Los Angeles Harbor College
Anthropology 101 Spring 2017
Human Biological Evolution
Dr. Sasha David
[email protected]
Section 0716: Tuesdays & Thursdays 8 – 9:25 AM
Office Hours: Mondays 1- 4 PM & by appointment
Office Phone and Location: (310) 233-4577; NEA 157
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.
Los Angeles Harbor College Mission Statement:
Los Angeles Harbor College promotes access and student success through associate and transfer
degrees, certificates, economic and workforce development, and basic skills instruction. Our
educational programs and support services meet the needs of diverse communities as measured by
campus institutional learning outcomes.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. 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.
2. Describe the anatomical traits necessary for bipedalism and explain the significance of the
Laetoli footprints.
3. Describe Darwin’s theory of natural selection and elaborate upon the scientific influences
that shaped this theory.
4. Describe why race is both an unsound scientific category, and a valid category of social
experience. Describe scientifically sound factors that cause human variation.
5. Apply the Punnett Square methodology in order to predict genetic outcomes.
6. Describe the traits that make primates unique among Class Mammalia and the differences
that distinguish between haplorhines and strepsirrhines.
Assigned readings for the course:
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Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Origins (3nd ed.). New York: Norton. ISBN: 978-0-393-92143-4.
[Please note – ONLY the third edition is acceptable for this class.]
***
COURSE WORK:
Lectures: Make sure to take thorough notes on each lecture for the course; this entails writing down
everything from the PowerPoint slides. Your performance on the pop quizzes and exams for the
class will depend on the quality of the notes that you take.
Pop Quizzes: On certain days, there will be a pop quiz at the end of lecture, to check to make sure
you were paying attention and taking good notes. The pop quiz will only cover that day’s lecture and
you will be allowed to use your notes. It will involve an in-class writing assignment. Any failed pop
quiz will result in 1 point deducted from your final grade for the course. If you come to class but do
not turn in the quiz, it will count as a failed pop quiz.
Reading Quizzes: These quizzes will assess your mastery of the material in the assigned textbook
reading. See below for Reading Quiz dates and the chapters they will cover. These quizzes consist
of five True/False questions. These quizzes are open-note; you are allowed to use the notes you
have taken on the reading (so make sure to take good notes!). Your notes can be handwritten on
paper or printouts of typed notes. If you are using printouts of typed notes, you must show them to
me for approval before the quiz begins, otherwise you will not be allowed to use them. Textbooks
must be put away during the quizzes.
Midterm and Final Exam: These exams only cover the lectures; they do not cover the textbook
reading for the course. The Midterm covers every lecture up to the date of the test. The Final Exam
is cumulative and covers every lecture throughout the course. There will be review sessions for each
exam in which you will receive a review sheet to help you study. Both of these exams are entirely
multiple choice.
***
GRADING FOR THE COURSE:
Reading Quizzes: Nine quizzes worth a total of 30% of your final grade total; each quiz is worth
3.33% of your final grade for the course.
Midterm Exam: Worth 35% of your final grade for the course.
Final Exam: Worth 35% of your final grade for the course.
Pop Quizzes: One point deducted from your final grade for the course for each failed quiz.
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Extra Credit: Ten points will be added to your final grade for the course based upon successful
completion of the course Service Learning. (For example, a final grade of 75/C will become 85/B
with the extra credit.) There will be no other extra credit offered for this course. Service
Learning is taught by Prof. Lori Minor and Prof. Megan Lange; you may enroll with either
instructor. I will distribute two handouts that give you further information about this course and
enrollment instructions.
If you have taken Service Learning during a previous semester, please give me a copy of your
unofficial transcript on or before the date of the final exam, so I can give you your extra credit for
the class. Make sure to let me know if you are enrolled in multiple sections of mine, so I can apply it
to all your sections.
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.)
***
COURSE POLICIES:
Attendance: Attendance is taken at the end of class using a sign-in sheet. Whenever a student’s
absences exceed the number of hours a class meets per week, the instructor will consider whether
there are mitigating circumstances which justify the absences. It is the student’s responsibility to
consult with his or her instructor regarding any absences that would alter the student’s status in the
class.
Latecomers: Always enter through the rear door to the classroom. Do not walk in through the front of the
class when instruction is occurring.
Drop Policy: After the first week of class, it is your responsibility to drop the class if you will no
longer be participating.
Test Taking Policy: You must be present at the very beginning of any quiz or exam in order to take
it. This pertains to all pop quizzes and reading quizzes, as well as the Midterm and Final Exam.
Make sure to bring an unwrinkled, 50-question per side Scantron form and pencil with you for every
reading quiz and the Midterm and Final Exam. You must take all quizzes and exams for the class
during the time that is specified for the section in which you are enrolled. You will not be permitted
to take any tests or exams during a class in which you are not enrolled.
Make-Up or Late Work: There will be no make-up quizzes or exams given for this class. You will
only be able to take the quizzes and exams for this class at the time that they are given in class; you
will not be able to take them earlier or later than the scheduled time and date. If you are sick, have
car trouble, cannot find a babysitter, have a doctor’s appointment, etc., you will NOT be given an
early or late make-up test. If you miss the test, you miss the test. THERE ARE NO
EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCE. Therefore it is wise
to do the Service Learning extra credit opportunity in case anything like this should come up for you
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during the semester. Remember, you must add Service Learning at the start of the semester. You
will not be able to add it later on.
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.
Controversial Content Statement: This course includes visual presentations and discussions of a
frank 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 and laptop policy: The use of cell phones and laptops is strictly prohibited during class.
All electronic items, including cell phones and laptops, must be put away at all times. I will
confiscate any cell phone or electronic item that is used during class; you may pick it up from me at
the end of class.
Disruptive behavior: Students who engage in behavior that is disruptive to the learning environment
will be asked to leave the classroom and not return until the following class meeting, which may
involve missing a quiz or test that cannot be made up, as per the policies stated above. Assigned
seats may also be given. “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.
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.
Also, please let me know if you are hard of hearing so I may accommodate you during
lectures and audiovisual presentations.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO ANY OF THE ABOVE POLICIES,
REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
***
SOME WORDS OF ADVICE:
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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. Also, there is a
good chance that the emails I send you will go to your spam/bulk/junk folder.
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 dates marked in it. I am not
going to remind you about the reading quiz or exam dates.
Financial aid students: Please be aware that you may not receive your aid until several weeks into the
semester. The textbooks are on reserve at the library from the beginning to the end of the
semester, so not having your textbook will not be accepted as a reason to take the reading quiz late.
***
CLASS SCHEDULE:
2/7
Syllabus Review
2/9
Introduction
2/14
Introduction
2/16
Reading Quiz #1: Chapters 1 & 2
Film: Dogs That Changed the World
2/21
Genetics
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2/23
Reading Quiz #2: Chapter 3
Genetics
2/28
Mendel
3/2
Reading Quiz #3: Chapter 4
Mendel
3/7
Macroevolution
3/9
Macroevolution
3/14
Film: Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees
3/16
The Primate Order
3/21
Reading Quiz #4: Chapter 6
The Primate Order
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3/23
Primate Behavior
3/28
Reading Quiz #5: Chapter 7
Primate Behavior
TED Talk: “Depressed Dogs, Cats with OCD – What Animal Madness Means for Us
Humans”
Distribute Midterm Review Sheets
4/11
phone
Midterm Review–Bring blank index cards with you or have Quizlet downloaded on your
4/13
Midterm Exam
4/18
Australopiths
4/20
Reading Quiz #6: Chapters 8 & 10
Australopiths
4/25
Homo erectus
4/27
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Reading Quiz #7: Chapter 11
Homo erectus
5/2
Homo heidelbergensis and Neandertals
5/4
Homo heidelbergensis and Neandertals
5/9
Early Humans
5/11
Reading Quiz #8: Chapter 12 & 13
Early Humans
5/16
Race and Human Variation
5/18
Reading Quiz #9: Chapter 5
Race and Human Variation
5/23
Final Exam Review–Bring blank index cards with you or have Quizlet downloaded on your
phone
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5/25
phone
Final Exam Review–Bring blank index cards with you or have Quizlet downloaded on your
5/30 @ 8 AM
Final Exam
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