110-424 Ethnic Variety in Indonesia

Usually completion of any two first-year arts subjects or permission from the coordinator. Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in Indonesian.

This subject is a survey of the ethnic diversity of Indonesia in its Southeast Asian and Oceanic context. Topics include Southeast Asian prehistory; ecology; languages and how they change; writing systems; political organisation; local forms of trade and exchange; direction and ways of orientation; migrations and diaspora; kinship systems; differences between hunter-gatherers and agricultural groups. Students who complete the subject should be equipped with a practical knowledge of linguistic, anthropological and archaeological theories and methods, and their complementarity.

• acquire written communication skills through essay writing and seminar discussion;

• show attention to detail through essay preparation and writing;

• acquire time management and planning skills through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion;

• acquire public speaking skills through tutorial and seminar discussion and class presentations;

• acquire critical thinking and analysis skills through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining strength of an argument;

• acquire research skills through competent use of the library, and other information sources and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;

• be able to think in theoretical terms through lectures, tutorial discussions, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences.

Two assignments of 1000 words 30% (due mid-semester and late in semester), two 20-minute class presentations 20% (due early in semester and mid-semester), a 1.5-hour written examination 40% (due during the examination period) and class participation throughout the semester 10%.

Materials supplied by the Institute.