ARCH10150

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

Demonstrate an awareness of the diversity of human cultures
Understand the history of the discipline of anthropology and its relevance in and for the world today
Explain how anthropology gives us a deeper understanding of what it means to be human
Write an essay demonstrating awareness of key anthropological concepts

No Generative AI content is allowed in the final submission for assessments in this module.

Indicative Module Content:

Week 1: What is anthropology? Key concepts, key debates
Week 2: The story of human evolution
Week 3: The body
Week 4: Inequality
Week 5: Exchange
Week 6: Social organization
Week 7: Hunter-gatherers
Week 8: Ritual and symbolism
Week 9: Relationships and identity
Week 10: House and home

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

- Lectures supported by tutorials

- Fortnightly on-line MCQs based on lecture content

- Initial assessment reviewing what different core texts say about one key anthropological concept

- Final assignment writing academic essay about this topic

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Additional Information:
Archaeology PhD students (DRHSC001 Z117, DRHSC001 Z118) may audit this module only.


 

Assessment Strategy

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will benefit from immediate feedback on the MCQs, providing a baseline for their performance Students will receive individual feedback on the first assignment. This will include clarification of the level of understanding of the key concept chosen, which will feed into final assessment. Final assessment feedback will focus on the construction of a formal university essay.

Core texts:
Eriksen T. (2015) Small Places, Large Issues. An introduction to social and cultural anthropology (4th edition). London, Pluto Books (available as a ebook through UCD library)
Ingold T. (2018) Anthropology: why it matters. Cambridge, Polity

Encyclopaedias…
UCD library has e-access to two very useful Encyclopaedias, which contain many reviews of different aspects of anthropology. Brightspace has links to the on-line versions. Be sure to reference the individual sections appropriately

Wright, J D. (Ed.) 2015 International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition), Oxford, Elsevier.
Darity, WA. (Ed.) 2008 International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 2nd ed., Macmillan Reference USA

Supplementary reading:
There’s a lot of good introductory texts available. The two below are both good, and very different, introductions which I will be drawing on in the course. Hendry & Underdown is admirably short (almost too short!), and Callan et al is a synthesis of key texts.

Callan H., Street B., Underdown S. (eds) (2013) Introductory Readings in Anthropology. Oxford, Berghahn/Royal Anthropological Institute
Hendry J., Underdown S. (2012) Anthropology: A Beginner's Guide. London, Oneworld