ANTH 3037 - Bodies and Society: Contemporary Anthropology
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ANTH 3037 Course Bodies and Society: Contemporary Anthropology Coordinating Unit Anthropology and Development Studies Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 6 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible ANTH 3100, ANTH 3036 Assumed Knowledge At least 15 units of Anthropology courses Assessment Ethnographic field notes and writing, Book analysis, Research essay Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Georgina Drew
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 To have an in-depth study of the discipline of anthropology as a basis for an undergraduate major and continuation into honours and postgraduate study. 2 To understand the ethnographic process, data collection and writing styles of ethnography. 3 To critically understand the theoretical perspectives that currently dominate the anthropology of the body and its relationship to society. 4 To engage critically with ethnographic monographs as a key mode of producing anthropological knowledge. 5 To have the ability to engage in anthropological conceptual and thematic discussions in small groups. 6 To have developed he skills in ethnographic practice and the creation of anthropological knowledge. 7 To understand the value and use of digital technologies and forms of communication in anthropological research. 8 To understand the ethical principles in contemporary anthropology and ethnogaphy, as well as ethical dilemmas in the past. University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2,3,4 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
5 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
5 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
2,6 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
8 Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
8 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
7 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
The course uses MyUni tools and resources. The course readings will be made available on MyUni and the recorded lectures will be posted there using Echo360 (or other MyUni tools). All course material will be posted early in the semester with the exception of the lecture power points and recordings, which are to be released over the semester. MyUni’s Final Grade Centre will also be employed so that students can easily access their course performance indicators.Online Learning
All resources will be centred in the MyUni/Canvas modules, with relevant external links provided therein. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course is taught in a 3-hour block to provide for a real-time interactive lecture followed by a series of class discussions, workshops, and small group discovery experiences. The block format helps to deepen knowledge of the key content covered and to cultivate the skills needed to complete the course assessments.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
This course is worth 6 units and, as per Learning and Teaching guidelines, involves an expanded workload relative to a 3-unit course.
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
1 x 3-hour interactive seminar per week (or equivalent) = 36 hours per semester
6 hours reading per week = 72 hours per semester
6 hours research per week = 72 hours per semester
6 hours (on average) of assignment preparation per week = 72 hours per semester
4 hours of supplemental video content per week = 48 hours per semester
12 hours of added research time for the final assignment = 12 hoursLearning Activities Summary
The following is a loose guide of key thematic engagements, the specifics of which may evolve by the start of the course:
Week 1: Introduction: Anthropological Understandings of the Body in/of Society
Week 2: Ethnographic Fieldwork and the Body
Week 3: Embodied Ethnographic Writing and the Body in Ethnographic Writing
Week 4: No Seminars Due to Week 4 Assignment Deadline
Week 5: Phenomenology: Embodiment and Experience
Week 6: Theories of Practice: Habitus and the Social Body's 'Durable Dispositions'
Week 7: Power, Knowledge and the Body
Week 8: Reading & Writing Workshop
Week 9: No Seminars (Usually a Public Holiday)
Week 10: Multispecies Anthropology: Extending the Social Body Beyond the Human
Week 11: Bodies, Society, and Applied Anthropology
Week 12: No Seminars (but content provided on Peformance/Creative Ethnography and the Body)Specific Course Requirements
In addition to reading and writing activities, students are required to do a participant witnessing exercise where they are assigned (or self-assigned) a location to observe for a period of one hour. Students must take notes about this experience and they are restricted to observation alone—no interviews are allowed. Students are then expected to submit a written assignment that is ethnographic in tone and which conveys issues of embodiment (building on course learnings) and the cultural worlds of value evident in the contexts observed. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment task Percentage of assessment for grading purposes Word Count & Due Date
Course Participation 10% Ongoing but due Friday of Week 12
Ethnographic Writing & Fieldnotes 25% 2000 & 500, due Friday of Week 4
Book Analysis 20% 2000, due Friday of Week 8
Research Essay 45% 3500, due Friday of Week 12Assessment Related Requirements
- Examinations will not form part of the assesment for this course.
- There are no hurdle requirements for this course (no assessments that must be completed with a minimum grade in order to pass)
- There are no group assignments for this course.
- Peer assessment will not be used in this course.
- Extensive information about the individual requirements for all assessment tasks will be provided on MyUni.
- Late penalties are calculated at minus 2 points per day (including weekends)—and all assigments are out of 100 points.
Assessment Detail
The course offers a mix of interactive lectures and seminar activities in a 3-hour block. It meets for a selection of seminars over the semester while desginating some seminars for self-guided study and research (common to a 6-unit course).
Assignments are typically spread across Weeks 4, 8, and 12.
Course Participation: Students are expected to actively participate in seminars through engagement, questions, readings and discussion.
Ethnographic Writing and Fieldnotes: students have an opportunity to observe a real life setting (or an online world or virtual platform) and take 'fieldnotes' about what they observe in that cultural world (typically based on 30-60 minutes of observation). Students then write an essay that explores what was anthropologically significant about embodiment in that cultural world.
Book Analysis: students read a self-selected book published by an anthropologist (ideally a book published in the last 10-20 years). The essay based on this book explains what is empirically and conceptually significant about the book. Students are allowed to choose the book they want to read, based on their interests, but a list of suggested books is provided.
Research Essay: students write a research essay based on an emerging or cutting edge topic that is pertinent to the topic of the body and or embodiment. The essay topic is selected based on the student's main interests.
More information on the assessment criteria is provided in the course information located within the course's MyUni portal.Submission
The submission of all assignments will be via MyUni (and Turnitin).Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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