Instructor: Hülya Demirdirek
Class Times: MWF 10:00-10:50
Office: TH 216
Phone: 329 - 25 99
E-mail: hulya.demirdirek@uleth.ca
Room: TH 103
Mailing list:
Web page:
Office hours: MW 1:15 - 3:15 or by appointment anth3900a@uleth.ca http://classes.uleth.ca
The aim of this course is to explore various ways of conceptualizing and producing knowledge in anthropology. This is not a conventional research methods course where the main focus is on the methods and techniques of anthropological research. We will read ethnographies and reflect upon the way in which ethnographic accounts are produced. The lectures will make connections between theory and methods and explore the way in which our theoretical assumptions shape and influence the way we do research. We will problematize the way in which people talk, act and represent themselves and the way anthropologists relate to these issues. The applied part of the course will require each of you to accomplish two small projects, one of which requires a presentation in the class. The course is a combination of lectures, films, one presentation, out-of-class work, one inclass test, one small written assignment, one question production and a term paper.
In this course you are expected to develop critical thinking as well as discussion and writing skills with a focus on social scientific research and in particular ethnographic research.
You will develop certain skills such as:

a basic knowledge of ethnographic fieldwork methods

basic competency in data gathering and production techniques

advanced bibliographic skills

the ability to work in small groups

the ability to engage in oral discussions
Never in Anger, Portrait of an Eskimo Family , Jean L. Briggs, Harvard University Press: Cambridge
1970.
Up in Nipigon Country, Anthropology as a Personal Experience , Edward J. Hedican, Fernwood
Publishing: Halifax, 2001.
The Ethnographic Interview , James P. Spradley, Wadsworth: CA, 1979.
The books can be purchased at the bookstore.
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It is your responsibility to attend the classes. If you read the assigned book chapters before coming to class you will be able to follow the course more actively. It is important to participate in the discussions so that you get to see yourself in action in the class. This means that you can enjoy stretching yourself and applying your knowledge during the semester without letting exam pressures take away the pleasure of learning.
About electronic communication and access to information through the web:
E-mail: I will not be answering any e-mails unless it is an emergency. You are more than welcome to meet me during my office hours for any concerns. Please contact the department secretary for submission of sick notes, determining a date for a make-up exam etc.
Class web: In order to obtain access to the course outline, copies of the overheads which I use during the classes or a guide for writing your essay etc., you should go to the http://classes.uleth.ca
web page, choose anthropology and anth3900 and click A. You will see the folders and the files inside them.
It seems it may not be possible to download these files on the ordinary service computers dotted around the campus, but they can be downloaded from a computer lab terminal. Home computers usually have no problem in downloading. In any case, if you encounter any problems with downloading the material from the web please contact me, I can always provide a copy for those who are in need.
We will use WebCT for your group work communication and posting of marks.
will be based on one in-class test, one paper, one presentation, one small assignment and one question production. There is no final test in this course.
In-class test (20%) will cover the material from the lectures, films and your readings. It will be comprised of short essay questions. In at least one section of the test there will be more questions than you need to answer, so you will have the chance to choose from among several questions.
Presentation (15%): Each of you will take responsibility for one section of our textbook "Ethnographic interview". You will accomplish the tasks set by the author and make a presentation to the class.
Individual paper (35%): For your paper you are asked to read one monograph and explore how the research and analysis have been carried out. I will provide you with a list of suggestions as well as the format to be followed for the presentation of the book. Your choice of book and topic has to be approved by me. You must write a one- or two-paragraph description of what you will be working on and submit this to me by 26 January and preferably discuss your topic with me during my office hours.
Failure to submit a topic description will result in a 10 % deduction from your paper. The paper is due
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on 22 March. The minimum length of the paper is 3000 words (minus 10 % is still acceptable) and the maximum length is 5000 words (plus 10 % is acceptable).
Question production (10%): After reading each chapter of Never in Anger you should prepare two discussion questions on each chapter. This means producing a total of twelve discussion questions for all chapters. You will then submit these questions in one batch on February 2 Monday .
Small assignment (20 %): For this assignment you will conduct one to two hours of research on campus and write a minimum two-page report on the outcome. This is to be submitted to me. You will then receive somebody else's assignment and comment on it. The assignment itself is worth 10 points and your comments on the fellow student's work also count for ten points.
Extensions for late submissions can only be given under extraordinary circumstances. Please either contact the instructor in advance or provide documentation (medical or other). Essays which are turned in late without prior approval will have five points deducted per day (here, a day means 24 hours; if the submission deadline is March 27, 12:15, an essay which is submitted after 12:25 on March 27 but before 12:15 March 28 will have five points deducted). Essays which are submitted late are to be handed to the Anthropology Department Secretary (TH 210).
Please note:
1. Papers and questions are to be submitted at the start of the class on the due day.
If you are unable to attend the class that day please make sure that you submit your assignment either through a classmate or to the anthropology secretary. She has to confirm your submission by noting the time and date on your assignment.
2. Papers/Questions which are pushed UNDER MY DOOR will NOT be ADMITTED unless you speak to me in advance.
3 . Uncollected exams or assignments can be picked up from the anthropology office.
4 . Exams are not cumulative and each will cover only material presented since the last test.
5 . Academic dishonesty is considered a very serious offence (See pp.63-70 of the U of L Calendar).
The U of L subscribes to plagiarism software called Turnitin.com. Your assignments may be reviewed using it to detect cyber-plagiarism.
6 . If you have any MEDICAL CONDITION which influences your learning please contact me.
7 . Please see page 69 in the U of L Calendar 2003-2004 for the rules about missed exams.
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Dates and deadlines:

Approval of paper topic, January 26, Monday

Questions for Briggs: 10 % February 2, Monday (submission at the beginning of the class)

Paper: 35 % March 22, Monday (submission at the beginning of the class)

Presentation: 15 % Various dates – Room TH 103

Test: 20 % April 16, Friday – Room TH 103

Small Assignment: 20 % February 25 (submission at the beginning of the class)
Weighting: Marking:
Test (20 %) Test 20 points
Paper (35 %)
Presentation (15 %)
Question production (10 %)
Small assignment (20 %)
Grading:
Paper 100 points
Presentation 15 points
Question production 10 points
Small assignment 20 points
A+ = 100 - 95 %
A = 94 - 90 %
A = 89 - 85 %
B+ = 84 - 80 %
B = 79 - 75 %
B = 74 - 70 %
C+ = 69 - 65 %
C = 64 - 60 %
C = 59 - 55 %
D+
D
= 54 - 53 %
= 52 - 50 %
F: 49 % and below
*Tentative Schedule of Lectures, Films and Readings
(* Depending on the progress we make during the classes, we may spend more time on certain topics than on others. This may alter the course schedule to some extent.)
Week 1 January 7, Wednesday
Overview of the course and introduction
Reading: Never in Anger, intro.
Briggs January 9, Friday
Ways of knowing and anthropology
Week 2 January 12, Monday
Domain of research
Reading: Never in Anger, intro.
Briggs
Reading: Never in Anger, ch.1. Briggs January 14, Wednesday
Research and reality
January 16, Friday
Fieldwork
Week 3 January 19, Monday
Fieldwork
January 21, Wednesday
Fieldwork
January 23, Friday
Reading:
Reading: Never in Anger
Reading:
Never in Anger,
Never in Anger
Reading: Never in Anger ch.1. Briggs
, ch.2, Briggs
, ch.3, Briggs
, ch. 3
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Fieldwork
Week 4 January 26, Monday
** Deadline for topic approval**
Fieldwork
January 28, Wednesday
Fieldwork
January 30, Friday
Fieldwork
Week 5 February 2, Monday
** Submission of Briggs questions **
Fieldwork
February 4, Wednesday
Review and discussion
February 6, Friday
Film: TBA
Week 6 February 9, Monday
Ethnography and culture
February 11, Wednesday
Ethnography and culture
February 13, Friday
Language, actions and notions
Week 7 Reading week, no classes
Week 8 February 23, Monday
Informants
February 25, Wednesday
Interviewing an informant
** Submission of small assignment **
February 27, Friday
Making an ethnographic record
Week 9 March 1, Monday
Asking descriptive questions
March 3, Wednesday
Analyzing ethnographic interviews
March 5, Friday
Making a domain analysis
Reading: Never in Anger , ch. 4
Reading: Never in Anger , ch.5
Reading: Never in Anger , ch.6
Reading: Never in Anger , ch. 6
Reading: Spradley, ch. 1-sect. 1
Reading: Spradley, ch. 2-3- sect. 1
Reading: Spradley, ch. 1 –sec.2
Reading: Spradley, ch. 2
Reading: Spradley, ch. 3
Reading: Spradley, ch. 4
Reading: Spradley, ch. 5
Reading: Spradley, ch. 6
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Week 10 March 8, Monday
Asking structural questions
March 10, Wednesday
Making a taxonomic analysis
March 12, Friday
Asking contrast questions
Week 11 March 15, Monday
Making a componential analysis
March 17, Wednesday
Discovering cultural themes
March 19, Friday
Writing ethnography
Week 12 March 22, Monday
Writing ethnography
**Submission of the paper**
March 24, Wednesday
Paper presentation
March 26, Friday
Paper presentation
Week 13 March 29, Monday
Paper presentation
March 31, Wednesday
Reflection on fieldwork and anthropology
April 2, Friday
Reflection on fieldwork and anthropology
Week 14 April 5, Monday
Reflection on fieldwork and anthropology
April 7, Wednesday
Reflection on fieldwork and anthropology
April 9, Friday
No class, holiday
Week 15 April 12, Monday
No class, holiday
April 14, Wednesday
Review
April 16, Friday **TEST**
Reading: Spradley, ch. 7
Reading: Spradley, ch. 8
Reading: Spradley, ch. 9
Reading: Spradley, ch. 10
Reading: Spradley, ch. 11
NB!
Last day for withdrawal from individual courses, or complete withdrawal .
Reading: Spradley, ch. 12
Reading: Hedican ch.1-2
Reading: Hedican ch. 3-4
Reading: Hedican ch. 5-6
Reading: Hedican ch. 7
Have a nice summer! hd
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