Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
Anthropologists are experts in the 'how' of human diversity and anthropological insights into the infinite range of human experiences matter for understanding the world today. This course provides an introduction to anthropological approaches to knowing, focussing on questions of how humans make society and culture, and why this matters. Students are introduced to the diverse components of anthropology and also get to do what anthropologists do: practicing our hallmark methods of fieldwork and participant observation, and learning how to analyse and write about the fieldwork data. Specific topics in the discipline are practised by students through undertaking research 'at home'.
As an introductory course in the discipline of anthropology, we ask, how does 'culture' matter in human history, for economic relations and environments? How do gender, religion, art, economics, politics, inequality, and human rights have diverse cultural dimensions and implications? Case material students read and refer to explores the social dynamics of globalisation and capitalism and their others in different reaches of the planet and we consider the application of anthropological knowledge in development, health and scientific endeavours.
Students practice doing anthropology ‘at home’, undertaking ethnographic training and tasks to support learning the basics of anthropological methods. Students are taught research and academic writing skills specific to the discipline and useful across the social sciences, and assessment includes practical work in listening, observing, participating, and reflecting on worlds exotic and familiar.
Teaching staff in this course deliver weekly lectures on campus and recordings are available following. It is each student's responsibility to attend lectures or access the recordings if necessary, and to undertake required reading *before* face to face classes, and make an attempt at recommended readings. Students attend a tutorial most weeks and these are an opportunity for students to discuss the week's material, to ask questions and engage in debate around the ideas in the course content. Tutorials also prepare students for the assessment activities. All students will be expected to engage in discussion each week in the tutorials/zooms and lectures or onﾠthe Blackboard Discussion Forum to gain participation marks. Students learn to read anthropology through the article summary assessment, write anthropology from observational research and 'do' anthropology through five online workshops that are self-paced 'challenges' directed by instructional videos with associated tasks. The online workshops provide active learning in anthropological research methods that prepare students for undertaking the final essay. Consult 'Learning Activities' and the Blackboard site for more information, and keep up to date during semester by regularly monitoring your email and the Blackboard site.
Course requirements
Assumed background
An interest in the topics of the course is all that is needed.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ANTH7029, AY100, 101 + 102
Course contact
School enquiries
Student Enquiries School of Social Science
Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland.
Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The course will provide weekly on campus lectures and theﾠtutorial will be face-to-face,ﾠproviding an intensive space for theﾠworkshopping of ideas and skills needed to complete the course. Consult 'Learning Activities' for more information, and keep up to date during semester by regularly monitoring email and Blackboard.
CONSULTATION with the lecturer can be arranged by email - please make a time to speak with me (s.babidge@uq.edu.au) at any time during the semester.
Please refer to My Timetable for the most up-to-date timetable information.
Aims and outcomes
Introduction to Anthropology (ANTH1008) aims to:
- help you develop a basic understanding of the fundamentals of anthropology, its key concepts, its areas of substantive interests, its practice and outcomes;
- help you develop an appreciation ofﾠhuman cultural and social diversityﾠthrough time and space and why such an understanding matters;
- give you the ability to apply an anthropological perspective to the understanding of the cultural and social worlds humans live in, both locally and globally; and
- help you to develop your critical thinking abilities and academic skills.
Our approach to the course places emphasis on you as an active learner rather than as a passive recipient of knowledge.ﾠ
Active involvement requires that you read assigned texts, reflect critically on what you have read,
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
A well-founded understanding of anthropology, in particular how it relates to and differs from other disciplines and contributes to understanding the diversity of human worlds.
LO2.
The ability to apply ethically informed and critical analysis in responses to contemporary problems and in the interests of fairness, equality and inclusivity.
LO3.
The skills to collect, organise and analyse sociocultural research including that drawing from the anthropological literature and that resulting from original research.
LO4.
Proficiency and fluency in oral and written communication that conveys knowledge, ideas and complex questions about social relationships and human culture.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Article Summaries
|
15% |
Assessment 1.1 is due Friday 14th March, 2pm. Assessment 1.2 is due Thursday 20th March 2pm Assessment 1.3 is due Thursday 27th March, 2pm |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Participating in the tutorials & online workshops
|
15% |
Refer to Course Profile for dates of face to face tutorials. Online workshops are introduced in Week 6 and should be undertaken from that date onwards, finishing by the end of week 12. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Performance |
Observation-based short essay
|
30% |
29/04/2025 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique, Performance |
Doing Anthropology - Final Essay and Coded Notes
|
40% |
30/05/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Article Summaries
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
Assessment 1.1 is due Friday 14th March, 2pm.
Assessment 1.2 is due Thursday 20th March 2pm
Assessment 1.3 is due Thursday 27th March, 2pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
This assessment is made up of 3 smaller components, and is focused on developing skills in academic reading comprehension. Students summarise 3 short academic articles that each present an argument based on anthropological research. During the tutorials and via Blackboard, students will be provided with detailed instructions and guidance on how to complete the summary, including a workshop (and practice summary) in tutorial 1, week 2.
The components include 3 article summaries, to be submitted via TurnitIn:
Assessment 1.1 (Article summary 1)
Assessment 1.2 (Article summary 2)
Assessment 1.3 (Article summary 3)
Summaries must be 150 words (-/+ 10%) and must address the following in ONE short paragraph:
* What is the topic/key question the author addresses in the article? What are the main sub-points?
* How did the author answer the question/aim? (ie What is the basis on which they justify their argument?).
* What is the conclusion or answer to the questions asked by the author OR the most important point raised by the author ?
You must provide a reference to the article using APA style (See https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/apa7). Format with 12pt font, and double-line spacing.
File name for uploading to Turnitin must begin with your surname plus assessment title E.g. Smith Summary 3.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Any extension on these summaries beyond 3 days will mean students must summarise a different article than the one listed. Students MUST be in touch with the course coordinator (s.babidge@uq.edu.au) to ask for alternative assessment.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Participating in the tutorials & online workshops
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
Refer to Course Profile for dates of face to face tutorials. Online workshops are introduced in Week 6 and should be undertaken from that date onwards, finishing by the end of week 12.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Participation is a key aspect of assessment in this course and involves attending and contributing to discussion in the face to face tutorials as well as completing tasks associated with the self-paced online workshops.
There are five (5) ONLINE WORKSHOPS, EACH comprised of a short instructional video explaining a key skill for ethnographers and instructions for an associated student activity. Students watch the instructional videos, do self-paced activities and upload their results online [using Padlet].
Each workshop contributes to skills and successful completion of two other assessments (assessment 2 & 3). Students can complete the responses at any time up to end of Week 12, but are encouraged to undertake these in the weeks indicated on Blackboard, as noted in the weekly learning activities schedule.
To gain full participation marks, students must
1. Follow the instructions in the five (5) short films, and any written instructions in Blackboard, and
2. Upload and share five (5) responses on padlet. Workshop participation total =10%
There are EIGHT face to face TUTORIALS. Students are expected to attend these and contribute actively to topic discussions by referring to reading, lecture and topic materials of relevance. Tutorial participation = 5%
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Use the Blackboard site to access the link for the padlet (to upload material responding to online workshops). You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Observation-based short essay
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Performance
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
29/04/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Observation-based Short essay (500 words) to be submitted via Turnitin on or before 2 p.m. on due date
This assessment asks you to -
- spend an hour undertaking observation as a research method, in a public place of your own choosing. Possible public places include: Sports game, public garden or park, shopping mall, a Café, town square, or a bus stop...& any other public place you choose.
- Observe using all of your senses: take notes about visual, audio and olfactory (i.e. smell) aspects of your chosen field site. What are people doing in your setting? Spend your time writing as well as watching, trying to capture details such as snippets of conversation, details about people's dress or behaviour, how the place changes (in smell, busy-ness etc) across the course of the hour, and anything else that strikes you as interesting. Your notes will help you describe the place in a way that reflects an empirical truth (one based on the world you observed).
- Take a photograph of the general setting but make sure this is not a close-up or easily identifiable photo of any individual person.
- Practice 'seeing' like an ethnographer. Use your notes to write a narrative description of the public place, it must be based on your description of the real and also seek to transport your reader into the setting.
- Make reference to 1 relevant article in anthropology.
The 500 word Observation-based short essay will not be your actual observation notes made during the observation. Rather, what you submit will be an organised form of your notes, written up as a descriptive narrative that also relates your observations to one article of your choosing from your reading in anthropology. [* For example, you may have chosen to observe a public garden, but what you observe there leads you to go looking for what anthropologists have written about social exclusion, human-plant interaction, human-animal interaction or some other phenomenon]. The essay could be structured under headings (such as visual, audio, olfactory), or not; it is your choice. You must try to be both detailed and succinct. To provide a good ethnographic description based on your observation, ask yourself, 'what is the significance of social behaviour in this public place?' OR 'What is the social meaning of this place and the behaviour in it?' How does the anthropology article you have chosen help you make sense of what you observed? We will prepare for the observation exercise during the tutorials. Your observation-based short essay must have a title, be clearly written and referenced (APA7). It must include a photograph which illustrates a key point that you make in your essay, but make sure this does not identify any individual person.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Doing Anthropology - Final Essay and Coded Notes
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Performance
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
This assessment is called Doing Anthropology. It entails combining ethnographic interview data collection and research in the anthropological literature to write an essay, and is focussed on economics or politics. Each student will generate their own essay title and content based on original research (interview and associated data analysis) matched with research in the academic literature (anthropology articles, books, etc.).
Step 1: Go back to the course material where we discussed economics and politics and consider the reading material. Make a decision to investigate EITHER economics or politics (see below). Step 2: Write some interview questions and undertake a short (roughly 30-60 min) interview with a friend or family member on the topic. Step 3: Collate the notes you took during the interview or make notes using the audio recording and/or transcript of your interview and analyse these, using the process of 'coding' (see online workshop 5). Then, using the keywords that arise ('codes') in the process of this coding, Step 3: engage in research in the anthropological literature to find anthropological papers which help you 'make sense' of and discuss the themes. The final essay you write will combine your data (from the interview) and the anthropological literature from the course outline and your research to help you make sense of what your interviewee tells you. The essay will include an appendix that provides a sample (no more than 2 pages) of your coded data ('Coded notes'). The Final Essay assessment (+ coded notes) must be submitted by Friday, Week 13 at 2 p.m.
- Coded notes of interview: 10% (max two pages) The sample of Coded notes must be submitted at the same time as the essay (below) and in the same document. Students receive training on how to code their notes (see online workshop 5) and guidance in tutorials. Coded notes MUST include references to at least 3 relevant (anthropological) pieces of literature . Coded notes will be submitted via TurnitIn at the same time as the essay and in the same document.
- Essay (max 1500 words): 30% All essays must include a title, your name, student number, page numbers, and be in Times New Roman 12 pt font. Essays must be properly referenced in Harvard style (see the following guide: https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/uqharvard), with at least 3 anthropology sources.
Choose one of the two topics below. Re-consider the lecture and reading material from the course to help you decide the topic and think of a line of questioning. Follow the instructions.
Topic 1: Economics Interview a close friend or relative about their ideas related to economics; trade, money, value, labour, or some other aspect of economic life. In the essay you will consider a broader question about socio-economic life, using the results of this interview. How does the data from the interview reflect/contrast with broader sociocultural and/or historical conditions or realities? Re-consider the lecture and relevant reading material from the course. Your essay must include a kinship diagram in which you 'map' any connections between members of the family to which your interviewee refers (for example, if you were interested in the lines of inheritance of material wealth, the values in a family business, or the labour choices among family members). Your essay must also reference at least 3 academic anthropological sources such as journal articles, book chapters, or books. The essay must conclude with a question or tentative finding about the economic matters you investigated.
Topic 2: Politics Interview a close friend or relative about political (or apolitical!) views, party membership, activism, experience of working in bureaucracy or some other aspect of political life. In the essay you will tell a story with the results of this interview. How does the data from the interview reflect/contrast with broader sociocultural and/or historical conditions or realities? Your essay must include a kinship diagram in which you 'map' the connections between any members of the family to which your interviewee refers (for example, if you were interested in political party membership, traditions of activism among family members, or opposing views within a family group). Your essay must also reference at least 3 academic anthropological sources such as journal articles, book chapters, or books. The essay must conclude with a question or tentative finding about the political matters you investigated.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is an additional opportunity to demonstrate that the learning requirements for an eligible course have been satisfied and that the graduate attributes for the course have been attained. Supplementary assessment may only be granted where Supplementary Assessment – procedures allow. A passing grade of 4 (or P) is the highest grade that can be awarded in a course where supplementary assessment has been granted. For further information on supplementary assessment please see my.UQ.
Additional assessment information
Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
School Guide for Written Assessments: School of Social Science Guide for Written Assessments
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Some readings will be added to Blackboard across the course of the semester.
All recommended readings can be used to prepare for your assessment.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Introduction & short history of anthropology Welcome to anthropology! The first lecture will provide a short history of the discipline of anthropology and raise a series of key questions that the course seeks to address. We will also go over the course content, assessment and other details of what to expect. Prepare for the lecture by reading over all the course materials and then read the first chapter of the textbook, Eller (2015) chapter 1 and also the article by Proctor (2022). What are your questions about anthropology? Write a list of all the things you want to know and ask the best ones during class. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Human Diversity & ways to think it Anthropology is unendingly interested in human societies and culture and all the diverse ways in which humans express ourselves as collective beings, each one unique and with so many things in common. Enter the world of contradiction - how are humans one species and yet so diverse? And what are the implications of this diversity? To prepare for the lecture, read the textbook, Eller Chapter 2, and Graeber & Wengrow. You might have additional time to consider the recommended readings. TUTORIAL 1: To prepare, write short summary (150 words max) of Graeber & Wengrow (2021) as preparation and practice. This is not assessed, but you will need it for the tutorial workshop. The key elements of a good article summary will be discussed in the tutorial, but give it a go on your own before class. The tutorial will provide further instruction on writing summaries. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Culture, change, and globalisation In the lecture we will examine the concept of 'culture', consider the ways that anthropologists trace cultural continuities and changes and think about culture in the context of globalisation. Prepare for the lecture by reading Eller Chapter 3 and the article by Li & Manzano (which you summarise and submit as assessment 1.1). TUTORIAL: Bring a copy of your summary of Li & Manzano to the tutorial to help in the topic discussion, plus your notes from reading Eller, Chapter 3 (and any recommended reading). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Relations: Kinship, the body and society In the lecture we will examine how anthropologists consider 'relations' and what we mean by the term 'kinship'. Students will learn the basics of 'mapping' kinship and consider how our bodies are formed as a social process. Prepare for the lecture by reading Eller Chapter 4 and the article by Jiang (which you summarise and submit as assessment 1.2). TUTORIAL: Bring a copy of your summary of Jiang to the tutorial to help in the topic discussion, plus your notes from reading Eller, Chapter 4 and any recommended reading. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Communication, translation & representation How is culture social (not individual)? Culture and social meanings are shared through different forms of communication. How do we think across cultures, or translate from one to the other? What are the problems of speaking and writing about (representing) cultures, both our own and others? Prepare for the lecture by reading Eller Chapter 5 and the article by Blasi (which you summarise and submit as assessment 1.3). Consider watching the entire film "Arrival" and reading the recommended readings as well. TUTORIAL: Bring a copy of your summary of Blasi to the tutorial to help in the topic discussion, plus your notes from reading Eller, Chapter 5. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Doing and thinking ethnography The principle methodology of anthropology is ethnography, and it is sometimes also spoken of as a method, or a 'way of seeing'. How does ethnographic research work? In preparation for the lecture read the required readings and bring your questions to the class. Instructions for the Online Methods Workshops will also be provided. NO Face to face TUTORIAL: Begin the Online Method Workshops. Read Lassiter (Ch3) & Eller Chapter 9. Read the recommended reading for an example of one aspect of an ethnography of coffee production (West 2012 Ch7). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Money, value, labour: an Anthropological approach to economics In the lecture we will examine how anthropologists consider economics as cultural and social practice. We look at the history of money, the social processes in value creation and different experiences and meanings attributed to labour. Prepare for the lecture by reading Eller Chapter 6, and the book chapter by Graeber (and any recommended reading). TUTORIAL: Let's talk about economic life - bring your questions to class. Students are also encouraged to undertake Online Methods Workshop 2 (kinship) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Colonial politics & the state This lecture opens up a discussion of the anthropology of politics. We will return to colonial and globalising dynamics, and give some background to what we mean by 'politics'. Prepare for the lecture by reading Eller Chapter 7 and the article by Stead (and any recommended reading). Consider the required readings as well. How do anthropologists study politics and how is this different to other social scientists? TUTORIAL: Bring your notes and questions on the topic discussion, from reading Eller, Chapter 7 and Stead. Do the Online Method Workshop 3 on Observation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Ritual, religion and the symbolic What IS religion? What does ritual DO? The lecture will consider a range of questions that anthropologists of religion and ritual have asked in order to contribute to understandings of human diversity. Prepare for the lecture by reading Eller Chapter 8 and the book chapter by Bielo and bring your notes to class. Consider the required readings as well. NO Face to Face TUTORIAL: Observation-based short essay is due. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
Ecology, energy, and connections How do environmental anthropologists contribute to useful thinking on ecological problems? What are the connections that make ecological worlds social and cultural? How do new questions about energy matter to anthropologists? FILM "The Anthropologist" introduces some ways to think about environments and ethnographic work. Prepare for the lecture by reading the article by Begert and the chapter by Halvksz. Consider the recommended readings as well. TUTORIAL: All tutorials will meet in the UQ Art Museum, where we will consider the exhibition :These Entanglements: Ecology After Nature Bring your notes and questions on the topic discussion, informed by required & recommended reading. Do the Online Methods Workshop 4 on Interviewing. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Essay Writing and Coding: instructional lecture The lecture will be instructional in relation to the process of the final assessment, which includes an essay plus your coded interview notes. Detailed discussion of "how to" will be provided. NO face to face TUTORIAL : Students are encouraged to use this time to undertake Online workshop 5, Coding & Padlet upload. Also to catch up on other online workshops & reading AND/OR make progress on the Final Essay Assessment. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Where do we apply anthropology? Examples from Health and 'Development' The lecture will consider what anthropologists do in the world. What questions do we ask and how do we work ? Prepare for the lecture by reading Eller Chapter 10 and the book chapter by Gardener & Lewis. TUTORIAL: Bring your notes and questions on the topic discussion, from reading Eller, Chapter 10 and other reading. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Course Wrap up The final lecture will provide some discussion and overview of the course. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.