Analytical Approaches
Course content
Analytical Approaches presents an overview of central anthropological problem areas and teaches students to identify, compare and assess the different components that make up an anthropological analysis, namely, ethnographic question, anthropological problem, and theoretical perspectives.
Analytical Approaches thus imbues students with advanced anthropological knowledge about central problems and with elementary meta-analytical skills and competencies, both of which they can draw on when designing their own projects in the second semester and writing their own thesis - i.e. conducting their own analyses - in the fourth semester. The class is organized around twelve weeks of combined lectures, seminars, and group sessions, each of which hones in on an anthropological problem by critically examining different analytical approaches to it.
In alignment with the learning outcomes of this course we will place special emphasis on exploring the pros and cons of different analytical approaches, both classic and more recent. What kinds of insights can a certain analytical approach yield? What are its limitations? And how does it compare with other approaches, past or present?
Board of Studies, Department of Anthropology
Mandatory MA course 1. Semester
Credit students and Exchange students cannot sign up for this course.
Knowledge
- Be knowledgeable about different anthropological problem areas
Skills
- Be able to identify the different components that comprise an anthropological analysis, that is, ethnographic question, anthropological problem and theoretical perspectives
- Be able to compare the relevance of different theoretical perspectives in relation to selected problems areas
Competences
- Be able to assess the potentials and the limitations of different analytical approaches in relation to an existing or future anthropological analysis
• Weekly Lectures
• Weekly Seminars
• Group work aimed at group presentations throughout the course
• Midterm the students must hand in a written assignment that shows
the student’s ability to identify the different components that
comprise an anthropological analysis based on their reading of one
of the three required monographs
• Attendance is expected of all students
The course literature comprises two kinds of texts:
-
600 pages of required literature in the form of journal articles or chapters from edited volumes (for each session, students must read two or three agenda-setting or problem-defining anthropological analyses of concrete ethnographic problems – not review articles). These texts are read intensively.
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Three monographs totaling 600 pages (where one of them is chosen individually and the others are selected from a pool of six monographs picked by the teachers). The monographs are read extensively.
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Collective feedback on the written assignment will be provided midterm in class.
-
Individual feedback is offered after the assessment and grading of the exam essay
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignment, exam period
- Type of assessment details
- Written assignment on optional subject
Individual or group papers
External assessment
The 7-point grading scale
The essay can be written individually or by groups of maximum four students.
For groups writing together it must be clearly indicated which parts of the assignment each of the students has written.
Length: 22,500–27,500 keystrokes for an individual paper. 4,500–5,500 keystrokes per extra member for group papers. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
Criteria for exam assessment
See Learning Outcome.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 56
- Preparation
- 284
- Exam
- 74
- English
- 414
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AANK16011U
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedulegroup
-
See timetable.
- Studyboard
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Matthew Alexander Halkes Carey (13-716578786c697b32676576697d446572786c7673326f7932686f)
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