Anthropology 131
Introduction to Biological Anthropology
TA: Taapsi Ramchandani
Sections 006 and 008
Spring 2014
Name: Taapsi Ramchandani
Email: taramcha@syr.edu
Office: 045 Eggers Hall (basement)
Office Hours: By appointment only
Section Meetings:
Section 6
Thursday 12:30-1:25 Lyman 406
Section 8
Thursday 2:00-2:55 Lyman 406
Section Description
Welcome to Introduction to Biological Anthropology. This course will give you an
overview of three areas of biological anthropology: (1) evolutionary theory and
mechanisms of inheritance, (2) diversity of living primates and human evolution, (3) and
modern human biological variation. The purpose of discussion section is to reinforce and
elaborate on materials and topics covered in lectures and assigned readings. Attendance
and participation are mandatory and essential to your success in this course.
Discussion Section Evaluation
Discussion Section is 25% of your total grade. That 25% will be evaluated as follows:
In-Section Labs/Exercises
Film Study Guides
Quizzes
Attendance and participation
Total
30%
30%
30%
10%
100%
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Discussion Section Schedule
Week
Date
(Section assignments in BOLD)
Readings_
Topic
1
January 16
Introduction
Film – Darwin’s Secret Notebooks
JKL: Ch. 1
JKL: Ch. 2 (pp. 26-34)
2
January 23
Finish film
JKL: Ch. 2
3
January 30
Natural selection
JKL: Ch. 3
Natural selection exercise
4
February 6
Heredity
Quiz
JKL: Ch. 4
Inheritance exercise
5
February 12
Exam review
JKL: Ch. 5 (pp. 96-106)
JKL: Ch. 6 (pp. 120-32)
6
February 17 EXAM 1
February 20 Film
(pp. 34-49)
JKL: Ch. 6 (pp. 132-53);
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February 27
Nonhuman primates
JKL: Ch. 7 (pp. 154-60)
JKL: Ch. 7 (pp. 160-85)
Primate activity lab
8
March 6
Bipedal apes
JKL: Ch. 8 (pp. 193-220)
RW: Intro – Ch. 3
Hominin lab
9
March 12
No class - Spring Break
Week
Date
Topic
Readings_
10
March 20
Hominin evolution
Quiz
JKL: Ch. 8 (pp. 220-9); Ch. 9 (pp. 230-9)
JKL: Ch. 9 (pp. 239-51); RW: Ch. 4-5
Hominin lab
11
March 27
Pre-moderns and
Exam review
JKL: Ch. 10 (p. 252-63)
JKL: Ch. 10 (p. 263-81); RW: Ch. 6-8
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12
March 31
April 3
EXAM 2
Film
13
April 10
Origins of modern humans
JKL: Ch. 11 (pp. 292-309)
NJ: Ch. 1-3
AMH and variation lab
14
April 17
Human biological diversity
JKL: Ch. 12
NJ: Ch. 4-6
AMH and variation lab
15
April 24
Categories and clines
Exam review
NJ: Ch. 7-10
Quiz
16
May 1
FINAL EXAM
Thursday, 3:00-5:00
JKL: Ch. 11 (pp. 282-92)
*Schedule subject to change*
Required Texts (also available on reserve at Bird Library)
Jablonski, Nina (2012) Living Color: The Biological and Social Meaning of Skin Color.
Berkeley: University of California Press. [NJ]
Jurmain, Robert, Lynn Kilgore, and Wenda Trevathan (2013) Essentials of Physical
Anthropology, ninth edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. [JKL]
Wrangham, Richard (2009) Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human. New York: Basic
Books. [RW]
**Note: Main textbook (JKT) is 3-hole punched and unbound. You will need to get a 3-ring
binder for your textbook.**
Class Policies
Overview
Section grades make up 25% of the total course grade. Attendance and participation in
discussion sections is mandatory. If, for some reason, you cannot attend a section
meeting, please contact me beforehand or immediately following. Assignments should be
turned in on time: they will be marked down a half grade for each day they are late.
Attendance and Participation
Attendance is mandatory and benefits your overall understanding of the course materials
as well as your final grade. Your attendance is recorded each week. If, for some reason,
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you cannot attend a section meeting, please contact me beforehand. Tests, labs, quizzes
or other activities will not be re-administered without a note from a health care provider
or the Dean’s Office.
Active participation and discussion are strongly encouraged and are directly tied to your
responsibility for keeping up with the weekly course readings, as they are integral to your
success in the course. The reasoning behind the smaller discussion sections is to provide
an environment that facilitates open discussion and enhances your overall understanding
of course materials. This should be thought of as an opportunity to improve your overall
performance on the main course examinations. You are responsible for keeping up with
the weekly readings!
Assignments
In-Class Labs and Exercises
These in-class assignments will be handed out and completed during your section
meeting. You must be present during section to receive credit. Make-up assignments will
only be given in cases of legitimately excused absences.
Film Study Guide Worksheets
These are short written assignments to be completed in discussion section as you watch a
film. Each consists of several questions that should be answered in short paragraphs,
using complete sentences. These will be collected in section the week following the
viewing of the film.
Quizzes
You will have three (3) quizzes in your section meeting over the course of the semester.
This will comprise 30% of your overall section grade. These will be held at the beginning
of section in order that additional topics and discussion can be covered. Be sure to be on
time!
Quizzes will vary between multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank objective questions and
short essays. They will include any material covered in main lecture or assigned readings
prior to the date scheduled, including material assigned for that week. The quizzes will be
formatted similarly to your exams and are meant as an exercise to help prepare you for
taking your main lecture exams.
**PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE NOTES ON INLECTURE EXAMS!**
Other Policies
Academic Integrity
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The course will abide by the University’s and specifically the College of Arts and
Science’s policies in relation to student academic conduct and integrity. The Syracuse
University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the
work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their
responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to
proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work
submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance
sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. All instances of
misconduct, according to the policies outlined by the College of Arts and Sciences
Student Standards Committee, will result in an assignment of “F” (0, zero points) for the
course if the misconduct relates to a test. An “F” (0, zero points) will be given for a
section grade if misconduct relates to assignments and activities in the discussion section.
In either instance, misconduct will be reported to the College of Arts and Sciences. All
are advised to consult the following web site for more information and the complete
policy: http://academicintegrity.syr.edu
Office Hours
I strongly encourage you to visit my office hours. I am available by appointment Monday
through Wednesday. You should use the link or QR code provided at the beginning of
this syllabus to schedule an appointment. Please suggest more than one time for a
meeting. If these days do not accommodate your schedule please contact me to arrange a
better time. I strongly encourage you to include the topic you’d like to discuss during
office hours so that I can be prepared to answer your questions. Meeting with me during
office hours will only improve your chances of succeeding in the course—not harm them.
I am always available to review your quiz and test grades and to talk about any questions
or concerns you have about the course. Please note that it is Syracuse University policy
that grades cannot be discussed via email; therefore, you must see me during my office
hours to discuss your grade. Remember, your TA is here to help you succeed!
Students with Special Needs
If you are a student who needs academic accommodations due to a disability, please
contact me to discuss your individual needs either in person or at mbozacua@syr.edu.
Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register
with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Room 309, 315443-4498. Students with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a
current Accommodation Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review
those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as exam
administration, are not provided retroactively; therefore, planning for accommodations as
early as possible is necessary. For further information, see the ODS website, Office of
Disability Services (http://disabilityservices.syr.edu/).\
Student Athletes
If you are a student involved with or on a school sanctioned athletic team and you
anticipate missing class sections due to sporting events please bring me a copy of your
schedule and inform me in advance so that alternate arrangements can be made. You are
expected to complete assignments due at the time of or prior to your absence whenever
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possible. In order for absences to be excused, a signed permission form from your coach
must be provided.
Religious Observances
Syracuse University’s religious observances policy recognizes the diversity of faiths
represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty,
and staff to observe religious holy days according to their tradition. Under the policy,
students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work
requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their
instructors before the end of the second week of classes. For fall and spring semesters, an
online notification process is available through MySlice/Student Services/Enrollment/My
Religious Observances from the first day of class until the end of the second week of
class (1/26/2014).
Cell Phone Use
Please make sure that your cell phones and other electronic devices are OFF during
section meetings (and the main lecture) so that all students are afforded a suitable
learning environment free from distraction--it is also just polite and a good habit to have.
I do not tolerate cell-phone use (including texting) during class.
Food
Due to lab rules food is not allowed in discussion sections held in the lab. Drinks in
sealable containers are permitted. You may not have the containers at your table when
handling teaching specimens during lab.
**Syllabus Subject to Change**
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