Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology
An Introductory Guide
1st Edition
Published on 12. September 2013
254 pages
978-0-7591-2342-7 (ISBN)
Description
Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology stands out as the most thorough and practical guide to the essential critical reading and writing skills that all students, instructors, and practitioners should have.It provides priceless insight for the here and now of the Theory and Methods of Archaeology classes and for a lifetime of reading, learning, teaching, and writing. Chapters focus on rigorous reasoning skills, types of argument, the main research orientations in archaeology, the basic procedural framework that underlies all schools of archaeology, and issues in archaeology raised by skeptical postmodernists.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
CA
United States
Illustrations
5 b/w illustrations; 4 tables
ISBN-13
978-0-7591-2342-7 (9780759123427)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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09/2013
AltaMira Press
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Book
09/2013
AltaMira Press
€172.10
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Gibbon is a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota. He is the author of a number of books, including Anthropological Archaeology, Explanation in Archaeology, and The Sioux.
Content
Contents
Introduction
Part One: Foundations
1. What Kind of Archaeology Is It?
2.What Kind of Investigation Is It?
3. What Are the Issue and the Claim?
4.What Is the Argument?
5. What Are the Assumptions?
6. Is the Writing Clear?
7. Are (Deceptive) Rhetorical Devices Used?
8. Is There a Fallacy in the Reasoning?
9. Are There Skeptical Postmodern Themes in the Argument?
Part Two: From Observations to Population Estimates
10. Are Facts Clearly Distinguished from Opinions and Other Claims?
11. How Are the Observations Summarized?
12. Is There an Inductive Argument?
13. Is There a Population Estimate from a Sample?
Part Three: Interpreting the Archaeological Record
14. Is There a Theory in My Reading?
15. Which Research Program Is My Reading an Example Of?
16. Is an Explanation Offered?
17. Is There a Causal Argument?
Part Four: Evaluating Interpretations of the Archaeological Record
18. Are Deductively Valid Conclusions Drawn?
19. Are Concepts Given Archaeological Interpretations?
20. Are the Conclusions Reasonable?
Coda: Is Critical Reading Worth the Effort?
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Introduction
Part One: Foundations
1. What Kind of Archaeology Is It?
2.What Kind of Investigation Is It?
3. What Are the Issue and the Claim?
4.What Is the Argument?
5. What Are the Assumptions?
6. Is the Writing Clear?
7. Are (Deceptive) Rhetorical Devices Used?
8. Is There a Fallacy in the Reasoning?
9. Are There Skeptical Postmodern Themes in the Argument?
Part Two: From Observations to Population Estimates
10. Are Facts Clearly Distinguished from Opinions and Other Claims?
11. How Are the Observations Summarized?
12. Is There an Inductive Argument?
13. Is There a Population Estimate from a Sample?
Part Three: Interpreting the Archaeological Record
14. Is There a Theory in My Reading?
15. Which Research Program Is My Reading an Example Of?
16. Is an Explanation Offered?
17. Is There a Causal Argument?
Part Four: Evaluating Interpretations of the Archaeological Record
18. Are Deductively Valid Conclusions Drawn?
19. Are Concepts Given Archaeological Interpretations?
20. Are the Conclusions Reasonable?
Coda: Is Critical Reading Worth the Effort?
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
