S/ANTH 105: Introduction to Physical Anthropology
Fall 2012
Instructor: Barbara Welker Office: Fraser 118 OR Lab: Fraser 116
Telephone: 245-5204 email: welker@geneseo.edu Office hours: Tu, W, & Th 2:30-3:30
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will serve as an introduction to physical/biological anthropology, i.e. the study of humans as biological organisms. We will explore relevant theories and methodologies utilized in this field. Topics to be covered are HUMAN genetics, evolution, variation, and behavioral ecology, as well as PRIMATE evolution and behavioral ecology.
SOCIAL SCIENCE CORE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will demonstrate:
- understanding of social scientific methods of hypothesis development;
- understanding of social scientific methods of document analysis, observation, or experiment;
- understanding of social scientific methods of measurement and data collection;
- understanding of social scientific methods of statistical or interpretive analysis;
- knowledge of some major social science concepts;
- knowledge of some major social science models;
- knowledge of some major social science concerns;
- knowledge of some social issues of concern to social scientists;
- knowledge of some political issues of concern to social scientists;
- knowledge of some economic issues of concern to social scientists;
- knowledge of some moral issues of concern to social scientists.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
· Students will demonstrate their knowledge of humans as biological organisms in terms of HUMAN genetics, evolution, variation, and growth and development, as well as PRIMATE evolution and behavioral ecology by successfully completing three in-class exams.
· Students will demonstrate their appreciation and knowledge of key/controversial issues (e.g. race, intelligent design, and primate models for understanding human behavior) in physical anthropology via participation in in-class small and large group discussions. They will also consider the views of authors and fellow students in the process.
· Students will demonstrate critical thinking and the ability to coherently express themselves by the completion of essays based on the aforementioned issues.
TEXTBOOKS (Available at Bookstore):
Angeloni E, Prichard Parker M, Arenson L (2009) Round Table Viewpoints: Physical Anthropology. NY: McGraw-Hill
Marks J. (2010) The alternative introduction to biological anthropology. NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN10: 0195157036
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
3 exams @ 25% each 75
3 essays @ 5% each (see schedule for submission) 15
5 discussion/participation @ 1% each 6 max
Hominin worksheets 5
EXAMS consist of fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and short answer questions and are non-cumulative.
ESSAYS focus on the assigned readings from Angeloni et al., indicated as “ISSUES” in the “TOPICS” section of this document (see below). You must submit 3 essays in total, meaning that you must omit 2 and choose which 3 to submit. NOTE: there is no essay for the 1st discussion day, i.e. ISSUES 1 & 2. ESSAYS ARE DUE ON THE CLASS DAY FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSION DAY. Electronic submission is not an option as it is not fair to those students who submitted a hard copy. However, all anthropology majors need to email their 1st essay to me because we use them for assessment purposes that have no reflection on you or your grade. The format for the essays is available on the course page. Essays must be typed and double-spaced using size 12 font. Double-sided printing is encouraged. Essays will be graded primarily on content and adherence to guidelines (see rubric and example essay on course page), with some consideration of grammar/organization. Therefore, you should be sure to read them over carefully and make corrections prior to submission.
DISCUSSION/PARTICIPATION: ISSUES will be discussed on the day they are scheduled to be read. You will earn 1 point for every discussion that you come prepared for and participate in (you can earn a max of 5 pt). Preparation consists of having read the articles within the ISSUE and submitting typed TOPICS (consist of comments, questions, things you would like to discuss further, etc. that you want to discuss with your classmates). TOPICS need to be typed to ensure that students are not completing them in class. It should be apparent from your submitted “TOPICS” that you read and considered each of the articles within an ISSUE. A minimum of 2 or 3 topics/comments/questions per article is acceptable, so that you will be submitting a minimum of 8-10 topics for each ISSUE, since there are 4 or more articles in each. If you have more to say about some articles than others, it will balance out. Since there is an extra discussion scheduled, there is no make-up credit, i.e. you must be present, prepared, and submit TOPICS to earn participation credit.
HOMININ WORKSHEETS: worksheets will be on the course site. Students will compile information for their completion from readings and lecture notes. You will submit them electronically on the course site. They are due prior to your attendance at the study session at the end of the semester. You will be able to tweak them during that session so that you can use them as a study guide.
Please note: SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented physical, emotional or learning disabilities. Students should consult with the Director in the Office of Disability Services (Tabitha Buggie-Hunt, 105D Erwin, tbuggieh@geneseo.edu) and myself regarding any needed
accommodations as early as possible in the semester. I will accommodate all documented special needs/requests.
ASSIGNMENTS:
-ISSUES from Roundtable viewpoints: Physical anthropology – All articles within an ISSUE are to be read (unless otherwise indicated) and “TOPICS” prepared and submitted for 5 of them on days indicated with boxes
-Other assigned readings are found on mycourses site
Week Date Lecture Topic ____ Assignments_____
Chapter numbers correspond to Marks text:
1 8/29 Introduction & Human skeleton 1 & ISSUE 1
8/31 LEC: History of the theory of evolution DISCUSSION: ISSUE 2 – TOPICS (no essay) 2
2 9/5 LEC: Mechanisms of evolution & DNA film 3
9/7 LEC: Mendelian inheritance Human variation & adaptation 4 & 5
3 9/12 LEC: Human variation & adaptation DISCUSSION: ISSUE 4 (6 articles)-TOPICS & ESSAY
9/14 CATCH-UP & REVIEW 13
4 9/19 EXAM I covers lectures, ISSUES 1, 2, & 4, and Marks Chapters 1-5 & 13
9/21 DISCUSSION: ISSUE 8 (8.2-8.4 plus articles on course page) TOPICS & ESSAY
5 9/26 LEC: Phylogeny of the order Primates & primate taxonomy 6
9/28 LEC: Primate evolution & “Langurs of Abu” 7
6 10/3 FILM: “Life in the Trees”
10/5 LEC: Primate ecology and social organization 8
7 10/10 FILM: “People of the Forest”
10/12 LEC: Extant primates
8 10/17 LEC: Extant primates & “People of the forest”
10/19 CATCH-UP & DISCUSSION: ISSUE 3 (4 articles) TOPICS & ESSAY
9 10/24 REVIEW
10/26 EXAM II covers lectures, ISSUES 3 & 8, and Marks Chapters 6-8
10 10/31 LEC: Australopithecines 9 & 10
11/2 Australopithecines cont’d & DISCUSSION: ISSUE 6 (4 articles) TOPICS & ESSAY
11 11/7 LEC: Early Homo & Homo erectus 11
11/9 CATCH-UP & FILM: “In Search of Butch and Sundance” Forensic articles on course page
12 11/14 LEC: Homo heidelbergensis & Neandertals 12
11/16 Neandertals cont’d & DISCUSSION: ISSUE 5 (5 articles) TOPICS & ESSAY
13 11/21-23 THANKSGIVING BREAK
14 11/28 LEC: Homo sapiens sapiens
11/30 Film / Lab (Fraser 116) / study groups (Sturges 106)
15 12/5 Film / Lab (Fraser 116) / study groups (Sturges 106)
12/7 Film / Lab (Fraser 116) / study groups (Sturges 106)
12/17 12-3:00 EXAM 3 covers lectures, ISSUES 5 & 6, and Marks Chapters 9-12