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Click here for a complete, and printable, version of the syllabus
Click here for a MW class outline
Click here for a TTh class outline
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Essentials of Physical Anthropology (6th ed.) by Jurmain, Kilgore and Trevathan, ISBN 0-495-03061-9, 2006 (several copies are on reserve at the Library Periodicals Desk for checkout up to two hours at a time)
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Through lectures, discussions, films, and participation in various activities, students will expand their knowledge of science and further develop critical thinking skills. Upon successful completion of the class, students will have a broader understanding of the processes of evolution, primate behavior, the fossil record, and human diversity. Throughout the semester we’ll address various questions about humankind, including: How does natural selection work? What makes us human? How do we know, what we know about human origins? Are humans still evolving? Who are our closest living relatives? Is ‘race’ a biological reality? Anthropology is also about the study of humans and their relationship to other species and the environment. I hope that by taking this class you’ll gain a greater appreciation of the natural world and of our place in it!
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
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Demonstrate a solid understanding of science’s key concepts and how they differ from other ways of knowing
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Evaluate information using critical thinking skills (i.e. examine evidence, analyze multiple sides of an issue, consider the source, etc. before coming to a conclusion)
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Identify key components of evolutionary theory, and understand how evolution changes species over time
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Explain the key physical and behavioral features of the order primates, as compared to other mammals
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Assess how and why the concept of race is a cultural, rather than biological, classification based on data from studies on human variation and adaptation
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Apply principles of physical anthropology to other disciplines, social issues and problems
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Demonstrate how evolutionary theory, genetics, biological classification, and human variation are applied to the study of humans, and our place in the natural world
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Situate physical anthropology within the discipline of anthropology
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Reading: It’s the student’s responsibility to keep up with assigned reading each week. In addition to textbook chapters, you’ll be required to read several articles (instructions will be provided). Reading is critical to your success in the class, as it prepares you for lectures, assignments and exams. It’s a very important part of a college education because reading improves critical thinking and comprehension skills. Make it a habit to keep up with assigned reading prior to coming to class.
Group Work, 10 points: Four or five in-class group discussions will be assigned throughout the semester. Students won’t receive credit on in-class work if they: 1) don’t participate (includes leaving the room while the activity is in progress); 2) leave before the activity has ended; and/or 3) arrive once it’s already in progress. No opportunities for make-ups, but you may complete extra credit to compensate for missed points.
Fieldwork Assignments, 50 points: students will complete one assignment on Mendelian Genetics and another one on Race. Both will require students to conduct interviews and type up their results in a short report. Detailed instructions will be provided. Papers will be accepted up to one week late for a loss of 10% (one full letter grade).
Natural Selection Essay, 10 points: students will write a 350-word essay in class. Detailed instructions will be provided. Make-ups allowed only in certain cases.
Exams, 160 points: There are two exams (50 points each) and one final (60 points), which cover material from lectures, films, readings and in-class activities. The first two are not cumulative, but the final exam is partially cumulative. All three exams consist of true/false, multiple-choice and matching questions. A study guide will be available prior to each exam. BE ON TIME FOR EXAMS! Each one starts at the beginning of class. Your exam grade will be marked down 5% if you’re more than 10 minutes late, and you won’t be given extra time to finish it.
Make-up Procedures: Make-ups will only be given at the instructor’s discretion if an emergency, or other serious situation, arises that prevents you from attending class on the date of the exam or essay. You must follow the instructions below to be considered for a make-up:
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notify the instructor by email or phone no later than 24 hours after the scheduled exam/essay, AND:
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when you return the following class meeting provide the instructor with a written or typed explanation of why you had to miss the exam or essay (written by you), along with some form of “proof” for your absence if you have it (e.g. doctor’s note, police report, letter from your supervisor, funeral notice, etc.). I don’t contact doctor’s offices or supervisors. It’s your responsibility to obtain a letter from them and bring it to me.
Keep in mind that make-ups are not automatically approved – it depends on the nature of your situation. If you provide proof/evidence of your absence, you stand a better chance of having your request approved. You’ll be notified within a week as to whether you can complete a make-up. All make-ups will be scheduled at a date and time determined by the instructor (all make-up exams are scheduled during week 14 or 15). Grades on all make-ups will be marked down regardless of the excuse (10%/one full letter grade for exams, and 50%/5 points for essays). Only one make-up will be allowed per student. No exceptions.
SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS:
Students are required to submit all assignments to the instructor by email no later than 11:59pm on the due date. See assignment outlines for instructions. Students who do not have internet access at home may use computers in one of the 33 computer labs on campus. The main student computer lab is in the basement of the library. Unless noted, all have internet access.
GRADING SCALE:
The following scale will be used to calculate your class grade:
80 – 89% B 183-205 points
70 – 79% C 160-182 points
60 – 69% D 137-159 points
0 – 59% F 136 and below
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:
Students are expected to abide by ethical standards in preparing and presenting material that demonstrates their level of knowledge, and which is used to determine grades. PLAGIARISM, CHEATING OR FURNISHING MATERIALS IN ORDER TO ENABLE OTHER STUDENTS TO DO SO WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. This sort of behavior violates Section I.B.1 of El Camino College’s Board Policy 5138, Standards of Student Conduct.
The following cases constitute PLAGIARISM: 1) submitting under one’s own name papers or reports which have been prepared by others (including the use of commercial term paper companies); 2) copying word for word, an author’s sentences or paragraphs and including them in your paper as your own work; 3) paraphrasing published material without acknowledging the source; and 4) improperly paraphrasing material.
CHEATING is defined as: 1) using notes, aids or the work of other students on exams or papers in ways other than those expressly permitted by the instructor; 2) misreporting or altering the data in research projects involving the collection of data; 3) submitting an assignment which is identical to that of another student’s (i.e. sentences and/or paragraphs are the same, word for word, and/or results from data collection are identical).
Academic dishonesty may be dealt with in one or more of the following ways: 1) the student may receive an appropriate academic penalty such as an oral reprimand; 2) an “F” may be assigned on all or part of a particular paper or exam; or 3) the student may be suspended from all classes for that term and the following term if deemed appropriate.
ABSENCES, TARDIES AND DROPPING THE CLASS:
According to college policy “a student may be dropped from class when the number of hours absent exceeds the number of units assigned to the course.” The maximum number of absences allowed in my class is FOUR. Once you reach five, you’ll be dropped from the class regardless of the reason for the absences (e.g. domestic, medical, work- or school-related, or otherwise). I strongly advise you keep your absences to a minimum so that you don’t miss lecture, in-class assignments and other important information you need to successfully complete the class. In the event of an absence, it’s your responsibility to check with another student about what you missed. I strongly advise you copy lecture notes from another student when you return (outside of class time).
Make it a habit to come to class on time! Your tardies create distractions in the classroom for your classmates and the instructor. Excessive tardies will affect your class grade (points will be deducted). The same holds true for those who make it a habit to leave class early. It’s your responsibility to notify me if you arrived after roll was taken; do this at the end of class on the day of your tardy. Failure to do so – or late notification of a tardy – will result in being marked absent for the day. Occasionally our system allows students to enroll in back-to-back classes. If you’re enrolled in a class that ends the same time this one begins, you must drop one of them.
Although instructors may drop students, the college views dropping as the student’s responsibility. Sometimes students stop attending class near the final drop deadline and the instructor doesn’t catch it in time (in which case the student winds up with an “F” in the class). Don’t assume you’ll automatically be dropped due to non-attendance. If you need to drop, you can go to Admissions on campus or drop online through MyECC.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT:
Anthropology deals with some controversial topics that may challenge one’s belief systems. You’re expected to practice courtesy and respect at all times, regardless of whether or not you agree with information presented in class. This is the nature of anthropology: to respect (and attempt to understand) ways of life and beliefs that are different from your own. Anyone who is disrespectful or disruptive will be asked to discontinue participation and may be required to leave the room. Behaviors that disrupt the learning process will not be tolerated.
When you attend my class, you’re expected to come prepared and fully participate. This doesn’t necessarily mean raising your hand and verbally participating in class discussions (though that would be great!), but that you’re alert, actively taking notes during lectures, films, etc. and participating in class activities. Non-participation will affect your grade. Examples of non-participation include: talking to others during lectures or films, passing notes to another student, sleeping, reading textbooks or completely homework for other classes, text messaging. Points will be deducted from your grade if you regularly engage in these, or similar, behaviors.
Please don’t make it a habit to come and go during class because this is also very disruptive to your classmates and the instructor. Students who do so on a regular basis, will be marked absent for the day and/or points will be deducted from their grade. If, on occasion, you know ahead of time that you’ll need to excuse yourself temporarily from class or leave early, please take a seat near the door to avoid disrupting others.
AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) STATEMENT:
According to the American Disabilities Act, any student with an identified disability is eligible to be registered with the Special Resource Center. El Camino College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations upon request of the student (in a timely manner) and upon verification of the disability.
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