Department of Anthropology
Anth 2226B-001 - Biological Anthropology
Winter 2012-13
Instructor: Dr. Emily Webb
Email: ewebb8@uwo.ca
Phone: 519-661-2111 ext. 82541
Office: SSC 3438
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm – 3:00pm or by appointment
Meeting Time: Wednesdays 1:30 – 4:30pm
Location: SSC 2257
Biological anthropology is the study of the biological diversity and evolution of humans and non-human primates. More
specifically, biological anthropology integrates information from the fields of human biology, primatology,
palaeoanthropology, skeletal biology, and forensic anthropology in order to create an increasingly comprehensive
picture of human origins and biological diversity. The objectives of this course are to communicate to the student the
breadth and diversity of human and non-human primate biological variation in the present and in the evolutionary past,
and to familiarize students with the concepts, theories and methods of biological anthropology.
This course is divided into three units: mechanisms of evolution and human variation; primates and primate evolution;
and, the human fossil record. In unit I, we will consider the history of evolutionary thought, genetics, and modern
human variation and adaptations. We will then examine the biology and behavior of modern primates, as well as the
primate fossil record and the origins of bipedalism (unit II). Finally, in unit III, we will delve into the human fossil record,
and explore the origin and evolution of the genus Homo and the emergence of modern Homo sapiens.
Evaluation
Participation
Exit Quizzes
Lab Assignments
Midterm Test
Final Exam
10%
15%
25%
20%
30%
Readings
Readings for the course will be assigned primarily from: Biological anthropology, Canadian edition / C. Stanford et al.,
2008, available at the university bookstore.
To help you with your lab assignments, I recommend: A photographic atlas for physical anthropology / P.F. Whitehead
, 2005, on reserve at the library. Additional readings will be assigned during the semester, and these will be made
available as PDFs on the course website.
Expectations
It is expected that students will attend all lectures and designated lab periods, and keep up with weekly assigned
readings. Lecture notes and PowerPoint slides will not be provided on the course website. Students are encouraged to
ask questions during the lectures, to participate fully in class discussions and labs, and to meet with the instructor or TA
during office hours for additional help. Outside of office hours, email queries are unlikely to be answered immediately;
please be sure to use your university email account to prevent emails being identified as spam.
Extensions must be discussed with the instructor well before the deadline. Barring a legitimate emergency or academic
accommodation, absence from the midterm or final exam will result in a failing grade for that test. Late assignments will
be subject to penalties of 5% per day, and will not be accepted after five days (including weekends and holidays). Exit
quizzes cannot be made up at a later date. Lab assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date specified,
and cannot be submitted electronically.
Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy in the undergraduate
handbook. In particular, plagiarism is a very serious academic offense. Plagiarism is the use or close imitation of the
words and thoughts of another author and the representation of that author's work as one's own, i.e., by not crediting
or correctly citing the original author. Although you may work in groups to complete the labs in class, each student’s lab
assignment must be entirely his or her own written work.
Learning Environment
Each class of students is a diverse mix of personalities, experiences, skills and values, and I seek to create a respectful,
inclusive environment in which this diversity enhances learning, and adds relevance to our discussions of
anthropological concepts. As such, students are expected to be polite, and to show respect for each other and the topics
discussed in class. Cell phones and other mobile communication devices are to be turned off during class, and
laptops/tablets are to be used only for note-taking. If a student uses electronic devices for emailing, recording the
lecture or other forms of disruptive activity, he or she will be asked to leave.
Academic Accommodations
The University of Western Ontario provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Please contact the
course instructor if you require any arrangements to make this course more accessible to you (e.g., course material in an
alternate format). I also encourage you to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (ssd@uwo.ca ) at the Student
Development Centre, and to make full use of the options available to you through SSD.
Students seeking accommodation on medical or compassionate grounds for any course assignment or test worth 10% or
more of their final grade must contact the Academic Counselling office of their home faculty and provide appropriate
documentation.
Teaching Assistant
This course has one teaching assistant, Jose Sanchez. The TA is here to provide advice about your lab assignments, and
to help you understand the course material.
Office hours: Thursdays 12:00 – 2:00pm or by appointment (jsanch3@uwo.ca )
Room number: SSC 3304
Course Website
The OWL website is an important resource for this course. The syllabus, additional readings and lab assignments will be
posted under “Resources”.
Assignment Overview
1.
Participation (10%) and Exit Quizzes (15%)
Participation marks will be based on the quality of your contributions to group discussions, and on your level of
preparedness for the labs. There will be three to five surprise exit quizzes during the semester. These short
answer/multiple choice quizzes will occur in the last 15 minutes before the break, and will include material from
that day’s lecture and readings. Exit quizzes are an in-class activity and cannot be made up at later date.
2.
Lab Assignments (25%)
There are four labs that must be completed by each student: (A) genetics and human variation, (B) primates, (C)
palaeoanthropology, and (D) modern human behaviour and biology. Each student will be placed in a lab group,
and must attend the lab during the last hour of class. Lab assignments are due at the beginning of class the week
following the designated lab period, and may include short answer questions, problems, identification, and/or
measuring specimens. Lab handouts will be available on the course website; please print or download so you
can use them during your lab period.
3.
Midterm Test (20%)
The midterm test will include material from the lectures and readings from all of units I and II, but not the lab
assignments. The test will take two hours, and will include short answer questions, multiple choice and matching
questions, and an essay question. The midterm will be held on February 27th, 2013 in class.
4.
Final Exam (30%)
The final exam will include material from the lectures and readings from the entire course, with an emphasis on
unit III. The exam will include short answer, multiple choice, and matching questions, as well as essay questions.
Class Schedule
Please note that the class schedule may be adjusted as required during the term. Changes will be announced during
lectures and on the course website. If absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility to inform him- or herself of any
changes.
Week #
Jan. 9
Jan. 16
Lecture Topic
Stanford Readings
Course introduction
Introduction
History of evolutionary thought
and Ch. 1
Unit I: Mechanisms of evolution and human variation
Genetics
Ch. 2 and 3
Jan. 23
Evolution and speciation
Ch. 4 and 5
Lab & Gr.#
A. Gr. 1
Jan. 30
Modern human variation
Feb. 6
Primates
Primate behaviour
Feb. 13
Paleontology
Primate origins
Ch. 6
Unit II: Primates and primate evolution
Ch. 7 and 8
Ch. 9
Feb. 20
A, Gr.2
B, Gr. 1
B, Gr.2
READING WEEK
Feb. 27
MIDTERM TEST
No readings
Unit III: The human fossil record
Ch. 10 and 11
Mar. 6
The ape-hominid transition
Early hominids
Mar. 13
Genus Homo
Ch. 12
C, Gr. 2
Mar. 20
Archaic Homo sapiens
Neanderthals
Ch. 13
D, Gr. 1
Mar. 27
The emergence of modern humans
Ch. 14
D, Gr. 2
April 3
Evolution of the brain, language and human
behaviour
Ch. 15 and 17
April 10
Biomedical anthropology
Human osteology
Ch. 16 and 18
Final Exam TBD by the Registrar
C, Gr.1
Exam Period: April 14 – 30, 2013