This Seminar-based course aims to provide commencing HDR students in Athropology across CASS and CAP with an important foundation in both classic and contemporary anthropological thought, enhancing students' abilities to grasp and critique materials from a wide range of perspectives. Students are encouraged to appreciate not only the distinctiveness of the anthropology theoretical "voice", but also the crucial role of theory in animating anthropological (especially ethnographic) practice. The overall intention is to help students to think about, and conceptualise, their own individual ethnographic projects with respect to the central theoretical issues and debates within the discipline, and for students to do this prior to undertaking their fieldwork.

Students are encouraged to step outside of a narrow focus on their particular research question and ethnographic area, and to focus instead on wider theoretical questions of particular interest to anthropologists. Students should be able to speak to any set of readings, as they all address central debates.

By the end of the course students will be expected to have:

• developed a firm grounding in advanced anthropological theory and method, particularly in the application of theory to ethnographic representation;
• advanced their skills in critical analysis and reflection, enabling students to closely examine their own ethnographical projects with respect to the central theoretical issues and debates in contemporary anthropology;
• developed the ability to critically engage in meaningful discussions about the strengths and problems of ethnographic representations;
• further developed the ability to present their work from reading and research orally to peers in a seminar format.

The course will be assesses as pass/fail. Students must obtain a pass grade for each component of the assessment.

• Attendance at the 12 weekly seminars and participation in the weekly discussions of reading material and the presentation: 10%
• Leading class discussion for one week with submission of a 1000 word summary of readings for that week. 10%
• Production of a thesis and fieldwork plan – 3000 words: 20%
• Preparation of a 6000 word research proposal in which the theoretical literature relevant to the thesis research is identified and reviewed. This to be presented as a one hour seminar, followed by discussion, at the Friday afternoon postgraduate seminar: 60%

12 weekly seminars of 2 hours each plus reading and preparation.

Enrolment as a HDR student in Anthropology.

Given the different backgrounds of commencing HDR students, readings will be set to meet individaul needs.

Students will access reading and other resources via Wattle.