Students

ANTH7001 – Core Issues in Anthropological Theory II

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Chris Houston
Payel Ray
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to BPhil/MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This core unit in the Master of Research specialisation in Anthropology provides a grounding in theoretical, methodological and interpretive issues currently being debated by anthropologists. The seminars deal with a selected number of theoretical, methodological and interpretative issues that are currently debated in the discipline. These issues will vary from year to year according to contemporary developments in Anthropology and the interests of the course convener, and in terms of how current concerns in the discipline link to the theoretical issues addressed by students. Others may be more enduring, such as the theoretical issues related to the 'writing culture' debate, 'orientalism' and the problem of the 'other', cultural relativism, politics and power, and the relation between individual and society.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply core anthropological theories to both your own life as a member of society and to the social processes of the world around you
  • ULO2: Demonstrate mastery of emerging theoretical and methodological issues central to Anthropology
  • ULO3: Conceptualise the ways that different scholars have theorised the creation of culture by subjects as well as the creation of subjects by culture
  • ULO4: Consider issues of social and cultural reproduction and domination; the creation of subjectivity through inter-subjective encounter; the self-institution of society; and the individual as creator of their world beyond their conditioning by pre-existing cultural frameworks

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Major Esaay 60% No 6 November
Seminar Participation 25% No Continuing
Seminar Presentation 15% No Chosen by students

Major Esaay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 73 hours
Due: 6 November
Weighting: 60%

The essay should relate, compare and critically assess the work of two or more of the scholars to the major themes of the unit - cultural creativity, agency (agents), structures and world-making. In the essay students critically focus on where the scholars identify sources of creativity or change, and how the texts articulate society and the individual - or in what terms.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate mastery of emerging theoretical and methodological issues central to Anthropology
  • Conceptualise the ways that different scholars have theorised the creation of culture by subjects as well as the creation of subjects by culture
  • Consider issues of social and cultural reproduction and domination; the creation of subjectivity through inter-subjective encounter; the self-institution of society; and the individual as creator of their world beyond their conditioning by pre-existing cultural frameworks

Seminar Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: Continuing
Weighting: 25%

To facilitate seminar discussion, non-presenting students are required to submit a one page response to the reading(s) each week, structured according to the three 'Is': insight, interest, and incomprehension. Find in the reading(s) what you thought was the author's main insight; something of particular interest to you; and something that seems confusing or even incomprehensible that you would like to discuss. The seminar mark will be awarded on the basis of the written work as well as on seminar participation.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply core anthropological theories to both your own life as a member of society and to the social processes of the world around you
  • Demonstrate mastery of emerging theoretical and methodological issues central to Anthropology
  • Conceptualise the ways that different scholars have theorised the creation of culture by subjects as well as the creation of subjects by culture
  • Consider issues of social and cultural reproduction and domination; the creation of subjectivity through inter-subjective encounter; the self-institution of society; and the individual as creator of their world beyond their conditioning by pre-existing cultural frameworks

Seminar Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Chosen by students
Weighting: 15%

Over the duration of the unit, each student will give a brief introduction to the week's reading(s), drawing out its main themes and selecting a number of questions or conundrums for the seminar to discuss. These facilitation of the discussion can be used by the students to focus on something interesting, maddening or confusing about the reading.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply core anthropological theories to both your own life as a member of society and to the social processes of the world around you
  • Demonstrate mastery of emerging theoretical and methodological issues central to Anthropology
  • Conceptualise the ways that different scholars have theorised the creation of culture by subjects as well as the creation of subjects by culture

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Students will attend a 2-hour seminar each week. The resources required for this unit are available on iLearn. 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.