ANTHRO 100:  Human Cultures: Introduction to Social Anthropology

SEMESTER ONE, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor: 

 Mark Busse - m.busse@auckland.ac.nz

 Teacher:

 Mark Busse - m.busse@auckland.ac.nz

Graduate Teaching Assistants (Tutors):

Iona Balfour - ibal251@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Claire Black - cbla247@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Brodie Quinn - bqui016@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Michelle Thorp - mtho702@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Class Representatives:

Kevin Lin - klin983@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Mykelti Prayoncorn - mpra574@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Course delivery format:

E.g. - 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

Summary of Course Description:              

Social anthropologists describe and analyse the diversity of human social and cultural life. This course introduces students to basic perspectives and concepts which social anthropologists have developed in order to understand, interpret and explain the diverse ways of life created by people throughout the world. Fundamental anthropological perspectives include comparison, relativism, holism, and contextualisation. This course will draw on ethnographic examples from many parts of the world and will cover topics such as temporal and spatial orientation, language and symbols, kinship and marriage, gender and sexuality, markets and economic exchange, political relations and power, art, religion, and social personhood.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the course, students are expected to:

• demonstrate an understanding of basic perspectives, concepts and questions in social anthropology, and their relevance to understanding everyday life;
• show an understanding of the relationship between concepts and ethnographic description in social anthropology;
• demonstrate an ability to find, evaluate and use sources of information that are relevant to social anthropology and human life;
• demonstrate that they can write an essay that draws on sources of information that are relevant to social anthropology; and
• demonstrate general reading and writing skills at an appropriate level.The required textbook for this course is Investigating Culture: An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology (2nd edition) by Carol Delaney, with Deborah Kaspin (Malden, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011). 
• Copies of this textbook are available for purchase at the University Bookshop in the Kate Edge Centre at 2 Alfred Street.
• Textbook

 Course outcomes:

The required textbook for this course is Investigating Culture: An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology (2nd edition) by Carol Delaney, with Deborah Kaspin (Malden, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011).

Copies of this textbook are available for purchase at the University Bookshop in the Kate Edge Centre at 2 Alfred Street.

 

E.g. A student who successfully completes this course will have the opportunity to:

• acquire knowledge of and apply it to x situations
• understand and carry out [practical skills]
• acquire skills in report writing, critical thinking, academic literacy/ numeracy/ oral presentation etc.

 Assessment Summary:

Weighting of assignments and due dates if available, eg:

20% test               in week 5

30% essay           due week 9

50% exam

Weekly Topics:

 

Prescribed Texts:

To Be Announced

 Recommended Texts:

To Be Announced

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.