Course Syllabus
Anthro 1, Biological Anthropology
Section 9135 - Course Syllabus
Course Description
The study of human evolution and humans as organisms, with an emphasis on a biocultural approach. This is an introductory, broad survey course that covers the history and modern synthesis of evolutionary theory; studies primate behavior and comparative anatomy; examines dating techniques and the fossil record; and critically assesses past and future human/environmental relationships including issues concerning future adaptation.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Class Meetings
This is an entirely asynchronous course; there are no required class meetings. However, I am happy to meet with students live, via Zoom or phone, and I encourage you to schedule a meeting with me! See the section below on "Instructor Contact" for details. I also encourage you to regularly interact with your classmates either on the discussion boards or on the Q&A Forum.
Instructor Contact
Dr. Maureece J. Levin
Email: mlevin@santarosa.edu
Phone: (707) 387-0176
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:15 PM - 4:15 PM on Zoom, or by appointment. Meetings are on a first come, first served basis. There is no prior appointment required during scheduled office hours, and if I'm meeting with another student, I'll have you wait in the waiting room.
I respond to emails with 24 hours Monday-Friday. If you send an email on Friday or over the weekend, I may not respond until Monday. If I don't write back within this time, assume I didn't get the email and try again
Course Web Site
Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.
Textbook
Our Origins: Discovering Biological Anthropology. 5th Edition. Author: Larsen. ISBN: 9780393680881.
For this course, you can choose between a bound book, loose leaf, or digital.
You can locate and order textbooks online via the SRJC Bookstore. Note that if you want to pick your books up in Petaluma, you need to order them from the Petaluma Bookstore website.
Required Software
You will need software that can open PDFs as well as word processing software for this course. Below are some free options.
Important Dates
Day Class Begins: June 14, 2021
Day Class Ends: July 25, 2021
Last Day to Add without instructor's approval: June 16, 2021
Last Day to Add with instructor's approval: June 22, 2021
Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: June 22, 2021
Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: June 26, 2021
Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: July 15, 2021
Dropping the Class
If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.
Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)
You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.
You must file for the P/NP option by June 26, 2021. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.
Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum
The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance of your classmates or of instructor.
Attendance
Students who do not log-in to an online class after the second day of the semester will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.
Late Policy
All assignments are due 11:59 PM on the due date. A late submission will receive a 10% penalty per day, including weekends. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless student sends instructor an email with URL for late work.
Exams
There will be one online midterm the week of June 28 and one online final the week of July 19. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. Both exams will be open book and timed. They will each be available for five days. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.
Weekly Assignments
There will be weekly assignments; these will be a combination of discussions, short writing assignments, and quizzes. Most assignments are due Sunday night at 11:59 PM. However, for class discussions, the first post is due Friday night at 11:59 PM and responses to classmates are due Sunday.
Grading Policy
I will grade your assignments within a week of the due date or submission date (whichever is later) and post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.
Grades will be assigned as follows:
Weekly Assignments and Participation: 50%
Midterm Exam: 25%
Final Exam: 25%
|
A |
90% |
|---|---|
|
B |
80% |
|
C |
70% |
|
D |
60% |
If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and to complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.
Standards of Conduct
Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.
Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity
Other Important Policies and Practices
Avoid Plagiarism Like the, er, Plague
Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.
The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.
Netiquette, or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?
Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:
- Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
- Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
- Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
- Cite all quotations, references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
- Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
- Use complete sentences and standard English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
- Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.
Special Needs
Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Diversity and Inclusion Statement (Modified from original by Dr. Monica Linden)
Both from a historical perspective and in contemporary studies, much of anthropology is built on a small set of privileged voices. In this class, we will strive to discuss the work of a diverse group of scholars, but limits still exist on this diversity. I acknowledge that, despite the scientific nature of most of the readings, there may be biases (both overt and covert) in the material due to the lens with which it was written. Thus, we will discuss issues on diversity in anthropology and archaeology on occasion. If you have suggestions on how to improve the quality of the course materials, please do not hesitate to contact me, or to submit anonymous feedback through the assigned portal on Canvas.
Furthermore, I would like to create a learning environment that supports a diversity of perspectives and experiences and honors your identity. To help accomplish this:
- Please let me know if you have a name and/or set of pronouns that are different from those appearing in your official college records.
- If you feel like your performance in class is being impact by your experiences outside of class, please do not hesitate to come and talk with me. I want to work with you to help make this class a productive learning experience.
- If something anyone said in class made you feel uncomfortable, please talk to me (you may also do so anonymously, through the Canvas website).
- As a participant in class discussion, please strive to respect the diversity of your classmates.
Class Schedule
| Week 1 (June 14) | Biological Anthropology and Evolution (Ch. 1 & 2) |
| Week 2 (June 21) |
Cell Biology, Genetics, and Evolution (Ch. 3 & 4) |
| Week 3 (June 28) | Modern Primates (Ch. 6 & 7) |
| Week 4 (July 6) |
The Fossil Record, Primates, and the Human Lineage (Ch. 8, 9, & 10) July 5 - Holiday, No Classes |
| Week 5 (July 12) | The genus Homo (Ch. 10, 11, & 12) |
| Week 6 (July 19) | Modern humans today (Ch. 5 & 13) |