Course coordinator
Associate Professor Gerhard Hoffstaedter
9-10am Tuesdays via zoom, or by appointment
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
This course introduces students to a core set of social and cultural theories in anthropology, anthropological case studies, and anthropological research processes that address contemporary challenges relating to current world issues including environmental problems, displacement and forced migration, global and local Indigenous struggles, health inequalities, and multiculturalism. We explore what anthropologists study, how they do it and what impact that is having in the world. From online ethnography to anthropologists working with the military, from coal seam gas to refugees, from indigenous knowledge to material culture, we survey the breadth of the anthropological imagination.
This is a unique learning experience, as we take you (visually) to the fieldsites of many of our UQ anthropology lecturers and explain what they do and how they do it. We will host panels throughout the course with PhD students and lecturers, providing insights into their work and allowing you to engage them directly. We have also interviewed many eminent anthropologists from around the world, and included these interviews in the content available to you online.ﾠThe idea is that you will be able to discuss current world issues with a global learning community who will be taking the course alongside you online, as well as to engage the UQ anthropology community, including the UQ anthropology museum.ﾠ
ANTH1030 will introduce students to key concepts, perspectives and contemporary global issues in anthropology. With a focus on UQ anthropology, we explore the varied applications of anthropological research and the impact anthropologists have in the world. We explore local concerns to global affairs with an anthropological perspective. We will consider how modernity and globalisation have affected diverse peoples and places over time, including the impact of sociocultural norms, political pressures and economic opportunities on custom and livelihood; the effect of migration on notions of nationalism, culture and identity; the influence of global environmental campaigns on resource users in developed and developing countries; the role of indigenous struggles over land and belonging in the 21st century; and the representation of culture and heritage through material objects. Drawing on interesting and exciting case studies from Australia, Europe, Latin America, Melanesia, Southeast Asia, and the United States, we will examine these important current world issues and consider their social history in anthropology.
This course will be a little different to most other 1st year courses, as you will be engaging an online community of learners throughout the course. You'll take part in World101x, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) run on edX, a not-for-profit online learning platform. You'll watch part of the lecture content via World101x in your own time, discuss content with learners from around the world and complete online quizzes. In addition, we will host panels and interact in person in lectures and tutorials.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This is an introductory course; no background in anthropology required. All are welcome.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ANTH1101X
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
Associate Professor Gerhard Hoffstaedter
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
In taking ANTH1030, you will:
- Explore key ideas, concepts and skills usedﾠin anthropology;
- Examine the relationship between local and global issues;
- Analyse the historical, social, and cultural dimensions of different world issues,ﾠincluding thoseﾠrelated to nationalism, social movementsﾠand Indigenous sovereignty, global capitalism,ﾠmigration and forced displacement, and environmental politics;
- Investigate current events through an anthropological lens
The approach to the course places emphasis on you as an (inter)active learner rather than as a passive recipient of knowledge. Active involvement requires that you complete assigned readings and assessments, reflect critically on course material, participate actively in online study modules and workshopﾠsessions as well as ask questions of your lecturers and tutors.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand key anthropological concepts and methods
LO2.
Think openly and critically about cultural difference and sameness and
evaluate the world from a range of perspectives and points of view
LO3.
Synthesize and engage anthropological work on current world issues as experienced in a variety of places by a variety of people
LO4.
Analyse and evaluate current world issues through an anthropological lens
LO5.
Develop critical thinking and communication skills
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
World101x quizzes, participation, project
|
30% |
26/07/2024 - 25/10/2024
By 2pm on the Friday of each World101X online study week |
| Project |
Museum Project
|
35% |
23/09/2024 12:00 pm |
| Project, Reflection | Media Project | 35% |
25/10/2024 12:00 pm |
Assessment details
World101x quizzes, participation, project
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
26/07/2024 - 25/10/2024
By 2pm on the Friday of each World101X online study week
Task description
*We will sign up to the MOOC World101x together and discuss the requirements for this assessment item in the first tutorial, so please make sure you are able to attend. Clear instructions will also be posted on blackboard.
Online Quizzes, participation tabs and online museum project:
For each online study module, you will complete short, multiple-choice quizzes on edX to test your comprehension of the module's content. These quizzes will be completed and scored through the edX platform.
You must complete the quiz for each online study module by Friday of the preceding week at 2pm.
The online study modules will be open at the start of the semester. You will have only one attempt at each quiz; re-tries are not possible. Prior to completing the quiz, please make sure you have a secure internet connection and have updated your internet browser to the latest version.
You can follow your progress on the edX MOOC site under the 'progress' tab.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. For more information on quizzes, please see the Learn.UQ Assessment website at https://web.library.uq.edu.au/node/1715/4
If you have any technical problems or questions with regards to online assessment, please visit or contact the UQ Library Ask I.T. Service Helpdesks at https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it
AI Use: This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI 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. These assessments are to be completed via the edX platform.
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.
An extension request without penalty will only be considered under exceptional circumstances as outlined on my.UQ. You must submit the extension request as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission due date.
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. 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.
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. Extensions exceeding this duration or 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).
When you submit an extension request in the student portal, it is received, read, and actioned by the Social Science Student Administration Team. It does not go to the course coordinator.
Late applications (requests received after the assessment item submission due date) must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date.
In considering applications for extensions, 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.
Late submissions of extension requests in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Museum Project
- Online
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
23/09/2024 12:00 pm
Task description
For this project, we want you to reflect on the role of museums, things and material objects more generally, and your perceptions, ideas, and thoughts about how things get categorized, represented and displayed. Think of something that you own that brings you comfort and joy, something that you would hate to lose, something perhaps with a story to tell. Now think of that object in a museum in the future, now existing without its story or its history -- an 'orphan thing' that has come to represent an aspect of your society in the early 21st century.
Choose ONE object from your own home that is important in some way, and that shows its history, usage and/or significance in some way. Now imagine your object is in a museum 50 years in the future. Attach a label to your object, which will tell someone in 50 years about it, its importance to you, and to the society you live in. The label must be no longer than 100 words. Think critically about the object, its role, and significance, and boil this down to a concise and easy-to-understand label or story. What do you want to tell others and future generations about this object?
In addition to this label, you will be required to reflect and think critically about some of the issues raised during the course segment on museums and representation in 600 words. For example: What are the broader political and social dynamics around your choice of the object displayed? How do you imagine it might be received, and how might it best be displayed to reveal your intention/s? What do you think are the dynamics at play when museums display objects from the past in general?
The most visually arresting and highest graded will be displayed in the UQ anthropology museum in a pop-up exhibition at the end of semester.
This assessment should be structured as follows:
- Power point slide with:
- Title
- Photograph of your object
- Label that describes the object (maximum 100 words)
On the next slide write your:
- Reflection (600 words)
We will discuss the format and tips on how to do this in tutorials and provide a basic template for submission on blackboard.
A note on ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI:
All assignments for this course are to be researched and written by you. You are to explore the literature, you are to think the ideas, you are to write the sentences, you are to build the argument. I recognise that ChatGPT can be used in a variety of ways in the course of learning about a new topic. Some students, for example, might use ChatGPT as a place to start to begin to learn about a new concept or topic. While this can be helpful, it can also produce results that are highly problematic. We will discuss some of these issues during the course. What I ask of you is this:
1) All written assignments are to be researched and written by you.
2) If you use ChatGPT as a source of initial inquiry, you: a) acknowledge this in your final submission—in a statement following the conclusion, b) you divulge the questions you asked AI in the course of research, and c) you use the response you receive as a preliminary start only. It is your responsibility to ensure that the information you gather from AI is accurate and timely and I can assure you, from playing around with ChatGPT myself, that this is not always the case. A failure to reference AI use 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.
Turnitin links will be configured to permit early submission of assessment items. Students will have the opportunity to submit draft assignments to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment in order to review similarity index content and to improve academic writing practice in accordance with UQ Academic Integrity policies.
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. Please note that on the preview page, your assignment will be shown without formatting. Your assignment will retain formatting and your course coordinator/tutor will be able to see formatted assignments. Once you have submitted your assignment you are able to go back and view your submission with the correct formatting.
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 unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension through your student portal on my.UQ.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS team via AskUs.
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.
An extension request without penalty will only be considered under exceptional circumstances as outlined on my.UQ. You must submit the extension request as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission due date.
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. 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.
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. Extensions exceeding this duration or 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).
When you submit an extension request in the student portal, it is received, read, and actioned by the Social Science Student Administration Team. It does not go to the course coordinator.
Late applications (requests received after the assessment item submission due date) must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date.
In considering applications for extensions, 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.
Late submissions of extension requests in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Late submission
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.
Media Project
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project, Reflection
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
25/10/2024 12:00 pm
Task description
The media project is an exercise in taking the anthropological understanding you have gained about a variety of world issues and applying it to a specific case or "current world issue." The media project is about you choosing a particular topic and exploring it anthropologically. Here is how it works:
1. Choose a current event or issue from the news. This can be something you pick up in the international or local news; it can be something trending on TikTok or twitter; it can be a major issue in your own field of study (for example, engineering, design, or music); or it can be something you observe happening around you, like protests or developments.
2. Gather at least 4 primary sources, such as news clips, press releases, government reports, videos, photographs, or other information about this event/issue. Depending on your topic, more than 4 sources may be necessary. Unless you are writing on disinformation, all these sources should be from reliable, trustworthy media sources. Consider: what might an anthropologist have to say about this topic? What is anthropological about this particular event or thing in the world? How might you explain this event to someone else by drawing on the perspectives/tools you have learnt in anthropology?
3. Reflect on how these primary sources resonate with at least 4 peer-review anthropological secondary sources. These can be works we have discussed in class, sources you used for your museum project, or new sources you have found researching. Think about how the particular case might be informed by the theory or argument set forth in these anthropological sources.
4. From these primary sources, craft your own news piece that brings in an anthropological perspective. This should be between 700-900 words (including captions or comic dialogue), and it can take many different formats: a standard news article, a "zine" essay, a radio clip, a video clip, a graphic/comic strip, a series of photos/images/graphs accompanied by relevant text (a visual essay), or something else. You will need to confirm your format with your tutor by mid semester break at the latest.
5. Write a brief 300-word reflection on how your news piece engages with or speaks to anthropological concepts, theory, or perspectives, i.e., your four secondary sources. This reflection allows you to explain how these anthropological concepts, theories or perspectives have informed your news piece. It is both a tool for checking your own analysis and an opportunity to draw clear connections between primary and secondary sources.
6. Produce a reference list of all cited primary and secondary anthropological sources. These should be under separate subheadings titled “primary sources” and “secondary sources.” The reference list is NOT part of your word count. Check the UQ Library guides for advice on formatting citations and references for a range of source types: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/research-tools-techniques/referencing-style-guides.
7. What you will submit is one word document that has three components: 1) the 700-900 word news piece that can take a variety of formats and 2) the 300-word written reflection combined together with 3) a properly formatted citation list with at least 8 sources (4 primary, 4 secondary). You will submit this via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Even though your project can take different formats, you must demonstrate correct referencing and show that you have drawn upon at least 4 relevant peer-reviewed secondary academic sources and at least 4 primary sources in your writing as indicated by your analysis, reflection, citations, and reference list. We will discuss strategies for working citations into the news piece and for weaving anthropological perspectives into your analysis during tutorials later in the term, as how you approach citations and analysis will vary with different formats.
In marking your projects, we will be less concerned with whether you demonstrate the correct answer (assuming there is one) than with your presentation of an organised, reasoned, well-researched and well-presented project. Feedback on the media projects will also be provided via Turnitin after all projects have been marked.
The media project must be properly formatted, using double-spacing and 12 point Times New Roman font, in accordance with the School of Social Science requirements, which can be found here: https://social-science.uq.edu.au/files/1725/EssayWritingGuide_SocSci.pdf.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
AI Use: Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance. A failure to reference AI use 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.
Turnitin links will be configured to permit early submission of assessment items. Students will have the opportunity to submit draft assignments to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment in order to review similarity index content and to improve academic writing practice in accordance with UQ Academic Integrity policies.
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. Please note that on the preview page, your assignment will be shown without formatting. Your assignment will retain formatting and your course coordinator/tutor will be able to see formatted assignments. Once you have submitted your assignment you are able to go back and view your submission with the correct formatting.
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 unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension through your student portal on my.UQ.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS team via AskUs.
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.
An extension request without penalty will only be considered under exceptional circumstances as outlined on my.UQ. You must submit the extension request as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission due date.
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. 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.
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. Extensions exceeding this duration or 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).
When you submit an extension request in the student portal, it is received, read, and actioned by the Social Science Student Administration Team. It does not go to the course coordinator.
Late applications (requests received after the assessment item submission due date) must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date.
In considering applications for extensions, 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.
Late submissions of extension requests in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Late submission
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.
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. |
Additional course grading information
The final grade is determined by adding together the sum of all individual assessment tasks.
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/
UQ Assignment Writing Guide: Steps for writing assignments - my.UQ - University of Queensland
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
The UQ Library also offers information, guides and technical help on quizzes and tests, Blackboard assignments and Turnitin assignments. Details are available on the Learn.UQ Assessment website (https://www.library.uq.edu.au/ask-it/learnuq-assessment) and UQ Library Ask I.T. Service website (https://www.library.uq.edu.au/ask-it/about-ask-it).
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 |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 2 |
Lecture |
Module 1: Introductions In this module we introduce the structure of the course and key themes: Anthropological perspectives and concepts for contemporary world issues. We ask: What is an anthropological lens? We discuss culture, modernity, politics and anthropology in contemporary world issues. |
Multiple weeks From Week 3 To Week 4 |
Lecture |
Module 2: Anthropology 101 We will complete episodes 1 and 2 of World101x and ask: What is anthropology and why is it an important field of study? What is unique about the anthropological approach? Why does the world needs more anthropologists? |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 7 |
Lecture |
Module 3: Indigeneity In this module we investigate Indigeneity in a global and local context - its meanings, case studies and futures. We also hear from UQ anthropology museum director Michael Aird about his work with photography and the UQ anthropology museum, site for our museum project. |
Multiple weeks From Week 8 To Week 11 |
Lecture |
Module 4: Living Within Limits Life within limits: Anthropological investigations of structure and agency |
Multiple weeks From Week 12 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Conclusions Course conclusions and the official opening of the Pop-up exhibition in the UQ Anthropology Museum We draw together the various threads of materials we have covered this semester and celebrate the best of the museum projects, in the UQ anthropology museum. |
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.