ANT 2403
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
Section 3178: MWF 11-11:50
Fall 1997

Instructor: Michael Pool

Office Hours:
Rio Grande Campus, Annex 250.1

Monday 9:00 am-11:00 am, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Tuesday 9:30 am-10:30 am

Office Phone: 223-3403
Messages: 223-3000 Rio Grande Campus)
Home: 280-7654 (Do Not call after 10:00 pm)
E-mail: mpool@austin.cc.tx.us
Anthropology Web Page: www.austin.cc.tx.us/pool/

Syllabus

Classes start Aug. 25

Evolutionary Theory

Aug. 27

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 1: Introduction

Aug. 29

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 2: Development of Evolutionary Theory
Coloring Book, Lesson 18

Sept. 1 Labor Day Holiday

Sept. 3

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 3: Biological Basis for Life
Coloring Book, Lesson 19, 30

Sept. 5

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 4: Heredity and Evolution
Coloring Book, Lessons 32-36

Sept. 8

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 8: Macroevolution: Overview and Principles

Sept. 12

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 5: Microevolution in Modern Human Populations
Coloring Book, Lessons 37-42

Test 1 Sept. 19

Modern Humans

Sept. 22

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 6: Human Variation and Adaptation

Sept. 26

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 7: Growth and Development

Primates and Their Evolution

Oct. 1

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 9: Living Primates
Coloring Book, Lessons 5-6, 24, 28, 71, 77, 79, 82, 88

Oct. 8

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 10: Primate Behavior
Coloring Book, Lessons 50, 53-55, 58, 59, 60, 63, 66

Oct. 13 J

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 11: Primate Models of Human Evolution

Oct. 17

Among the Wild Chimpanzees

Oct. 20

Jurmain, et al Chapter 12: Primate Evolution
Coloring Book, Lessons 4, 67, 69-70, 74, 83

Test 2 Oct. 27

Hominid Evolution

Early Hominids

Oct. 29

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 13: Paleoanthropology
Coloring Book, Lessons 91-93, 98

Nov. 3

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 14: Plio-Pleistocene Hominids
Coloring Book, Lessons 99-101, 103

Nov. 7

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 15: Organization and Interpretation

Homo erectus

Nov. 12

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 16
Coloring Book, Lesson 106

Nov. 17

In Search of Human Origins, Video 1

Nov. 19

In Search of Human Origins, Video 2

Archaic Homo sapiens

Nov. 21

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 17
Coloring Book, Lessons 107-108

Modern Homo sapiens

Nov. 26

Jurmain, et al, Chapter 18
Coloring Book, Lesson 109

Nov. 26 Last Day to Withdraw

Nov.27-30 Thanksgiving Holiday

Coloring Book Due Dec. 1

Dec. 3

In Search of Human Origins, Video 3

Extracredit Due Dec. 5

Test 3 Dec. 5

Final Exam Dec. 10

Texts

Jurmain, Robert; Harry Nelson; Lynn Kilgore, and Wneda Trevathan (1997) Introduction to Physical Anthropology, Seventh Edition. St. Paul: West Educational Publishing.

Adrienne Zihlman (1982) The Human Evolution Coloring Book. Barnes & Noble:New York.

Note: Used coloring books are not acceptable without instructor permission.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the study of the physical characteristics of humans and the physical and cultural evolution of the human species. We will make comparisons between the physical and behavioral characteristics of modern humans and primates and fossil primates. The course places the human species and its development within a temporal and spatial context. We not only examine humans in their present morphological and biological context, but also within an ecological and evolutionary context. Emphasis will be placed on the human species as the product of a long organic and cultural evolutionary process.

Course Objectives

1) Define anthropology and its subdisciplines.

2) Describe the processes of biological and cultural evolution.

3) Place the human species within a temporal and taxonomic framework and identify the human evolutionary sequences.

4) Understand and appreciate human diversity.

Course Requirements

Your grade is based on your test scores, completion of the coloring book lessons, and class participation. You are solely responsible for doing the readings by their assigned dates and for attending lectures. Tests will be based on the reading, lecture, and the coloring book.

Retests are not given. It is the student's responsibility to drop the class; my policy is to not drop students unless requested. It is the policy of ACC and the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences not to give incompletes without significant extenuating circumstances.

Students are responsible for informing me when they show up for class after roll is called.

Grading

Tests (20% each): Three tests will be given during the course of the semester; the two highest grades will count toward your final grade. If you miss a test, that will be the test not counted in your grade. If you miss more than one test, see me for any make-up.

Students are required to provide a Scantron and #2 pencil for each test.

Final Exam (20%): The final exam will be cumulative and must be taken.

Students are required to provide a Scantron and #2 pencil.

Coloring Book (20%): All the assigned lessons are required to be completed. The work book provides a visual supplement for the text material and will improve and expand your understanding of the material introduced by the text material. Please see the instructions at the beginning of the work book on how to complete the assignments. Used workbooks are not acceptable without instructor permission.

Participation (20%): This part of your grade is based on your attendance and participation in class discussion. If you attend all the classes but do not ask or answer questions or take part in the discussion, you will get a B. A higher grade will be based on the degree to which you participate and are prepared. Basically, I will increase the attendance grade by a letter grade for those who participate on a consistent basis. At the end of the semester, I will review for the class those people getting the participation increase and solicit input. Mainly I will want the class to point out those individuals they feel deserve the grade increase that did not get it.

Attendance Grade Guide Lines:

B: 8 or less absences
C: 9-12 absences
D: 13-16 absences
F: >16 absences

Extra Credit

Presentation: You will be given 1 point of extra credit added to your final grade upto a total of five points for presenting a five minute presentation on a current article from a newspaper or magazine with a topic directly related to physical anthropology and approved by the instructor. Only two presentations by different students can be given each class.

Excavations: You will receive five points added to your final grade for each day you participate in excavations at the Eckols Site in Bee Cave for 3-4 Saturdays in September. Contact James Karbula at 471-0963 (work) or 267-0017 (home) for further information and to sign up for each Saturday. Tell James that you are my student so that he can E-mail me when you participate and I can give you credit. Please contact me over the course of the semester to verify that I am accurately recording your extracredit.

Book Review: You will receive up to 15 points added to your final grade for writing a 10 page review of two professional publications that you select and I approves. An A on the review will get 15 points, a B 10 points, and a C 5 points. You will be quaranteed at least a C if you meet the following guidelines:

typed, double-spaced with one inch margins, no more than 12 point type (10 CPI or more)
a minimum of 10 pages (9 1/2 pages not accepted).
received by the due date and not later
instructor approval of the book
readable

Annotated Bibliography: Complete an annotated bibliography of 10 professional articles concentrating on a topic selected by the student and approved by me. Each annotation will consist of the article citation (single spaced) and a minimum one page summary (double spaced). The annotated bibliography will be typed with a maximum of one inch margins on the sides, top, and bottom. In addition to the annotations there will be a one page summary introduction of the ten articles.

Major articles from Current Anthropology with comments will count as two references as long as the summary and length of the summary (2 pages) reflect the comments and reply. No more than 3 articles can come from one source (journal or book).

A maximum of 15 points will be added to your final grade for an A, 10 points for a B, and 5 points for a C.

Internet Review: Review 10 internet archaeological resources and write a minimum one page review of each source. Include a 1 page overview introduction. Please consult with the instructor if you wish to choose this option. The same grade range applies as the other extracredit options.

If you have any comments or questions about this Web page, please contact Michael Pool at
512-223-3385

snail mail: 1212 Rio Grande, Austin, TX 78748