SYLLABUS: BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 3304 (28379) – SPRING 2005
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Instructor: Dr. Cathy Willermet
Office Hours: T 1:30-2:30, W 1:00-2:00 and by appointment
Class Meeting Times, Location: TR 12:00-1:20, UGLC 336
Office: UGLC 206
Phone: 747-5329; E-mail: cwillermet@utep.edu
Biological anthropology is the study of biological aspects of being human. In this course, we will
investigate how we know what we know about human evolution and variation through comparative
skeletal anatomy, molecular biology and the fossil record. We will also explore what biology can
teach us about past population movements, human social behavior and mate choice, the evolution of
language, and human diseases. Prerequisite: ANTH 1301.
Text: Boyd, R and JB Silk, (2003) How Humans Evolved. New York: W.W. Norton. Third Edition. This
book is available at the bookstore for $75.95 new/$56.95 used. It includes a CD-ROM.
There is also an optional text: Whitehead, P et al (2005) A Photographic Atlas for Physical
Anthropology. This book is available at the bookstore for $36.60 new.
Attendance policy: To be successful in this course, you must attend class. Graded assignments and
activities are heavily based upon lectures and class discussions. To do well in the class you MUST
attend class, listen, participate in class discussions, and take useful notes. If you are absent from class
you miss important information; therefore, satisfactory attendance is a course requirement. You must
come to class on time and prepared. You must read assigned texts and complete out-of-class
assignments. In class, you are expected to be attentive, involved, and focused on the subject at hand.
If you must be absent, you are responsible for finding out what was covered and assigned in class in
order to be prepared when you return to class. You should contact a fellow class member or me for
that day’s information.
Deadline policy: All assignments are due in class on the deadline date. Any assignments to be turned
in during class are due at the beginning of the class period. Any late assignments will be penalized
10% of the total possible points for each calendar day late.
E-mail account: If you don’t have a UTEP e-mail account, GET ONE IMMEDIATELY. Go to
https://newaccount.utep.edu and fill in the information requested. Your account will be immediately
created. If you have any difficulty, or have forgotten your userid or password, please call the HELPdesk
at 747-5257.
WebCT: Our class has a web page in WebCT. In WebCT you can view the syllabus, discussion
boards, your grades, and other supplemental material related to this course. You can also send e-mails
to your fellow classmates or to me through WebCT. You can access WebCT through the UTEP portal
(http://my.utep.edu). Call the HELPdesk if you need help with your password.
Exams: There will two midterm exams, consisting of short answer/essay questions. Potential essay
questions will be handed out a week before each exam. Midterm exams are not cumulative, and are
each worth 25 points. There will also be a final exam, worth 50 points. There will be NO make-up
exams except in cases of extreme, documentable events.
These are the exam dates:
Midterm exam 1
Midterm exam 2
Final exam
February 10
March 17
Tuesday, May 3, 1:00 –3:45 pm
Term paper assignment: You will be responsible for writing a term paper related to biological
anthropology. Choose one major subject that interests you. Be creative! You will explore this topic at
some depth. You should let your interests guide you in your selection of topics. You will choose a
topic early in the semester, do some research, and write a term paper that discusses your topic.
Your term paper should be at least 7 pages, typed, double-spaced pages in length, size 12 font, and
1” margins. The paper should address issues we are discussing in class. You will be graded on
content, understandability, and correct style (spelling and grammar, citations). You may choose the
citation style you prefer (such as MLA, APA, AJPA).
These are the due dates for your topic choice, outline, rough draft, and final paper:
Term paper topic due
Term paper outline due
Term paper rough draft due
Presentation to class
Term paper due
Jan 20
Feb 8
Mar 29
April 28
May 3
Critical summary assignment: You will be responsible for writing a critical summary based on outside
reading (not the textbook) once over the course of the semester, dealing with one of the topics
discussed in class. This summary is worth 25 points. You will be randomly assigned a date to
informally present this information to the class (no more than a 15 minute presentation). You should
let your interests guide you in your selection of topics. You should include in your write-up the
following information: identification of the topic to be discussed, the information you learned, and
what questions you thought of while reading. You have room to be creative, and this is one area
where you can tailor the class to match your interests. You must include citations (even if the
information is from the internet). Please provide enough summaries to distribute to the entire class.
Presentations that use technology (with handouts) are encouraged.
Discussion board (team work): You will be doing some directed reading and discussing issues as a
group on a web board in WebCT (available through the UTEP portal). Your login name is your e-mail
userid, and your password is your e-mail password. Call the HELP Desk if you need help with your
password.
For each discussion board assignment, you will write at least 200 words in your discussion posting in
response to guided questions that will be provided. You will also reply (at least 50 words each
response) to the entries of at least three of your classmates (or, three times total, if you are in a backand forth exchange). The deadlines for postings and replies are listed below. The deadlines for entries
are on Tuesdays, and the deadlines for responding are on Thursdays. Remember, we are interested in
your ideas about the readings, not a summary of the readings!
These are the due dates for your postings and replies:
Deadlines for
discussion postings
Jan 25
Feb 15
Mar 1
Apr 5
Apr 19
Deadlines for
discussion replies
Jan 27
Feb 17
Mar 3
Apr 7
Apr 21
I will grade these discussion board entries using this breakdown:
Is your posting at least 200 words?
7 points x 5
Did you discuss the topic in a thoughtful way?
Is the argument discussed relevant to class discussion/readings?
Do you provide relevant evidence that support your argument?
Responding to three other students, (at least 50 words each) 3 points x 5
Total:
10 points x 5 = 50 points total
Free write assignments: At certain times during the semester, I will stop class discussion and call for a
free write period. At that point everyone will pull out a clean sheet of paper and write for a given
period of time, either as a continuation of your thoughts from discussion or in response to a given
prompt. These will not be prescheduled. Each free write assignment is worth 5 points.
Campus computer labs: There are several computer labs on campus where you can do your WebCT
homework, Internet research, and web page design. Please check with them regarding hours, what
services they offer (some have laptops you may borrow), and whether they charge fees.
 ATLAS (Access to Technology Learning and Services) – UGLC 202 – 747-7875 –
atlas@utep.edu – http://www.atlas.utep.edu
 CALC (Computer Applications Learning Center) – CBA 308 – 747-7777
 LACIT (Liberal Arts Centers for Instructional Technology) – LART 405 – 747-5375 –
http://academics.utep.edu/lacit/
 LTC (Library Technology Center) – LIB 324 – 747-5391 – http://ltc.utep.edu
 TEKCOM (Technology Center at Old Main) – MAIN 214 – 747-5375
 ILC (Independent Learning Center) – located in Room 109, College of Health Sciences (CHS),
1101 North Campbell Street.
In addition, computers are available in the Union East building.
Disabilities: I will make any reasonable accommodations for students with limitations due to disabilities,
including learning disabilities. Please see me personally before or after class or during my office hours
to discuss any special needs you might have. If you have a documented disability and require specific
accommodations, you will need to contact the Disabled Student Services Office in the East Union
Bldg., Room 106 within the first two weeks of classes. The Disabled Student Services Office can also be
reached in the following ways:
Web: http://www.utep.edu/dsso/
Phone: (915) 747-5148 voice or TTY
Fax: (915) 747-8712
E-Mail: dss@utep.edu
Extra Credit: An optional extra-credit paper may be written. I should approve topics before you start.
You may choose your own topic to do independent research. An extra credit paper could be worth a
maximum of 10 points, is at least three pages in length, and typed. YOU MUST INCLUDE CITATIONS
AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. You may write as many extra-credit papers as you wish, but they can raise your
grade by a maximum of one letter grade. These are due NOT LATER THAN the last day of classes.
Grading: There are 300 total points possible:
Semester research project
Topic statement
Outline
Rough draft
Presentation to class (last day of class)
Final term paper, incorporating comments
5 discussion board activities
5 postings @ 7 pts/ea.
15 responses to classmates: 5 x 3 @ 1 pt/ea.
Critical summary
In-class free write activities
5 activities @ 5 pts/ea.
2 midterm exams @ 25 points each
Final exam
TOTAL
5 points
5 points
10 points
10 points
70 points
35 points
15 points
25 points
25 points
50 points
50 points
300 points
The grading scale is as follows:
A: 300-270 100-90% total points possible
B: 269-240 89-80% " " "
C: 239-210 79-70% " " "
D: 209-180 69-60% " " "
F 179- 0 less than 60% total points possible
Cheating/plagiarism: Cheating is unethical and not acceptable. Plagiarism is using information or
original wording in a paper without giving credit to the source of that information or wording; it is also
not acceptable. Do not submit work under your name that you did not do yourself. Do not submit
work containing passages that you did not write yourself unless you are citing the source clearly. If
you are found to be cheating or plagiarizing, you will be subject to disciplinary action, per UTEP
catalog policy. Refer to http://www.utep.edu/dos/acadintg.htm for further information.
This course outline may be subject to changes as circumstances warrant. Any such changes will be
announced in advance to the class.
You may audiotape class lectures if you wish.
Please TURN OFF all cell phones during the class period. I reserve the right to answer the phone if it
rings. And I will, too.
Continued enrollment in this course implies that you have read and accepted the conditions listed in
this syllabus.
Schedule of assignments and deadlines
Tuesday
Jan 11
Thursday
Jan 13
Jan 18
Jan 20
Term paper: Topic due
Jan 25
Jan 27
WebCT: Discussion board posting 1 due
WebCT: Discussion board replies 1due
Feb 1
Feb 3
Feb 8
Term paper: Outline due
Feb 10
Midterm 1
Feb 15
Feb 17
WebCT: Discussion board posting 2 due
WebCT: Discussion board replies 2 due
Feb 22
Feb 24
Mar 1
WebCT: Discussion board posting 3 due
Mar 3
WebCT: Discussion board replies 3 due
Mar 8
Mar 10
Mar 7: COURSE DROP DEADLINE
Mar 15
Mar 17
Midterm 2
Mar 22
Mar 24
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
Mar 29
Mar 31
Term paper: Rough draft due
CESAR CHAVEZ DAY – NO CLASSES
Apr 5
Apr 7
WebCT: Discussion board posting 4 due
WebCT: Discussion board replies 4 due
Apr 12
Apr 14
Apr 19
WebCT: Discussion board posting 5 due
Apr 21
WebCT: Discussion board replies 5 due
Apr 26
Apr 28
Term paper: Presentations
Optional extra credit papers due
Tuesday, May 3
Final exam: 1:00 - 3:45 pm, Term paper due