ANTHROPOLOGY 1: PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Foothill College
Winter 2015 Tuesday/Thursday 8-10am (room 3101)
Katherine Schaefers M.A., Instructor
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office: 3102 (through the back door in the classroom)
Office Hours: 10-10:30a.m. Room 3102
E-mail: schaeferskatherine@foothill.edu
TEXTS
REQUIRED
Essentials of Physical
Anthropology
Jurmain, Kilgore, Trevathan
9th edition. Wadsworth,
Cengage Learning. (2012)
REQUIRED
Classical and Contemporary
Readings in Physical Anthropology
Sandford and Jackson
Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
(2009)
COURSE INFO
Course #: 30087
Section: 1
Units: 4
GE Area: Natural Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences
OVERVIEW:
This class will explore the origins and workings of the human body, and the whys and hows of the
evolutionary theory, using examples that span both time and the globe. We will weave the
anthropological perspective through such topics as evolutionary theory, the biological basis of life,
heredity, macroevolution, primate behavior, human origins, human variation and adaptation, and
the human life course, to create a fully-formed understanding of what it is to be human. The worldwide loss of biodiversity and its impact on an emerging global society will also be explored.
Classroom activities may include audio-video, visuals, artifacts and guest speakers.
OBJECTIVES:
 Students will practice and apply understandings of evolution.
 Students will learn how to critically analyze and interpret physical
anthropological data.
 Students will apply anthropological principles for solving human
problems on the local, regional and world scales.
ADMINISTRAION DATES
 Friday, January 16th: Last day to drop without a “W”
 Friday, January 30th Deadline to submit a Pass/No Pass form to the Admissions and Records Office
 Friday, February 27th Deadline to drop with a “W”
CLASS DATES!
 MIDTERM: Tuesday, February 10th
 FINAL: Thursday, March 26th, 7:30-9:30am
GRADES:
Grades will be based on a Midterm, a Final, The Primate Project, Sandford Responses, and In-Class
Participation. The breakdown is as follows:
 Midterm: 100 pts.
o Multiple Choice Scantron 100 pts.
 Final: 100 pts.
o Multiple Choice Scantron 100 pts.
 Primate Project: 100 pts.
o Part 1* 50pts
o Part 2* 50pts
 Sandford responses 60 pts.
o 6 in total, 10 pts each
 Participation: 40 pts.
Total: 400 pts
*Note: Foothill College does not recognize a C- grade.
A+ = 401 and above
A = 369-400
A- = 360-368
B+ = 348-359
B = 329-347
B- = 320-328
C + = 308-319
C = 280-307
D+ = 268-279
D = 249-267
D- = 240-248
F = 239 and below
GRADE TRACKING SHEET
Sandford Responses:
First Half of Course
/60
Second Half of Course
/10
/10
/10
Primate Project 1
/10
/10
/10
Midterm
_____/50
Primate Project 2
/50
/100
Final
/100
Midterm
Jeopardy?
+_______
ExCredit
Final
Jeopardy?
+ _______
ExCredit
Other extra credit?
i.e. Anthro lectures/Foothill
productions/etc.
+_______
+_______
+_______
+_______
Participation
/40
*Please be advised that projects will not be accepted through e-mail. Projects submitted after the
start of our Final Exam will not be considered for credit.
Dropping This Class: If you choose to withdraw from this course during the quarter, it is your
responsibility to drop the course. If you fail to do so and your name appears on the final roster you will
receive a grade for the class. The Instructor may drop students in the following scenarios:
*Students who do not show up on the first day of class, and who do not contact the Instructor
prior to their absence.
*Before the last day to drop with a “W” (see “Administration Dates” above) Students who
miss 3 class days without notice.
Students with Disabilities
For students with learning or other disabilities, Foothill College provides academic support including
adaptive equipment, counseling, note takers, test accommodations and other services. Those who
have documented disabilities, or think they may fall under this category should contact the Disability
Resource Center (room 5400) at (650) 949-7017 http://www.foothill.edu/drc/contact.php
Hours: 8-5pm Monday-Friday. Also, please feel welcome to discuss your needs with me.
Teaching and Learning Center
Have trouble with formulating an essay, or breaking down what is expected in writing assignments?
Want one on one faculty tutoring for any of your assignments? It’s free! Go here:
http://www.foothill.edu/tlc/ , or contact the Director, Katie Ha at hakatie@foothill.edu
Attendance/Participation/Absence
Attendance and Grades:
To succeed in this class, especially if you are going for that “A”, attendance is important!:) Regardless
of circumstance, if you miss more than three classes, your overall grade will be lowered by 2/3 (i.e.
from a “B+“ to a “B-”). Repeated lateness will also incur grade reductions: If you are late 3 times,
your grade will be lowered by 1/3 (i.e. from an “A” to an “A-“). If you are tardy an additional three
times, another third will be knocked off your overall grade (i.e. that “A-“is now a “B+”).
Participation and Grades:
Full participation points at the end of the quarter means staying engaged in the class throughout each
class period
How to lose participation points Non-class related phone/electronics use, working on other class
assignments, or participating in other activities that disrupt the classroom learning environment.
*If you do plan to miss a class, please make arrangements with fellow students to obtain lecture
notes/assignments. You are responsible for class material missed due to your absence.
Getting to know 1 or 2 of your fellow students is a great way to get caught up on notes/class
announcements if you miss a class:
Sandford Responses Policy:
Sandford Responses are due on their respective due dates in class. Late Responses will be docked
significant points.
Primate Project Policy*
Please see handouts for additional details. The Primate Projects are due on their respective due dates
in class. Late projects will be docked significant points.
*Please be advised that projects will not be accepted through e-mail. Projects submitted after the
start of our Final Exam will not be considered for credit.
Midterm and Final Policy:
The entire class will be dedicated to these exams on their respective dates. Midterm make-ups are
not permitted, except for dire emergencies… These must be arranged with me personally and may
only be scheduled during Office Hours up to 1 week after the original exam date. There are no
make-ups for the Final.
Academic Honesty: College policy on cheating and plagiarism will be enforced. Cheating in any
form will not be tolerated. If cheating is identified the student will receive no credit for that
particular assignment, and will be reported to the Dean of Students.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
Being on Time: It is expected in college that you will arrive on time to class sessions. Late comers
will slip in quietly and sit next to the door. Please note that often traffic is slow coming into campus make
sure you are here on time. Please turn off your cell phones during class, do not work on other assignments,
and keep conversations relevant to class discussions. WHY THESE POLICIES? Disruption in classes
prevents good teaching and learning.
COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE
Date
T Jan 6
In-Class
Course Overview & Introduction
Homework
Get books
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
Th Jan 8
T Jan 13
Get your books darn it!
Primate Project and Sandford Project
Overview
Read: Jurmain Ch. 1,
Sandford Ch. 1
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
cont.
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
cont.
Read: Jurmain Ch. 2,
Sandford Ch. 2, 3
Film: What Darwin Never Knew
(Nova)
The Development of Evolutionary
Theory
Th Jan 15
The Development of Evolutionary
Theory
Read: Jurmain Ch. 3,
Sandford Ch. 4, 5
T Jan 20
Cells, DNA, and Genes
Read: Jurmain Ch. 4,
Sandford Ch. 6, 7
Th Jan 22
Heredity
Read: Jurmain Ch. 5,
Sandford Ch. 8, 9
“Science Now” epigenetics
overview
T Jan 27
Macroevolution
Sandford Responses, Part 1 Due
Th Jan 29
Primates
Film: Among the Wild Chimpanzees
T Feb 3
Th Feb 5
Read: Jurmain Ch. 6,
Sandford Ch. 10, 11
Read: Jurmain Ch. 7,
Sandford Ch. 12, 13, 14
Primates
Film: Ape Genius (if time)
Prepare for Midterm Review
Midterm Review
Study for Midterm. Buy a
Green Scantron from the
Bookstore (skinny, 50
questions each side).
Primate Project, Part 1 Due
T Feb 10
MIDTERM (Bring a Green
Scantron)
Th Feb 12
Activity
Film: Becoming Human Part 1
T Feb 17
Early Primates and Hominins
Th Feb 19
Film: Becoming Human Part 2
T Feb 24
Pre-modern humans -- Homo erectus
and Contemporaries
Th Feb 26
Film: Becoming Human Part 3
T Mar 3
Pre-modern humans -- Neanderthals
and Homo heidelbergensis
Finalize Primate Project Part
1
Read: Jurmain Ch. 8,
Sandford Ch. 15, 16
Read: Jurmain Ch. 9,
Sandford Ch. 17
Read: Jurmain Ch. 10,
Sandford Ch. 18
Read: Jurmain Ch. 11,
Sandford Ch. 19
Finalize Primate Project Part
2
Th Mar 5
Early modern humans – Homo sapiens
(us)
Read: Jurmain Ch. 12,
Sandford Ch. 20, 22
Primate Project, Part 2 Due
T Mar 10
Film: What Makes Us Human?
Read: Jurmain Ch. 13,
Sandford Ch. 21
Th Mar 12
Human Variation and Adaptation
Read: Jurmain Ch. 14,
Sandford Ch. 23
T Mar 17
The Human Life Course
Prepare for Final Jeopardy!
Lessons from the Past, Lessons for the
Future
Th Mar 19
Th March 26th
Review Game: Final Jeopardy!
Sandford Responses, Part 2 Due
Study for Final. Buy a Green
Scantron from the Bookstore
(skinny, 50 questions each
side).
FINAL (Bring a Green Scantron)
Sleep
7:30-9:30am
This is a roadmap, not the actual journey. Be prepared for a deviance of the course here and
there.