ANTH 1104 - Culture & Society: Foundations of Anthropology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2017

This course provides an introduction to fundamental areas of inquiry in social anthropology. It examines essential aspects of human social life from a cross-cultural perspective, which is one of the defining characteristics of anthropology. The main features of social life, kinship and friendship, exchange, ownership and leadership, religion and cultural creativity are found in all human societies and we trace the study of these from their origins in the classic works of anthropology, through the historical development of the discipline, into more recent times. This course aims to show how anthropologists came to analyse human social life in the way they did, how this has changed over time, and how we can make use of this knowledge to inform the critical analysis of contemporary societies, including present-day Australia. The course explores how anthropology provides powerful perspectives on such things as economics, language, thought, nature, sex and gender as distinctly social phenomena.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ANTH 1104
    Course Culture & Society: Foundations of Anthropology
    Coordinating Unit Anthropology and Development Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Course Description This course provides an introduction to fundamental areas of inquiry in social anthropology. It examines essential aspects of human social life from a cross-cultural perspective, which is one of the defining characteristics of anthropology.

    The main features of social life, kinship and friendship, exchange, ownership and leadership, religion and cultural creativity are found in all human societies and we trace the study of these from their origins in the classic works of anthropology, through the historical development of the discipline, into more recent times. This course aims to show how anthropologists came to analyse human social life in the way they did, how this has changed over time, and how we can make use of this knowledge to inform the critical analysis of contemporary societies, including present-day Australia. The course explores how anthropology provides powerful perspectives on such things as economics, language, thought, nature, sex and gender as distinctly social phenomena.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Dianne Rodger

    Dr Rodney Lucas
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
    1 Understand the broad nature and theories of social anthropology
    2 Develop knowledge of and insight into the key issues and concerns of social anthropology
    3 Understand and apply key theoretical approaches to contemporary social situations
    4 Critically evaluate central themes, propositions and concepts in social anthropology
    5 Comprehend the diversity of human social and cultural contexts and practices
    6 Display the skills to work collaboratively in teams as well as individually in a learning and research environment
    7 Manifest an interest in and commitment to continuous learning and social scientific research
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3, 4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    6, 7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 2, 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There will be a Reading Book available for this course from the Image and Copy Centre, Level 1, Hughes Building at the start of semester. The Reading Book consists of a copy of the Course Outline and the essential readings for each tutorial week as listed in the tutorial program.
    Recommended Resources
    For those who wish to read beyond the essential readings for each week or for use in developing and researching assessments, supplementary readings have been suggested for each week.  Some of these will be available electronically on MyUni (subject to copyright). Please see Helen Attar, Research Librarian for Anthropology, for further enquiries about anthropological sources online and in the library. Contact details: tel: 8313 5345; email: helen.attar@adelaide.edu.au.
    Online Learning
    Lectures will be recorded each week and made available on MyUni. Course lecture PowerPoints and additional notes or references will also be made available on MyUni after the relevant lecture. The PowerPoints only refer to the main points or issues raised in the lectures and are not a substitute for attending lectures. Some readings will be available through MyUni, subject to copyright and other restrictions.  Essay questions will also be made available on MyUni, as will any adjustments made to lecture and tutorial times or locations (or cancellations) and other announcements.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures supported by problem-solving tutorial developing and extending the material covered in lectures.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    2 x 1-hour lectures per week (or equivalent) 24 hours per semester
    1 x 1-hour tutorial per week (or equivalent) 12 hours per semester
    6 hours reading per week 72 hours per smester
    2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester
    2 hours assignmnet preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week 1     Introduction
    Week 2 Explaining the Social Socially
    Week 3 Being There: Ethnography and the making of Anthropology
    Week 4 Exchange: Questioning what is 'Economics'
    Week 5 Language, Thought and Cognition
    Week 6 Rites of Passage: Structuring Transformation
    Week 7 Nature or Nurture?
    Week 8 Experience, Everydayness and (inter-)Subjectivity
    Week 9 Research for final essay
    Week 10 Sex and Gender
    Week 11  Bodies
    Week 12 Conclusion
    Specific Course Requirements
    None
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    None (occurs at the same time as The Enquiring Mind).
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task type Weighting Course Learning outcomes
    Tutorial participation Formative and summative 10% 1-7
    Tutorial presentation Formative and summative 20% 1-7
    1200 word minor essay Formative and summative 30% 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
    2200 word major essay Formative and summative 40% 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance at and participation in tutorials is a primary requirement of this course. Each student is required to attend a minimum number of tutorial to qualify to pass the course. Additionally, all assessment components must be submitted in order to qualify to pass the course.
    Assessment Detail
    Tutorial participation: Students will be evaluated on their familiarity with the required readings, their preparation for, and leadership in discussions, their role in group presentations, and their general class engagement.

    Tutorial presentation: biased on readings set for tutorials.  Each tutorial will be led by a team of 3-4 students who are expected to have researched the topic for the week.  Using supplemenatry readings and additional materials brought from their own reasearches and/or everyday experiences, the team will lead the tutorial in discussing the issues that arise from the week's topic.

    1200 word minor essay: Students are required to think about their own engagement in some form of gift-giving and reflect upon their knowledge of (and assumptions about) gifting in their own cultural or social milieu, but reflected through some anthropological ideas that have developed around this social practice.

    2200 word major essay: the essay is designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate the extent to which thay have enagaged with the central themes and issues raised in both lectures and tutorials.
    Submission
    All assignments must be submitted on-line via Turnitin. Assignments submitted more than two weeks after the due date without an approved extension will not be accepted or assessed.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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