PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY SYLLABUS
ANTH 2301-001, Hybrid Class Course
Rio Grande Campus, rm 028
Fall 2009, Wednesdays
Instructors: Sherry Heiden, M.A., Ph.D.
Office Hours:
Wednesdays
Email: sheiden@austincc.edu PLEASE begin the subject line of your
email with “PA”.
Office Phones: Sherry Heiden: 922-8980 (my cell
phone), leave message. I do not use
ACC’s
faculty voice mail or email.
Texts
Ø
Introduction to Physical
Anthropology, 2009-2010 edition (12
edition), by Jurmain, et.al.,
ISBN 978-0-495-59979-1
Ø
Method and Practice in
Biological Anthropology- A Workbook and Laboratory Manual, by Samantha Hens, ISBN 978-0-13-225006-1
Course catalog description: This course introduces the
student to the bio/cultural diversity of humans. The interaction between culture and biology
produces a variety of human biological adaptations that are traced through the
following avenues: the genetic makeup of modern populations, primate behavior,
and the fossil record of primates, with an emphasis on human evolution.
Course objectives: The goal of this course is to trace the evolution of human
biological diversity and how it has interacted with behavior over the last 4
million years to produce the present variation in humans world-wide. To meet
this goal the course has 5 main objectives: 1) be able to describe physical
anthropology and its various subfields, 2) to understand the molecular/genetic
processes at the cellular level, 3) to understand the evolutionary process and
its mechanisms at the population level, 4) to examine the evolutionary history
of primate groups, especially hominids and hominins, based on the fossil record,
and 5) to understand the basis for present human diversity at the biological
and cultural levels.
Instructional
Methodology for a Hybrid Class (
This
course is divided between 50% time spent in class and 50% time spent working
online. Students must attend all the lectures and complete all assignments.
Students are encouraged to participate in scheduled class discussions and may
be called upon to comment or discuss readings, streamed program material, and
laboratory exercises. Students are
responsible for their own work. If I
need to contact you, I will use your ACC student email account. If you do not
already have one, please set one up at: http://www.austincc.edu/ITdocs/WebAdvWeb/Students/webadvs13.html
Coursework:
50% Lecture Time
The 1.5 hours
of classroom time will accommodate lecture, discussion, and weekly “lab”. Course will cover the 3 main areas of
physical anthropology: genetics and evolution, primate behavior, and evolution
of hominids and hominins from 7 million years ago to today. The Learning
Objectives (posted in Blackboard) for each text chapter will address analytical
thinking abilities as well as basic knowledge. Discussions will be based on
text material, laboratory exercises, and material/links posted in Blackboard. Lectures will complement and expand upon themes in the readings
but will NOT duplicate them.
The “lab” component will primarily be osteological (skeletal cast
material) and statistical (identifying human traits and deriving genotype and
phenotype frequencies), with an overview of the 7 branches of forensic analysis
done by law enforcement. Other proposed activities will be 1) a guest lecture
by Justin Parker of the Austin DPS Forensics Unit and 2) an optional
observation project of the primates at the Austin Zoo.
Distance
Learning Instructional Material: 50% time:
Ø
Chapter Objectives,
Assignments, and Written Testing will be handled through Blackboard.
Go to: http://acconline.austincc.edu to
access the Online Material for this course.
Ø
You are required to view the
series: “Physical Anthropology: The Evolving Human”. This series has sixteen 30
minute programs that are streamed online. Once the series URL is available and
you can view the videos, please submit a 1 page summary, single spaced, of each
program weekly.
Ø
In addition, you will read and
review two articles from Classic & Contemporary Readings in Physical
Anthropology, by M.K. Sandford and Eileen Jackson, ISBN
978-0-495-51014-7. Chapters from this
text can be viewed at no cost online through Academic Search Complete. The Zoo Project can substitute for one of the
article reviews.
Evaluation in
this course will be based on
Ø
Four
Unit Tests, 100 points each, taken in Blackboard, covering the Jurmain et.al.
textbook, lecture material, and the streamed programs from the “Physical Anthropology: The Evolving Human” series. (400pts)
Ø
Laboratory
Exercises submitted in Blackboard from Method and
Practice in Biological Anthropology- A Workbook and Laboratory Manual, by S. Hens. (15 x 20pts=300pts)
Ø
In-class
“Lab Practicals” demonstrating knowledge of the skeletal evidence for human
evolution. (2 Lab Practicals x 50
pts=100pts)
Ø
A brief one to two page summary
of the
Ø
Reviews of 3 articles from
“Classic and Contemporary Readings in Physical Anthropology” submitted online. Reviews should be 3 pages minimum, 1 ½ spaced,
with an Objective Summary of the material, followed by a half page subjective
Critique: what you agreed with or liked (disagreed with, did not like) about
the article and why. ( 3 x 30pts=90pts)
An optional Primate Observation project at the Austin Zoo can substitute for a
Review.
Unit Tests:
There will be four Tests consisting of approximately 30-50 questions each.
These will be largely multiple-choice, but may include true-false and short
answer questions. These will be taken via Blackboard, and deadlines are firm. There
are NO retests and make-up exams are given only in emergency situations at the
instructors’ discretion. Make-up tests will not be given unless you have
contacted me prior to the time of the test deadline. There is an
automatic 10 point penalty for making up a missed the test unless you can
present a doctor’s note or funeral notice, so please let me know of any
problems with meeting test deadlines as soon as possible.
Attendance policy: Class attendance is required.
Please email me if you have to miss class for any reason. Three unexplained
absences may result in a withdrawal.
Withdrawals: Students may be withdrawn by the
instructor for excessive absences. If
you decide to withdraw, it is your responsibility to do so. Please email me that you will be
withdrawing. Mysterious disappearances,
however face-saving, result in an F.
New ruling on withdrawals: The Texas Legislature passed a bill, effective fall 2007, that limits incoming freshmen to six course withdrawals over their combined undergraduate years at state colleges. This combines withdrawals at ACC and at other state colleges you may attend. Colleges are responsible for implementing and enforcing this restriction. Though not explicitly spelled out, students may be penalized if they exceed this limit. So regardless if a withdrawal is done by the student or by the instructor, any withdrawal done after the 12th class day will be included in this six course limit. Any withdrawal done prior to the 12th class day will not be counted toward the limit of six. Here is a link to the relevant parts of this bill:
http://www.austincc.edu/SOCSCI/CoreCurriculum/WithdrawalLimitation.pdfFor many years ACC has encouraged withdrawing from a course late in the semester to protect your GPA (grade point average) if you plan to transfer to a 4 year college. This new ruling will bring ACC’s withdrawal date into line with other colleges.
Intellectual
Respect: Each student is
strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom
situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be
many differing viewpoints. Students may disagree with each other at times, and
students and instructors may also find they have disparate views on sensitive
and volatile topics. It is our hope that these differences will enhance class
discussion and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will
be encouraged to think and learn. Therefore, be assured that your grades will
not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class or in
assignments and that we will all respect the views of others when expressed in
classroom discussions.
Scholastic dishonesty: Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be
administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to
cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with
another in preparing outside work.
Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their own
thought, research or self-expression.
Academic work is defined as, but no limited to tests and quizzes,
whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group;
classroom presentations, and homework.
Students with disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support
services for students with documented physical or psychological
disabilities. Students with disabilities
must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with
Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their
classes. Students are encouraged to do
this three weeks before the start of the semester.
Physical Anthropology ANTH
2301-001,
Class Schedule
Unit 1 Heredity and
Evolution
Assigned
Text Chap. & Lab Book Assignments The Evolving Human Program
(1) Aug. 26
#16
Applies Anthropology
-----
(2) Sept. 2
Lab:
Design. Do Exercises 2, 3, & 4, submit answers
online
and
bring to class
-----
(3) Sept. 9
Lab:
Do
Exercises 5, 6, & 7 and the Post-Lab Questions
Submit answers online and bring to
class.
-----
(4) Sept. 16
Lab:
And
the Pre-lab and Post-lab questions.
Bring
all worksheets to class for discussion.
-----
(5) Sept. 23
Lab:
finish discussion of
________________________ Unit 1 Test, taken in Blackboard,
by 9:30 Friday, Sept. 25th _______________
Unit 2 Modern Human
Biology
(6) Sept. 30 Ch.15 Modern Human Biology: Patterns of Variation #13 Patterns of Variation
Lab:
and
Post-Lab Questions, submit online
and
bring for discussion
-----
(7) Oct. 7
Lab:
and
Post-lab Questions, submit online
and
bring for discussion
First
Article Review due – submit online
-----
(8) Oct. 14
Lab:
Finish discussion of
________________________ Unit 2 Test, taken in Blackboard,
by 9:30 Friday, Oct. 16th _______________
Unit 3 Non-Human
Primates
(9) Oct. 21
Lab:
Online.
Also do Pre-lab and Post-lab questions,
submit
online and bring for discussion.
-----
(10) Oct. 28
Lab:
and
Exercises 7-10, and bring to class.
Also
do Pre-lab and Post-lab questions,
Submit
online and bring to class for discussion
-----
(11) Nov. 4 Ch.
7 Primate Behavior cont’d
Video #2 “Among
the Wild Chimps of Gombe”
Lab:
Discussion of
Human Skeletal Structure
And
comparison of Human, Chimp & Gorilla Skulls
Second
Article Review (or Zoo Observation Project)– Submit Online
-----
(12) Nov. 11
Lab:
Discussion
of Human Skeletal Structure
________________________ Unit 3 Test, taken in Blackboard,
by 9:30 Friday, Nov. 13th ______________
__________Test 3 Lab Practical on Human Skeleton, Gorilla
& Chimpanzee Skulls – in class Nov. 18th____
Unit 4 Evolution of the
Order Primates
(13) Nov. 18th
Test 3: Lab
Practical
-----
(14) Nov. 25
Comparison
of early Hominin skull casts
Lab:
Do
Pre-lab and Post-Lab Questions,
Submit
online and bring to class
-----
(15) Dec. 2
Comparison of later Hominin skull
casts
Lab:
Do Pre-lab and Post-lab Questions,
Submit online and bring to class
________________________ Unit 4 Test, taken in Blackboard,
by 9:30 Friday, Dec 4th ______________
__________Test 4 Lab Practical on Human Skeleton and
Hominin Skulls – in class Dec. 13th____
-----
(16) Dec. 13 Lab Practical: Hominin Skulls
Physical
Anthropology -
Fall
2009, ANTH 2301-001
4 Unit
Tests
100
points each = 400 points Scores
Test 1 Heredity
and Evolution (Ch 1-5) _______
Test 2 Modern
Human Biology (Ch 15, 16, 17) _______
Test 3 Non-Human
Primates (Ch 6, 7, 8 ) _______
Test 4 Evolution
of the Order Primates (Ch 10 - 14) _______
Laboratory
Exercises
15 x 20
points each = 300 points ______
2
Laboratory Practicals
50
points each = 100 points
Test
3 Lab Practical _______
Test
4 Lab Practical _______
Summaries
of “The Evolving Human” programs _______
Reviews
of 2 Articles from
Classic &
Contemporary
2 x 30 points each = 60
points
First Review:
_________________________________ _______
Second Review (or Zoo
Project):_________________________ _______
10 points from
attendance and timely submission of work: ______
Total possible points: 1000 ______
Total
A (90%) > 900 pts, B (80%) >
800 pts, C (70%) > 700 pts, D (60%) > 600 pts