Aim and Scope of Course:

This is a three field course designed to acquaint advanced undergraduate and graduate students with current and sometimes controversial issues in anthropology. At the close of their graduate or undergraduate careers students often specialize in particular areas of study and seem to forget that anthropology is an interdisciplinary science (The same may be said of academics.).  While it is impossible for anyone to keep abreast of all new developments across all fields of anthropology, students should be aware of basic research and contentious issues in physical, archaeology,  and cultural anthropology. The aim of this course is to make you knowledgeable and conversant in some of these issues.

All the readings present at least two sides of an issue (e.g., peopling of the Americas, the Eve hypothesis) and most articles are direct comments on proponents, ideas, theories, methods, and data. At times these debates are quite heated and partisans frequently resort to logical fallacies in order to make their points. You will learn how to spot such tactics such as ad hominem ("if you were better trained you would not have made such a stupid statement") ad popularum (e.g., "the majority of anthropologists do not take this position, therefore you are wrong"), and the naturalistic fallacy ("that which is natural is good" or "that theory cannot be correct because it is immoral").  Visit Brian Yoder's Fallacy Zoo for a humorous examination of widely used logical fallacies.  Unfortunately, the page is not fully functional.  An even better source on logical fallacies can be found at Fallacy Files.  But more importantly, I hope to give you some tips on evaluating theory, methods, research design, and data analysis that will help you determine the strengths and weaknesses of what you read.
 

Weekly Plan
Each week you will read the assigned articles held on reserve in the Geology Library (room 10 Bessey Hall,  in the basement) or on-line (see weekly readings below). Please make copies and bring them to class.  Copies can be made in the Geosciences Library or, if on-line, you can print them locally.  When you come to the seminar to discuss the assigned readings you should have made notes on each of the articles and an outline of a 2.5 page (undergrads) or 4 page (grad) report you will turn in next meeting.  The outline should describe the issue or issues, positions taken, and your assessment of the controversy.  The summary report is due on the next seminar date (e.g., summaries of week one are due the day we meet on week two).  Randomly I will ask to see your notes and outlines, so bring them with you.  You will be graded on your notes, summaries, and seminar participation. There will be no final or term paper.