Introduction

Our understanding of the origin of our species is limited by the availability of empirical evidence. This evidence can be broken into two general categories: evidence from the living world (including primate studies, comparative anatomy, and evolutionary genetics) and evidence from the past. Our present knowledge of genetics does not provide a means to recreate the morphology of our ancestors or their environment. Thus, their rare fossil remains and their paleoenvironment form the basis for understanding the course of our evolution after our lineage’s divergence from the chimpanzee lineage. These remains are limited to those preserved and later presented via geological processes. This class provides an overview of the human fossil record. Be forewarned- this class is probably the most difficult of the biological anthropology group. You will be expected to perform in order to receive a passing grade.

Reading

Conroy. Reconstructing Human Origins, second edition. Use the text as a reference to better understand the lectures. Where there is a discrepancy, follow the lecture, not the book.

There will be considerable additional reading assigned and numerous handouts given out. See schedule (right column) for each week's reading

Also, the course will employ the cast collection of UC Berkeley’s Human Evolution Research Center as a teaching and learning resource. This collection is available at the following website:
http://middleawash.berkeley.edu/HERC_specimen_db/main_query.php

Midterm exams and participation

There will be a midterm and a final exam. Each will be a combination of short-answer, multiple choice, and short essay questions. You are expected to come to class prepared and to have read assigned material BEFORE class. You will be evaluated on your effective participation in class discussions. Role will be taken on random days in class. Any material from the reading, lecture, or handouts may appear on tests, so come to every class.

Term paper. Follow instructions EXACTLY for full credit.

IMPORTANT!! FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE TERM PAPER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID REASON FOR ASSIGNING AN INCOMPLETE IN THE COURSE. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE THE TERM PAPER YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.

•The term paper will be divided into multiple components that are individually graded: ideas; outline and reference list; rough draft; and the final draft. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS A DOCTOR’S NOTE IS PROVIDED.

• There must be continuity in the assignments. In other words, unless I give specific approval in person (only in office hours), YOU MAY NOT CHANGE THE TOPIC AFTER THE IDEAS ARE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED. Unapproved topics will receive a zero.

• Spelling and grammar count. In the final draft, each spelling or grammar error will result in the loss of ONE PERCENTAGE POINT. This is serious, and can easily result in an F on the term paper. RUN A SPELL CHECK AND GRAMMAR CHECK.

References:
• You must include at least 5 references to peer-reviewed journals or scholarly books that date to 1999 or later. Web sites are allowed as citations, but do not count as the 5 required references. Each missing citation will result in the loss of points.
• Your in-text citations and reference list MUST follow the Chicago Manual of Style. It must include in-text citations ([T] in the Chicago Manual of Style) and a reference list at the END OF THE PAPER ([R] in the Chicago Manual of Style). DO NOT USE FOOTNOTES. Deviations from this style can result in the loss of up to 1/3 of of the total grade.

Individual components (see schedule for due dates):
1 Ideas. The ideas assignment shall include at least 5 ideas. These must be accompanied by a copy of the first page of a peer reviewed journal article on a similar topic that dates to 1999 or later. You will present your ideas to the class verbally and receive input from your peers. I will decide on the spot what your topic will be or tell you that you must go back to the library. HINT: Do this in the library!
2 Outline and reference list. The outline assignment MUST follow MLA style. The reference list MUST follow the Chicago Manual of Style (see above). You MAY decided to change the references that you use without consultation as you prepare the rough draft and final draft, but you will need to include proper citations of at least 5 peer reviewed journal articles or scholarly books in the outline and reference list submission.
3 Rough draft. The rough draft MUST follow the topics of the outline you turned in. Failure to follow the outline will result in a ZERO grade. Spelling and grammar are not graded at this stage. You MUST include in-text citations in the rough draft. You MUST submit a reference list with the rough draft.
4 Final draft. The final draft of your report will be submitted through Turn-It-In. You will be instructed on how to do this in the week that the paper is due. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. ANY incidents of plagiarism will be reported to the Student Disciplinary Office and you will receive an F in the class.

Attendance and participation

Role will be taken on random days. Missed days will negatively affect your participation grade. Missed exams, quizzes, or assignment deadlines MUST BE CLEARED BEFOREHAND. If you get sick, YOU MUST SEND ME AN EMAIL BEFORE THE EXAM, AND YOU MUST BRING A NOTE FROM THE DOCTOR. No note, no makeup.

email

Email will generally be addressed during office hours. Email must relate to course material or academic advice. ALWAYS put "ANTH 1100" in the subject or send the mail via blackboard or I WILL NOT RESPOND. It may take me two or three days to respond. This is especially true on the days just before exams. Also, expect emails to be terse and pointed. Due to the high volume of emails I will answer questions in a rather mechanical way.

grading

GENRAL NOTE: BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, PRESENCE ALONE IN NOT ENOUGH TO PASS THE CLASS WITH A C. BE FOREWARNED THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS THIS COURSE WITHOUT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT. IT IS GRADED MORE STRINGENTLY THAT THE INTRO CLASSES I TEACH.

Attendance/participation: ~10%; Osteology Quiz 10%; Midterm: 20%; Term Paper: 25%; Final Exam: 35%

Grading will be based on a curve. The class average is set to a B-/C+. One standard deviation above this is an A-. One standard deviation below this is a C-. Be careful here... there tends to be a very bimodal distribution of grades. This means that the top 25% generally score much better than the average. THIS OFTEN MEANS THAT THAT THE MEDIAN SCORE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE AVERAGE.

Here is a table that you can use to figure out your grades (AVE=average score; StDEV=standard deviation):

A/A- cutoff AVE+StDEV+(0.3xStDEV)
A-/B+ cutoff AVE+StDEV
B+/B cutoff AVE+(.67*StDEV)
B/B- cutoff AVE+(.33*StDEV)
C+/B- cutoff AVE
C+/C cutoff AVE-(.33*StDEV)
C/C- cutoff AVE-(.67*StDEV)
C-/D cutoff AVE-StDEV
D/F cutoff AVE-(2*StDEV)

Quiz 1 grade breakdown (note that this is shifted toward lower grades... the grades will come up a bit when all is said and done.)

A/A- 10.2029100847024
A-/B+ 9.16601023885295
B+/B 8.02542040841858
B/B- 6.85026724978922
B-/C+ 5.70967741935484
C+/C 4.56908758892046
C/C- 3.3939344302911