AANK16011U Analytical Approaches

Volume 2019/2020
Education

Board of Studies, Department of Anthropology

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?

Learning Outcome

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
Literature

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.

  • 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.

• 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
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 74
  • Lectures
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 284
  • Total
  • 414
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)

  • 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

Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, exam period
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.
Length: 22,500–27,500 keystrokes for an individual paper. 4,500–5,500 keystrokes per extra member for group papers.
Exam registration requirements

In order to be eligible to participate in the exam, the students must hand in the midterm assignment.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam

1st re-exam: A new essay with a new problem formulation must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam.

 

2nd re-exam: A new assignment with a new problem formulation must be submitted. The new assignment is submitted during the next exam period.

 

For more information about the course see www.kurser.ku.dk.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome.