Los Angeles Harbor College
Anthropology 101
Human Biological Evolution
Dr. Sasha David
davidae@lahc.edu
Section 0716: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2:25 PM
Office Hours: Mondays 11-3 PM and Thursdays 3-5 PM @ NEA 157
Office Phone: (310) 233-4577
Course Description: Introduction to the anthropological study of human evolution. Topics include
the mechanisms of evolutionary change, genetics, human variation, and the reconstruction of human
evolutionary history through an examination of the fossil record and through the use of comparative
studies of our closest biological relatives, the living monkeys and apes.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe the evolutionary lineage that led to Homo sapiens, using the following species as
points of reference: Australopiths, Homo erectus, Homo ergaster, Homo heidelbergensis, and Homo
neandertalensis.
Describe the anatomical traits necessary for bipedalism and explain the significance of the
Laetoli footprints.
Describe Darwin’s theory of natural selection and elaborate upon the scientific influences
that shaped this theory.
Describe why race is both an unsound scientific category, and a valid category of social
experience. Describe scientifically sound factors that cause human variation.
Apply the Punnett Square methodology in order to predict genetic outcomes.
Describe the traits that make primates unique among Class Mammalia and the differences
that distinguish between anthropoids and prosimians.
Assigned readings for the course:
Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Origins (2nd ed.). New York: Norton. (ISBN-10: 0393934985.)
***
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COURSE POLICIES:
Academic Honesty/Plagiarism Statement: All students are expected to adhere to the Los Angeles
Harbor College standards of academic honesty. These standards forbid plagiarism, unlawful copying
and, or, failure to give credit to sources that you may use in the research and writing of your class
work. Cheating and other forms of misconduct are covered under this statement. Failure to comply
with these standards will result in a failed assignment and, or, a failed grade in this class.
In other words, plagiarism is when you copy something straight out of a book, or cut and
paste from a webpage, and only change a few words here and there, without putting quotes around
it, and then put it in your paper, without acknowledging that it’s someone else’s work. Another way
to define plagiarism is that it occurs any time that you try to take credit for something you did not
write. Any paper that does this will receive a 0 and could result in you failing the class.
Also, every paper that you turn in to me, unless otherwise noted, is an individual assignment;
it is NOT group work. Therefore, if your paper is the same or similar to another student’s paper, it
will be considered plagiarism and you will receive the penalties stated above.
Controversial Content Statement: This course includes discussions of a frank and coarse nature
regarding particular subjects including race, religion and sexual orientation protected by the college’s
academic freedom statutes that may be considered offensive and controversial to some. When such
topics may arise during the course of this semester and a student wishes to be excused, please notify
the instructor that you wish to be excluded from class discussion on the ground that it is personally
offensive and the instructor will excuse you until such discussion has concluded.
Cell phone policy: If your cell phone goes off during class or if I see it in your hand, I will keep it for
the rest of the class period. If you leave class to answer a phone call or to make a phone call, you
may not come back and you will lose your attendance/participation point for the day. Cell phones
may not be on the desk, in your hand or in any way visible while class is in session—including
during testing.
Disruptive behavior: Students who engage in behavior that is disruptive to the learning environment
will receive a “0” for their attendance/participation score for the day and they will be asked to leave
the classroom and not return until the following class meeting. (“Disruptive behavior” is defined as
interacting with one’s neighbor at an inappropriate time, sleeping, using the Internet, or otherwise
disturbing the learning environment.) Repeated instances of disruptive behavior may lead to a failed
grade or withdrawal from the class.
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Lateness, Leaving Early, or Missing Class: You must be present when attendance is called, as a
minimum requirement for receiving your attendance and participation point for the class. If you
know that it will be difficult for you to arrive on time for this class, you should enroll in another
section.
However, on certain occasions Dr. David will grant partial credit to students who are late. It
is your responsibility to see Dr. David after class so that you may explain your case and possibly
receive partial credit for your attendance/participation score for that day. If you do arrive late at
class, please enter through the door at the back of the room. (It is extremely disruptive when
students arrive late and enter through the front door.)
If a student leaves early without the professor’s prior permission, attendance will be recalled
and the attendance points for the class will be adjusted accordingly.
Absences due to illness (accompanied by a doctor’s note) and court appearances will be
excused. If you do not have health insurance or you are unable to schedule an appointment with
your doctor when you are sick, you can ask a pharmacist at a drug store to write a note for you and I
will accept this in lieu of a doctor’s note. Absences due to illness that are unaccompanied by a
medical professional’s note will not be excused. I will not accept sick notes from your family
members.
I will excuse one work-related absence per semester, whether this is due to a job interview or
your work schedule. I will need you to present a note from your supervisor or proof of your job
interview. These notes must clearly indicate the time and date of your work obligation.
Disability Statement: Students with a verified disability who may need authorized accommodation(s)
for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and the Office of Special Services or Disabled
Students as soon as possible, at least two weeks before any exam or quiz. All information will
remain confidential.
Assignment Format and Submission: All assignments for this course must be typed in 12-point
Times New Roman font, double spaced, and formatted using the default formatting standards in
Microsoft Word. Assignments will NOT be accepted via email. If your printer is not working, print
your paper at the library or at Fedex Office. I will not accept a broken printer as an excuse for your
late paper. All work must be turned in at class on the day it is due, in hard copy (paper) format, and
STAPLED. NO EXCEPTIONS. If you have an excused absence, turn in your paper on the day
that you return along with your excused absence note.
Due Date Policy: All exams/assignments/presentations are due on the specified day in the course
syllabus. NO late exams/assignments/presentations will be accepted.
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SOME WORDS OF ADVICE:
Turn in Your Homework: If you do not turn in any homework this semester, you will likely fail the
class or receive a D, even if you have perfect attendance.
Hearing From Dr. David: All emails that I send to you—and there may be quite a few—will only go
to your LACCD email account, so make sure you have it up and running ASAP!
Something I Never Want to Hear: “This class really means a lot to me, so accept my late papers and
excuse my absences.” If you want to do well in this class, turn in your papers on time and come to
class. It’s that simple! I do not “negotiate” grades. Your grade is what you earned.
Start Keeping a Calendar: If you don’t have one already, use a calendar (whether it’s a desk or wall
calendar, or an app on your phone) and keep all your assignment due dates marked in it. I am not
going to remind you when things are due!
Financial aid students: Please be aware that you will likely not receive your aid until several weeks
into the semester, but I will not accept late papers for this reason. Find someone in the class today
who can share their book with you until your financial aid arrives.
Students who do not receive financial aid: Please be willing to help out the students who ask to
borrow your book.
Also: If the bookstore runs out of textbooks, please notify me immediately so that I can give the
appropriate extensions for your paper due dates.
***
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING FOR THE COURSE:
Attendance and participation: You will receive one point per class that you attend. In order to receive
this point, you must come to class on time, be present when I call your name, and not leave early.
NO EXCEPTIONS. (25% of final grade)
Unannounced (“Pop”) Quizzes: On certain days, Dr. David will give unannounced quizzes on the
subject matter that has been covered in class that day. If you do not pass the quiz, you will receive a
0 for your attendance/participation point for that day.
Written summaries of assigned readings: The written summaries that you turn in for this class pertain to
both of the assigned textbooks. You will be expected to write one page of summary per assigned
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chapter. Due dates for these papers, and the particular chapters they will cover, are listed below.
On the day that these papers are due, we will conduct “Peer Review.” This will consist of your
classmates reviewing your work in terms of grammar and content. (25% of final grade)
Midterm and Final Exams: The midterm and final exam are multiple choice tests. The midterm will
cover the lectures (ONLY the lectures – not the textbook reading) up to and including Primate
Behavior. The final exam will be cumulative, and will also ONLY cover the lectures.
Please note that between the lectures and the textbook reading, there may be some
differences in the course material. Physical anthropology is a dynamic, rapidly changing discipline,
so you may find that the material from the lectures is slightly different from the textbook. For the
exams, ONLY study your notes from the lectures.
Please bring a Scantron and a pencil on the days of the exams. (Each exam is worth 25% of final
grade)
Calculation of final grades: This class will use the traditional numerical values for each letter grade. (A =
90%-100%; B = 80%-89%; C = 70%-79%; D = 60%-69%; F = 59% or lower.)
***
Lecture and Reading Schedule:
Tuesday 2/11

Syllabus Review
Thursday 2/13

Introduction
Tuesday 2/18

Introduction
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Thursday 2/20


Summary Paper Due: Chapters 2 & 3
Peer Review
Tuesday 2/25

Genetics
Thursday 2/27

Summary Paper Due: Chapter 4
Peer Review
Tuesday 3/4

Mendel
Thursday 3/6


Summary Paper Due: Chapters 8 & 9
Peer Review
Tuesday 3/11

Macroevolution
Thursday 3/13


Summary Paper Due: Chapter 6
Peer Review
Tuesday 3/18

The Primate Order
Thursday 3/20

Computer Lab Work
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Tuesday 3/25


Summary Paper Due: Chapter 7
Peer Review
Thursday 3/27

Primate Behavior
Tuesday 4/1

Midterm Review
Thursday 4/3

Midterm Exam
Tuesday 4/15

Computer Lab Work
Thursday 4/17


Summary Paper Due: Chapter 10
Peer Review
Tuesday 4/22

Australopiths
Thursday 4/24


Summary Paper Due: Chapter 11
Peer Review
Tuesday 4/29

Homo erectus
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Thursday 5/1


Summary Paper Due: Chapter 12
Peer Review
Tuesday 5/6

Homo heidelbergensis and Neandertals
Thursday 5/8


Summary Paper Due: Chapter 13
Peer Review
Tuesday 5/13

Early Homo sapiens
Thursday 5/15


Summary Paper Due: Chapter 5
Peer Review
Tuesday 5/20

Race and Human Variation
Thursday 5/22

Final Exam Review
Thursday 5/29

Final Exam Review
Thursday 6/5

Final Exam 1-3 PM
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