Course: ANTH101 UNDERSTANDING ANTHROPOLOGY KEY CONCEPT AND CAREERS
SCHOOL:Nathaniel Narbonne Senior High, LOS ANGELES
Unit 1: Studying Humans: What Anthropologists Do
a. Objectives
i. Describe anthropology, explain why it is holistic.
ii. Define culture and explain how anthropologists learn about other cultures.
iii. State why anthropology is a science and how it differs from other social
sciences.
iv. Identify the focus of each of the four subfields of anthropology.
v. Explain why anthropology is important, especially in today’s world.
vi. Describe some careers in anthropology and the value of anthropology
training.
b. Outline
i. Introduction to Anthropology
ii. What Anthropologists Do
iii. Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism
iv. Dividing Up the Field: What Does What in Anthropology
v. The Same Yet Different: Why is Anthropology Important
vi. Jobs
c. Content with section review
d. Review Questions
e. Critical Thinking Questions
f. Quiz Review
g. Quiz Bank of Questions
h. Vocabulary
i. Answer Key
j. Application and Graphic Organizer Extension
,Studying Humans: What Anthropologists Do
Anthropology is a fascinating area of research that explores what it means to be human. It is the
only science that is concerned with every aspect of human life. Anthropologists are interested in
learning about who we are, how we became who we are, and what we will become in the future.
Anthropology is based on the idea that in order to fully comprehend our species, we must research
the ways of life of all human beings, past and present. The philosophy of culture is the most critical
concept in anthropology. Culture refers to a group's whole way of life. Some anthropologists study
modern cultures. Some people are interested in human languages. Other anthropologists, called
archeologists, study past cultures from the things that people have left behind. Still other
anthropologists study human origins, evolution, and the physical traits of modern humans.
Anthropologists work
as college professors or in nonacademic jobs. Since
many anthropologists are employed by large
companies, anthropology is known as a "hot career."
College anthropology majors are well-prepared for
careers in government service, law, and medicine,
among other areas.
Section Review:
1. What is the single most important idea/concept
in the study of anthropology?
2. What is culture?
3. Why is anthropology considered to be a “hot
career”?
, What Anthropologists Do
Did you ever ask, "Why are people in other parts of the world so different from us?" "What is human
nature?" you might wonder. If that's the case, you're posing the same questions as anthropologists.
Everyone wants to understand the answers to these kinds of questions. We are all inquisitive
about ourselves and others. We are, in reality, the most interesting, complex, and mysterious
species on the planet.
The word anthropology comes from two Greek words: anthropos, which means "human being," and logia,
which means "science." Anthropology means "the science of human beings." It is the study of what
it means to be human. It includes both human biology and human behavior. Anthropology is
extremely broad, yet it also focuses on tiny details.
Some anthropologists use microscopes to study stone tools that are thousands of years old. By looking
closely at the scratches on the tools, they can determine how the tools were used. This helps them
understand how early humans lived.
Everything about human beings is part of anthropology. Of all the sciences
that study our species, only anthropology is concerned with all aspects of
human existence. This concern with all things human is called holism.
Anthropologists might study marriage in remote Amazon villages. They
might dig up remains of vanished civilizations. They might even observe
how apes live in an African rain forest. No matter what they study,
however, all anthropologists try to answer the same basic questions:
1. Who are we?
2. How did we come to be that way?
3. What will we be like in the future?
Making Comparisons
Anthropology rests on a basic assumption: to know what it means to be human; we must study the
ways of life of all human beings, past and present. The following example will help you realize why it
is important to take this broad perspective.
Imagine spending your whole life in a world where only one color, say green, exists. All things, plants,
animals, food, and even people are the same shade of green in that universe. You'd have no
SCHOOL:Nathaniel Narbonne Senior High, LOS ANGELES
Unit 1: Studying Humans: What Anthropologists Do
a. Objectives
i. Describe anthropology, explain why it is holistic.
ii. Define culture and explain how anthropologists learn about other cultures.
iii. State why anthropology is a science and how it differs from other social
sciences.
iv. Identify the focus of each of the four subfields of anthropology.
v. Explain why anthropology is important, especially in today’s world.
vi. Describe some careers in anthropology and the value of anthropology
training.
b. Outline
i. Introduction to Anthropology
ii. What Anthropologists Do
iii. Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism
iv. Dividing Up the Field: What Does What in Anthropology
v. The Same Yet Different: Why is Anthropology Important
vi. Jobs
c. Content with section review
d. Review Questions
e. Critical Thinking Questions
f. Quiz Review
g. Quiz Bank of Questions
h. Vocabulary
i. Answer Key
j. Application and Graphic Organizer Extension
,Studying Humans: What Anthropologists Do
Anthropology is a fascinating area of research that explores what it means to be human. It is the
only science that is concerned with every aspect of human life. Anthropologists are interested in
learning about who we are, how we became who we are, and what we will become in the future.
Anthropology is based on the idea that in order to fully comprehend our species, we must research
the ways of life of all human beings, past and present. The philosophy of culture is the most critical
concept in anthropology. Culture refers to a group's whole way of life. Some anthropologists study
modern cultures. Some people are interested in human languages. Other anthropologists, called
archeologists, study past cultures from the things that people have left behind. Still other
anthropologists study human origins, evolution, and the physical traits of modern humans.
Anthropologists work
as college professors or in nonacademic jobs. Since
many anthropologists are employed by large
companies, anthropology is known as a "hot career."
College anthropology majors are well-prepared for
careers in government service, law, and medicine,
among other areas.
Section Review:
1. What is the single most important idea/concept
in the study of anthropology?
2. What is culture?
3. Why is anthropology considered to be a “hot
career”?
, What Anthropologists Do
Did you ever ask, "Why are people in other parts of the world so different from us?" "What is human
nature?" you might wonder. If that's the case, you're posing the same questions as anthropologists.
Everyone wants to understand the answers to these kinds of questions. We are all inquisitive
about ourselves and others. We are, in reality, the most interesting, complex, and mysterious
species on the planet.
The word anthropology comes from two Greek words: anthropos, which means "human being," and logia,
which means "science." Anthropology means "the science of human beings." It is the study of what
it means to be human. It includes both human biology and human behavior. Anthropology is
extremely broad, yet it also focuses on tiny details.
Some anthropologists use microscopes to study stone tools that are thousands of years old. By looking
closely at the scratches on the tools, they can determine how the tools were used. This helps them
understand how early humans lived.
Everything about human beings is part of anthropology. Of all the sciences
that study our species, only anthropology is concerned with all aspects of
human existence. This concern with all things human is called holism.
Anthropologists might study marriage in remote Amazon villages. They
might dig up remains of vanished civilizations. They might even observe
how apes live in an African rain forest. No matter what they study,
however, all anthropologists try to answer the same basic questions:
1. Who are we?
2. How did we come to be that way?
3. What will we be like in the future?
Making Comparisons
Anthropology rests on a basic assumption: to know what it means to be human; we must study the
ways of life of all human beings, past and present. The following example will help you realize why it
is important to take this broad perspective.
Imagine spending your whole life in a world where only one color, say green, exists. All things, plants,
animals, food, and even people are the same shade of green in that universe. You'd have no
