Anthropology 102
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
Spring 2016 Tues/Thurs 11am to 12:15pm
Hal Starratt, Ph.D.
email: hal.starratt@wnc.edu
Phone: (775) 445-4292 (office); (775) 721-5016 (cell)
Office: 219 Aspen (Carson Campus, above Bookstore)
Hours: (Spring 2016): Mon-Thurs 12:15-1pm; Tues/Thurs 2:15-3pm.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course presents the emergence of humans and culture
through the examination of the hominid fossil record, the study of primates, and the study of
human biology and evolution. Included are topics like human genetics, population variation,
paleoatnhropology, and adaptation. It is a three unit lecture course that can be taken
concurrently with Anthropology 110L for an additional Lab Science credit.
IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED YOU TAKE ANTH 110L LAB WITH ANTH 102.
Anthropology 102 and Anthropology 110L satisfy WNC degree requirements for Science
and Lab Science respectively. They count towards the Anthropology major at UNR and
UNLV, and are transferable to all institutions in Nevada and elsewhere as the introductory
course to physical or biological anthropology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will understand:
• the principles and theories of human evolution and the origins of the human species
• the physical attributes of humans and what sets us apart from other species
• the ideas of human variation and adaptation
• the value and importance of human diversity
Students will exercise the following academic skills: reading, writing, oral communication,
and online and library research. Computer and web access required. Weekly writing
assignments will be submitted online through Turnitin.com.
COURSE TEXTS:
•Relethford, The Human Species: an Introduction to Biological Anthropology. (9th ed.)
McGraw/Hill, 2010.
•Angeloni, ed Annual Editions: Physical Anthropology (24th Ed) McGraw-Hill, 2014.
Note: older text editions may be acceptable; check with instructor before buying.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
1. RESPONSES—45% of Course Grade:
• Ten (10) Writing Assignments will be assigned from the reader Annual
Editions: Physical Anthropology (Responses #1-12).
• One-page each (300 words minimum, 1.5 line space, 12pt. Font).
• Respond to the issues and ideas raised in each of the articles.
• Submit to the website Turnitin.com (see instructions and Rubric following below).
• Responses will be due on Thursdays at Midnight.
• Questions from these readings will appear in the exams.
• Late assignments may receive up to 75% credit but will not be accepted after May 15.
Anthropology 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
2. EXAMS—45% of Course Grade:
• Midterm and Final Exams will cover lectures, text material, films, and readings.
• Make-up exams must be scheduled with me at least 1 week prior to the exam.
3. PARTICIPATION—10% of Course Grade:
• Do the readings prior to class so that you can contribute to the discussions.
• Attendance is a factor in the course grade.
• If you are going to miss a class please contact me.
4. RESEARCH PRESENTATION or TERM PAPER (Optional):
• Required for a grade of “A” (90% or higher) in the course.
• Grade on Presentation or Term Paper will have equal weight to the Midterm and Final.
• I will average the three grades: 1) Presentation/Term Paper, 2) Midterm, and 3) Final.
Presentation:
• Present the results of an independent research project to the class (15-20minutes).
• Bibliography (MLA style): a formal summary of all research sources used is due to
Turnitin.com on your Presentation date (20% of grade).
• Topics and dates of Presentations will be assigned individually.
• Cancellation of your Presentation will drop your course grade 10%.
Term Paper:
• Research Paper format: 8 page paper summarizing the results of an independent
research project.
• Works Cited page: detailed MLA style (20% of grade).
• Topics will be assigned individually and will not overlap with those giving Presentations.
• Deadline: Thursday Apr 21 to Turnitin.com.
• Note: there is a response due also on that date, so plan accordingly.
5. GRADES:
Points:
Responses (10)
200
Exams (+/- Presentation/Paper) 200
Participation
45
Total
445
(395 point ceiling [89%; B+] for those who do not do Presentation/Paper)
Percentages for exams, presentations, and course grade:
94-100 = A; 90-93 = A-; 87-89 = B+; 84-86 = B; 80-83 = B-; 77-79 = C+; 74-76 = C;
70-73 = C-; 67-69 = D+; 64-66 = D; 60-63 = D-; 0-59 = F
Excessive Absences: I will suspend grading assignments if more than four (4) class
meetings are missed, whatever the reasons. This will necessitate a conference with me
for reinstatement, and will lower your course grade.
“W” Grades: I cannot assign a “W” grade for the course. If you choose to withdraw
from the course, it is your responsibility to do this yourself online by April 1. Otherwise
I will give you the grade you have earned by the date of the Final Exam.
2
Anthropology 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
6. ETHICS: Plagiarism on any assignment is not acceptable, will result in an "F" (0%) for
that assignment, and could result in a failing grade for the course.
7. CELL PHONES, TABLETS, and RECORDING DEVICES: Turn off cell phones, tablets,
and other devices while in class. Failure to do so may result in the loss of points, and the
lowering of your grade. Use of any recording devices (audio or video) in class or during
class activities is prohibited without formal, written permission from the instructor.
8. ACADEMIC DISABILITY: Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or
accommodations speak with me, or contact the Disability Support Services (445-4459).
9. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR ANTHROPOLOGY 102
It is expected upon enrollment of this course that students will
1. have the college-level skills in reading, writing, and oral communication appropriate
to their career path.
2. have effective and efficient learning skills, including locating and evaluating
information.
3. have appropriate computer skills.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated they
can:
1. Use terminology specific to the anthropological topics selected for this course.
2. Demonstrate the principles and theories of human evolution and the origins of the
human species.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the physical attributes of humans and what sets us
apart from other species.
4. Describe selected ideas of human variation and adaptation.
5. Demonstrate an appreciation of the value and importance of human diversity.
6. Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking through substantially error-free prose
suitable to the purpose of relating selected anthropological topics to personal
experience and knowledge.
3
Anthropology 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
Tentative Course Schedule
Responses Due Thursdays by Midnight to Turnitin.com
Jan 26/28: Introduction
Read: Relethford Ch. 1
Feb 2/4: Evolutionary Theory
Read: Relethford Ch. 2
Feb 9/11: Genetics and Microevolution
Read: Relethford Ch. 3
Response #1 due Feb 11:
Branch and Scott: "America's Science Problem” (Annual Editions p32, referred to
below as “AE”).
Feb 16/18: Evolution and Classification
Read: Relethford Ch. 4
Response #2 due Feb 18
Sapolsky: “The 2% Difference” (AE p47)
Feb 23/25: Primates
Read: Relethford Chs. 5
Response #3 Due Feb 25:
Stanford: “Got Culture?” (AE p50)
Mar 1/3: Primate Behavior
Read: Relethford Ch. 6
Response #4 Due Mar 3:
de Waal: "Earthly Delights" (AE p59)
Mar 8/10: Early Primate Evolution
Read: Relethford Chs. 9
Response #5 Due Mar 10:
Small: “What’s love got to do with it?” (AE p73)
Mar 15/17: Midterm Week
Review Relethford Chapters 1-6, 9, Readings and Lectures.
MIDTERM: Thurs Mar 17
SPRING BREAK Mar 21-25
Mar 29/31: Paleoanthropology
Read Relethford Ch. 8
Response #6 Due Mar 31:
Bearzi and Stanford: “A Bigger, Better Brain” (AE p130)
4
Anthropology 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
Apr 5/7: Hominid Origins
Read: Relethford Ch. 10
Response #7 Due Apr 7:
Hammer: "Human Hybrids" (AE p100)
Apr 12/14: Genus Homo
Read: Relethford Ch. 11
Response #8 Due Apr 14:
Wong: “Twilight of the Neanderthals” (AE p95)
Apr 19/21: Archaic Humans
Read Relethford Ch. 12
Response #9 Due Apr 21:
Robson: "The Story in the Stones" (AE p113)
Optional Term Papers Due Apr 21
Apr 26/28: Anatomically Modern Humans
Read Relethford Ch. 13
Response #10 Due Apr 28:
Jablonski: “Skin Deep” (AE p149), AND Mukhopadhyay: “How Real is Race?” (153).
Respond to both articles.
May 3/5: Race, Human Variation and Diversity
Read Relethford Ch. 14
May 10/12: Human Adaptation and the Future of Our Species
Read Relethford Ch. 16, Epilogue
All Make-up and Late Assignments Due by Sunday, May 15 at Midnight.
May 17: Finals Week
Review Relethford Chapters 8, 10-14, 16, and Epilogue; Readings, and Lectures.
FINAL EXAM: Tues May 17 (no class May 19)
EXTRA CREDIT: An optional Saturday Field Trip to Grimes Point petroglyph site, and
Hidden Cave site near Fallon, may be arranged during the semester. I will announce dates
and details of this tentative trip at a later date. Extra credit may be earned for this excursion.
It is not mandatory.
5
Anthropology 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
READING RESPONSE SCORING RUBRIC
19-20 points—Excellent Discussion
• Shows an excellent understanding of the main ideas of the article
• Ties personal views to those ideas
• “Connects the dots” by associating the main ideas of the article with
course material, other experiences, readings, classes, etc. and
demonstrates intellectual maturity
• Exceeds the minimum requirements
16-18 points—Good Discussion
• Shows a good understanding of the main ideas of the article
• Ties personal views to those ideas
• Meets the minimum requirements
13-15 points—Average Discussion
• Shows some understanding of the main ideas of the article
• Relies heavily on personal views with little involvement of ideas from the
article
• Does not meet the minimum requirements
11-12 points—Less-than-average Discussion
• Does not demonstrate basic understanding of the article
• Does not meet minimum requirements
• May have traces of plagiarized text
10 points or less
• Late assignment
• May not demonstrate basic understanding of the article
• May not meet minimum requirements
• May have minor amounts of plagiarized text
0 points
• All or much of response was plagiarized
Example of Rubric Scoring for Weekly Responses:
6
Anthropology 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
INSTRUCTIONS for TURNITIN.COM
2016 Spring Anthro 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
Responses due Thursdays by Midnight
The written Responses for this class (see class schedule) will be submitted through the
website “Turnitin.com” Below are the directions for creating your user account and
submitting your work:
1. Write the assignment (one-page minimum/300 words, 1.5 line spacing, size 12 font),
and save as a document to your hard drive (e.g. “Response #1”). MS Word is the preferred
application, but others work OK if you “save as” .rtf or text document.
2. Go to the website www.turnitin.com and click on the “Create Account” button (top left).
3. Under “Create a User Profile” and “Create a New Account,” select “student.” (or sign in
with your Email Address and Password if you’ve used Turnitin.com before).
4. Use the following info to create your new student account:
Anthro 102: Intro to Physical Anthropology
Class ID: 11378482
Class Enrollment Password: starratt
(you will use this info only once—the first time you set up your account)
5. Fill out rest of form. Remember to write down your email account and new password
for later.
6. Click “I agree—create profile”
7. Finish. “Log in to Turnitin”
Welcome—ready to submit a Response.
8. Click on the class (Anthro 102) and go to Response #1, click “submit,” find your
assignment on your hard drive (browse) and send it. That’s it! You will get an instant email
receipt for your work from Turnitin if your submission was accepted.
9. If you do not get an email receipt: try resaving your response as an rtf or txt file and
resubmit. If you still don’t get a receipt email me.
11. Your scores on all your class work will be posted here so you can keep track of how
you’re doing during the semester.
12. Good! Now that you’ve read this entire syllabus, write at the top of your Response #1: “I
read the whole syllabus!” and I’ll give you 5 extra points. No kidding--snooze, you lose,
however...
7