34796 ANT 153 TR 4:00pm -5:55pm
Physical Anthropology is the study of humans from a biological perspective: genetics, comparative behavior of human and nonhuman primates, human growth and development, the concept of race and racial variation, fossil evidence concerning human evolution. (Satisfies non-lab natural science requirement.)
Goal: To better understand the richness of human diversity throughout the world and through time. Through readings, lectures, film and discussion the variations, differences and similarities over time and within and between primate species will be explored.
Textbooks:
-Physical Anthropology by Stein and Rowe (S&R)
-Annuals of Physical Anthropology (Annuals)
Course Requirements:
-Attendance: 1. Two Field trips one to the Detroit Zoo and the other to the Paleontology Museum in Ann Arbor
a. testable material not in text will be given during lecture. If you cannot make it to class it is your responsibility to get the notes.
b. there are 11 quizzes given, only ten will count. You can only make up two quizzes (documented emergencies are exceptions) you do the math!
2. Punctuality: Is common courtesy not only to me but also to your fellow students. The first ten minutes of class is an open question/seminar segment of class. Quizzes are given in the first 20 minutes of class – Don’t disturb those already in attendance and taking the quiz. Please wait outside the door until they are finished.
3. Decorum: act like responsible adults. Cell phones OFF; conversations in class should be pertinent to the material.
12 quizzes (cumulative)- 10 points each (drop the lowest one)
Report (3-5 pages for a museum or zoo trip) I have forms for these
Report due by April 06 (20 pts)
Midterm and Final 40 pts each
-
Grades You can accumulate up to 200 points (without extra credit added to it)
A - 183-200; B - 162-182; C - 140 to 161; D - 120 to 139; E - 119 and below
Academic Grades
The following is the Wayne County Community College District’s grading system:
Grade
Points
Description/Explanation
A
4.0
Excellent
B
3.0
Above Average
C
2.0
Average
D
1.0
Below Average
E
0.0
Failure to complete course requirements satisfactorily
Academic grades are “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, and “E”. Pluses and minuses are not given with the grades.
Incomplete Grade
An instructor may give an “I” or “Incomplete” grade for a student during the final two weeks of the semester when the student cannot complete the course requirements because of emergency circumstances. Emergency circumstances are considered situations beyond the control of the student. The criteria to give an “I” grade are as follows:
1). The student must be passing the course.
2). The student must have to complete a contract which is mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor.
3). The student must have a true emergency, such as emergency surgery.
The instructor and the student complete the “I” form contract and discuss the conditions of the contract. The student must agree to the conditions of the contract and must sign the contract. The instructor signs the contract, enters the grade into the Banner System final grade module and turns in a copy of the contract at final checkout.
District policy requires all students who earn an incomplete “I” grade to complete that contract by the end of two consecutive regular semesters after the term in which the “I” grade was given. The student is charged with the responsibility of completing the contract requirements through the instructor who issued the “I” grade. In the event the student is unable to contact the instructor, the student must immediately contact the appropriate campus academic administrator for instructions. Failure to complete the course requirements within the two regular consecutive semester time limit shall result in a grade of “E” replacing the “I” grade. Students should not register a second time for a course in which they have received an outstanding “I” grade.
“W” Grades
WI
Institutional Withdrawal
For failure to attend any class during the first four (4) weeks of the semester.
W
Withdrawal
Withdrawal by the student during the first half of the semester. (8th week)
WP
Withdrawal Passing
Withdrawal by the student doing passing work. This withdrawal occurs between the ninth (9th) week and the twelfth (12th) week of classes. The add/drop form must be signed by the instructor.
WF
Withdrawal Failing
Withdrawal by the student doing failing work between the ninth (9th) week and the twelfth (12th) week of classes. The add/drop form must be signed by the instructor.
XN
Non-payment
Suppresses grade due to non-payment.
XW
Walk-away
Attended at least one class during the first third of the semester and failed to withdraw during the remaining two-thirds of the semester.
Note:
While neither grades WI, W, WP, nor WF are calculated as part of the official grade point average, they are counted in determining satisfactory academic progress for students receiving financial aid and their continuing aid eligibility.
Academic Honesty
The expectations at WCCCD are that principles of truth and honesty will be practiced in all academic matters. Therefore, acts of academic dishonesty, including such activities as plagiarism or cheating are regarded by the college as very serious offenses. In the event that cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty on the part of students are discovered, each incident will be handled on an individual basis as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
Change of Grades
There is a process by which faculty can change grades. Grades are assigned based upon the faculty member’s assessment of student performance in achieving the competencies identified for the course. In cases where a clerical error was made in recording grades from the instructor’s records to the District records, a change of grade can be initiated by the faculty member. Or, if a mistake in calculation caused a faculty member to assign a grade inconsistent with performance at the time grades were due, the change of grade process is the mechanism by which the District record can be altered (within 90 days) to reflect the instructor’s valid assessment.
While a student can request that the instructor review with him or her, the basis upon which a grade is awarded, the student should be made to understand that performance in meeting course objectives as judged by the faculty is, in the final analysis, the basis upon which the grade is awarded. To the extent that effort, hard work, and improvement contribute to performance of competencies, those attributes are reinforced through grades as well. However, students at times need to be gently reminded that effort, improvement, and working hard does not, in and of itself, merit an “A” grade in a course.
Similarly, the student also needs to understand that the pressure of his/her non-academic commitments (i.e., family, jobs, social, community, etc.) does not constitute a valid reason for the instructor to have lower expectations of some students than of others. At times, students try to do too much and, therefore, cannot devote the time to academics that is required. Those students may benefit from assistance in planning their academic schedules so as to meet educational goals while fulfilling personal commitments.
Learning Center
The Learning Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, assists students with regularly scheduled tutoring appointments. Many other students are assisted on a drop-in basis. The LC gives presentations to classes upon requests and welcomes instructors to accompany their students to the lab to familiarize them with the location and services. Tutoring is offered for all courses subject to the availability of tutors.
ACCESS
The ACCESS program provides supportive services and academic assistance to students enrolled in vocational, technical and occupational programs and who are handicapped, academically or economically disadvantaged or who have limited English proficiency.
Such services include educational, career and personal counseling, interpreters, note takers, readers, tutors, mobility assistance and referral services. Special equipment such as tape recorders, computers, and telecommunication devices for the deaf and closed-circuit televisions are available to support students with special needs.
Downriver
734-374-3206
Downtown
313-496-2708
Eastern
313-579-6923
Northwest
313-943-4073
Western
734-374-3206
Note!
It is the policy of the Wayne County Community College District that the responsibility for dropping a class belongs to the student. Please pay attention to the drop dates and policies in the academic schedule.
Tentative Assignment and reading schedule
Readings
Week 1- - -Jan.21 Chapter 1 S & R
Introduction to the Scientific Method Ch 1, 2 Annuals
Four Fields of Anthropology
Subdisciplines of Physical Anthropology
History of Scientific Thought
Week 2 – Jan 28
Heredity pp 30-39 S&R
Population Genetics pp 80-99 S&R
12 Annuals
Week 3 – Feb 4
Genetics - Modern Human, pp 40-99 S&R
3, 4 Annuals
-Week 4 Feb 11 ch 5 & 6 S & R
Evolution and The Theory 33 Annuals
- Week 5 Feb 18 ch 7 & 9 S & R
Monkeys and other hairy creatures 5, 18 Annuals
- Week 6 Feb 25 pp 184 - 210 S & R
Comparative anatomy 25 Annuals
- Week 7 March 4 ch 11 S & R
Fossils, their interpretations and geologic time 23 Annuals
- Week 8 March 11 ch13 S & R
The early hominids
- Week 9 March 18
-– MIDTERM EXAM ch 14 S & R
Genus Homo 27, 35 Annuals
- Week 10 March 25 ch 15 S & R
Evolution of modern humans 34 Annuals
- Week 11 April 1 S & R
Human Adaptation, Acclimation &
- Week 12 April 8
- Growth and Development of the 39 Annuals
Human Body, Secular Trends and
Socioeconomic Status (SES)
- Week 13 April 22 ch 17 S & R
Human Variation, Clinal Variation, 37, 38 Annuals
Cultural Variation and Classification
- Week 14 April 29 ch 12 S & R
41 Annuals
- May 6 Last Day of Class FINAL EXAM