ANTH 1A-
Syllabus
PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY
Fall 1999
California State University, Sacramento
Instructor: Dr. Gerrell Miles Drawhorn
Office: MND 4019
Phone: 278-4555 [or message 278-6452 or piltdown@saclink.csus.edu]
Office Hours: Monday 12-1; Friday 9:30-10:30 in Room 4011 MND
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Catalog Description: This course is an introduction to the materials and methods of physical anthropology (or as many are calling it today, human biology or human evolutionary biology).
Course Objectives
This course is intended to familiarize students with the materials and methods used by physical anthropologists to interpret human evolution and biological diversity. The student will become familiar with the basic methods used by human geneticists in tracing genetic traits in families and groups, and how that knowledge is applied in clinical and forensic settings. The course also includes study of the form and function of the human skeleton, and the methods used to determine age, sex and ancestry in archeological and criminal investigations. The evolutionary relationship of humans to non-human Primates will be explored by comparing their anatomy and behavior. A "field study" of primates at the Sacramento Zoo will be completed. Finally students will be exposed to the hard" evidence of human evolution through the examination of casts and models of fossil non-human primates and hominids.
ANTHROPOLOGY 1-
Anthro 1A requires students have a good, current knowledge of basic evolutionary principles and terminology related to physical anthropology. It is necessary that students have taken Anthropology 1 or its equivalent within the last two years or be taking that course concurrently. Students who do not meet these requirements should discuss with the instructor supplementary materials to meet the demands of the class.
The following assignments are due on the dates indicated.
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Assignment |
Points |
Date Due |
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WORKSHEETS |
@ 2 % each
= 40 % Total |
Each worksheet will be graded on a Pass/ Incomplete/No Pass basis. |
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QUIZZES |
10 % each
= 50 % Total |
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ZOO REPORT |
10 % |
Due Mon 11/10 (at Quiz 3) |
WORKSHEETS
Regular attendance and completion of assignments are critical to success in this class. Worksheets will be handed out at the beginning of every class session and students should be able to complete most of the questions in class that day or in following labs.
QUIZZES
There will be five quizzes (worth 10% each), dealing with each unit covered in class: 1) Human Genetics, 2) The Human Skeleton , 3) Primate Taxonomy and Taxonomy, 4) Human Evolution, and 5: Human Variation.
Except for the first quiz, these will be "practical" involved in identifying specimens and their characteristics. Because students are unfamiliar with the format of these quizzes, they sometimes find them stressful. For the first half hour of these practical exams students will have a limited amount of time to identify materials at each station. However, students who need additional time to examine specimens will be given an opportunity to do so until the end of the period.
Because of the nature of these exams, it is important to not be late to class on quiz days. You may find yourself held out of starting the exam until an appropriate time. The last quiz will be held on the last instructional day of the semester and will not be comprehensive.
Students may bring a single 3"X 5" card with notes in their own handwriting to these quizzes. Both sides of the cards may be notated. No mechanical reduction of these cards will be allowed (i.e. no Xeroxing). Given the use of these "aids" appropriate spelling of terminology will be required.
Early or make-up exams are not possible in this course. Please schedule activities accordingly. One exam may be excused due to a documented emergency.THERE IS NO FINAL EXAM.
ZOO REPORT:
A discount pass to the zoo will be supplied by the instructor. The zoo report will include the following:
1. A taxonomic survey for two different species. Extra credit will be allowed for up to four additional species.
2. Selecting one of these species for more detailed observation, the student will observe an individual for at least 20 minutes, and complete a basic data sheet and a tally sheet/data log of observations.
3. The report should also include a minimum 500 word description of how the confined zoo environment might differ from the natural environment for this one primate species. Discussion should also refer to how these differences might influence social and individual behavior of this species. Specifically consider such aspects as natural home range, diet, mating patterns, social group composition, territoriality and substrates used for locomotion. This part of the report will necessitate some library research on wild populations of the species you observed. Cite your references!!! Some standard Primate atlases will be available for inspection in class and during office hours.
Students are expected not to cooperate in the taking of notes or field observations. Friends, lab partners or other acquaintances should observe different primates to avoid the appearance of collusion. This is not a collective project!
To see an example of an excellent paper click here.
Extra Credit for the zoo report may be earned by observing additional primates at the Zoo and completing the taxonomic description exercise supplied by the instructor. Besides the two required taxonomic forms, an additional four taxonomies for primate species may be completed.
Late Assignments:
Late worksheets or zoo report will be assessed a 10% penalty of possible maximum score per academic day the assignment is late. All assignments are due in class on the due date. Materials turned in after the students class period will be considered late.
Grades
Warning!
Anthro 1A is a lab course fulfilling the Natural Science requirements for graduation. Its level of difficulty (in terms of time and energy) is equivalent to other Natural Science one-unit lab courses (e.g. Chemistry, Zoology or Physics). Be aware that your success in these other labs would be partially based on knowledge you had obtained in the prerequisite course and outside study and review. The same is true in this course.
The good news! You can pass this class with a minimum of work. Just by attending class, listening, filling out the work-sheets, doing a decent zoo report and completing the exams you should pass. However, some students consistently complain that this class is far too much work for one unit (see above warning and rationale). Other students seem to take this workload in stride as almost half the class consistently receives A's and B's.
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A |
Outstanding |
90+ points |
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B |
Excellent performance; clearly exceeds course requirements |
80-89 points |
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C |
Average |
70-79 points |
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D |
Passed, but not at average achievement standards |
60-70 points |
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F |
Failure to meet class requirement |
< 60 points |
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Incompletes: Student must see instructor prior to last exam to request an incomplete. Only incomplete zoo report or worksheets will be accepted as criteria for incomplete and points will be discounted for late work. |
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Reading Materials
Required: There is no required text for this course. The instructor will provide an assortment of readings and worksheets in class.
Recommended: The Human Evolution Coloring Book by Adrienne Zihlman
You can purchase books through the Hornet Bookstore.
Resources
A human skeleton is available for in-library use in the multi-media room of the CSUS library. The computer lab in MND 2008 has osteological learning software developed by Dr. Heidecker of our own Department. Use the "Y" drive,click on "toolbook", then "anthsolo" then "anth2.tbk" The Physical Anthropology website (www.csus.edu/anth/physanth) has a number of resources that students in this course will find invaluable (e.g. images of the fossil hominid material used in this very class!!). Check out the useful links.
INSTRUCTOR / DEPARTMENT / CSUS
Page updated: August 26, 1999