ANTHROPOLOGY 201.1: INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
SPRING 2008
Instructor: Dr. Karin E. Jaffe
Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the scientific study of human origins. We will approach this objective by 1) learning how evolution by natural selection operates, 2) learning about the behavior of our closest living relatives, the primates, and 3) tracing the path of human evolution by looking at the fossil evidence for the evolution of Homo . Our purpose in this class is to look at and evaluate the scientific evidence upon which the evolutionary interpretation is based. This course fulfills the General Education Requirement, Area B3. Please go to http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/ap/generaleducation.shtml for more information on the Mission, Goals and Objectives of General Education at SSU.
University Policies: There are important University policies that you should be aware of, such as the add/drop policy, cheating and plagiarism policy, grade appeal procedures, accommodations for students with disabilities, and the diversity vision statement. These and other policies can be found at: http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/ . To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact the disabled student services office ((707) 664-2677 (voice), and (707) 664-2958 (TDD for hearing and voice impaired)). If you have a letter from their office indicating that you have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to me so we can discuss the accommodations that you might need in this class. If you are a student with a disability and you think you may require assistance evacuating in the event of a disaster, please inform me about the type of assistance you may require.
Please note: I will hold all unclaimed assignments in my office until the end of Fall semester, 2008, at which time they will be shredded.
Student Athletes: Please check your competition schedule at the beginning of the semester. If there is a conflict (or a potential conflict) between a sanctioned sports competition and class, you must notify the instructor, in person, during the first two weeks of class to make alternative arrangements. Later notifications may not be accomodated.
Email and Phone Number: karin.jaffe@sonoma.edu; (707) 664-2944
Office and Office Hours: Mondays 11:00-12:30pm, Wednesdays 10:00-11:30am, and by appointment in Stevenson 2054G
Lectures: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45-12:00 in Stevenon 3008
Required Text:
Available at the SSU bookstore:
Jurmain, R., Kilgore, L., Trevathan, W., and Nelson, H. (2008) Introduction to Physical Anthropology. 11th Edition. Thomson-Wadsworth, Belmont, CA.
What I expect of you:
• That you will be on time to class.
• That you will wait to pack up your books and notes until after I have finished lecturing.
• That you are respectful of other students in the class as well as the instructor.
• That you turn off your cell phone before lecture begins.
• That you will ask questions if you don't understand the material.
What you can expect of me:
• That I will be respectful of you and your time by starting and ending class on time.
• That I will create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning.
• That I will return all assignments within a timely manner (usually within 1 week).
• That I will do my best to make this course interesting and informative!
Grade Break-down:
Grades will be calculated out of the top score achieved rather than the total number of points possible.
90 to 100% A
80 to 89.9% B
70 to 79.9% C
60 to 69.9% D
Below 60% F
Final grades will be broken down into "plus" and "minus".
The mean for the course and all assignments will be 75%. This means that if the actual mean for an assignment is less than 75%, I will adjust (i.e., curve) all scores to achieve a mean of 75%. If the mean for any assignment is higher than 75%, no adjustment will take place.
Exams and Assignments:
Grades will be based on your performance in the following areas (300 points total):
1. Three exams (each worth 50 points), 150 points
2. Four homework assignments (each worth 20 points), 80 points
3. Three in-class exercises (each worth 10 points), 30 points
4. One zoo assignment, 40 points
EXPLANATION OF COURSE GRADING
Exams:
There will be three in-class exams consisting of matching, true/false, multiple choice, fill-in, short-answer, and definitions. The exams will have a scantron and a written portion. Please bring a blank 100 question blue scantron test (available at the SSU Bookstore) to each exam. The first exam is on March 4 and will cover material from January 29 to Febrary 28. The second exam is on April 8 and will cover material from March 6 to April 3. The third exam is on May 20 and will cover material from April 10 to May 15. Please make note of the dates and times of the exams. There will be no alternative exam times. If you miss an exam, you may replace the zero you receive by taking the make-up exam, which will be given during the second half of the final exam period (May 20, 12:00-12:50pm). This exam will be cumulative. If you have taken all three exams during the semester, you may choose to take the cumulative make-up exam, and your three highest exam scores will be counted (i.e., your lowest score will be dropped).
Homework Assignments:
There will be four homework assignments throughout the course of the semester. You may use your notes and the textbook, and may work on the assignments with other students, but everyone must turn in their own assignment. All homework assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day they are due (before lecture begins) and must be stapled to receive full credit. 10% of your total points for the assignment will be deducted each late day, beginning at the end of class the day the assignments are due.
In-class Assignments:
There are also four in-class exercises, but only your three highest in-class assignment scores will be counted toward your final course grade. You cannot get full credit for an in-class assignment without bringing a typed version of the assignment to class. As these are in class assignments, you will not get credit for an assignment if you do not turn it in at the end of class on the day it is due.
Zoo Assignment:
In addition to the homework assignments, you are required to complete one 'zoo' assignment. This assignment entails observing one primate species in a captive setting (e.g., San Francisco Zoo, Oakland Zoo, or other zoo of your choice). Specific instructions are available on the course website.
Re-grades:
You may request a re-grade on any assignment, as long as the assignment was written in pen, but the request must be made in writing within 1 week of the assignment being handed back in class. Requests must be typed and include a detailed description of why a re-grade is warranted . The exception is a miscalculation of points. If you find that the instructor has added up your points incorrectly, please notify the instructor as soon as possible. Please be sure to hold on to all graded and returned assignments in case I make a mistake posting your scores. I will only be able to make corrections to the roster if you can produce the graded assignment.
Syllabus modifications:
The instructor reserves the right to modify anything in the syllabus during the course of the semester, with prior warning via an in-class and website announcements. Students are responsible for being apprised of any such modifications and for recording such modifications on their syllabi.
Lastly, please come see me if you are having difficulties with the course, want to talk about biological anthropology, or anything else. That's what I'm here for!
FINAL COURSE GRADES FOR SPRING 2008 are now available!!! You can check your grade in the class by clicking HERE. Please contact the instructor if you have questions about your grade.
Return to Dr. Jaffe's Homepage at the Department of Anthropology at Sonoma State University