26 Jun 2009	(see note 2)

NOTES

1.: This assessment is aligned with all Objectives.
2.: Seminar participation is defined as ongoing attendance and contribution to discussions. This assessment is aligned with all Objectives.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

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 one 2 hour seminar per week.
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.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval, then a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each of the first FIVE working days late, after which a zero mark will be given.
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.
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.
Examination information:
There is no exam for this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
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

(a) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must lodge the assignment at the USQ. (b) All Faculty of Arts assignments must be lodged in the Faculty Assessment Centre on the Ground Floor of Q Block no later than 12 noon on the due date. (c) In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience. (d). Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if requested by the Examiner. (e) In accordance with University's Assignment Extension Policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner of a course may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances such as documented ill-health. (f) Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in the course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of the course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete-Makeup). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study. (g) Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or sit for an examination at the scheduled time, may apply to defer an assessment in the course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).

10.

Students will require access to email and have internet access to USQConnect for this course.

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.