Overview
Anthropology 384 introduces you to topics such as the variability in family patterns, changes to family structures, the diverse cultural patterns for shaping identity, and the range of bonding relationships that occur within North American cultures and in cultures around the world. It also examines, from a world perspective, issues related to the dissolution and re-establishment of relationships, reproduction and new reproductive technologies, and public policy and government action as they pertain to families.
Outline
Anthropology 384 comprises eight units, each of which examines an important aspect of the study of the family around the world:
- Unit 1 – Kinship
- Unit 2 – The Family
- Unit 3 – Gender and Sex
- Unit 4 – Marriage
- Unit 5 – Reproduction
- Unit 6 – Childhood and Parenting
- Unit 7 – The Elderly
- Unit 8 – Family Policy
Evaluation
To receive credit for ANTH 384 you must complete four assignments and write a final examination. Your final grade is determined by a weighted average of the grades you receive on these activities. You must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) or better on each assignment and a grade of 50 per cent or greater on the final examination. The weight for each assignment and the final exam are as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Oral Quiz | 5% |
| Assignment 2: Essay | 20% |
| Assignment 3: Research Paper | 30% |
| Assignment 4: Essay | 20% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
All course materials are available online.