Module ANTH46830: Thinking Anthropologically

Department: Anthropology

ANTH46830: Thinking Anthropologically

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop the students’ awareness of current issues and challenges within the main sub-field of sociocultural anthropology.
• To develop the students’ ability to apply theories and concepts from social anthropology to a range of contemporary issues.
• To encourage students to think critically and carefully about the relationships between theory and ethnography.

Content

• Major topics of current anthropological concern are covered, within the relevant areas of the discipline (e.g. health, political, economic, kinship, religion, energy, environment). Precise topics will vary from year to year but may include: forced migration; biotechnology and bioethics; carbon and post-carbon economies; chemicals and bodies, etc.
• Students will learn about current concepts and debates in relation to these topics and will apply relevant theoretical perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop knowledge of current areas of work and debate at the cutting edge of research in socio-cultural anthropology.

• Develop ability to comment critically on those debates, bringing in relevant theory and ethnographic insights.
• Develop ability to present an effective argument (both orally and in writing) that demonstrates an awareness of the complexity of selected theoretical issues in relation to current debates.

• Communication: students will be taught how to communicate clearly (both orally and in writing) their understanding of the material they have read.
• Improving own learning and performance: students will learn to use a variety of web tools for searching the primary and secondary literature.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures: to introduce each topic and scaffold students’ independent reading.
• Seminars: to provide opportunities for students to discuss and present readings and associated theories in depth, facilitated by the tutor.
• Assessment: summative 5000-word essay applying anthropological theories and perspectives to one or more key contemporary topics.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1000-piece piece of writing setting out the core argument of the summative essay.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University