Physical Anthropology Instructor: Jim Snoke
Spring Semester, 2007
Weekly Reading Assignments and Lecture Topics
1. Week 1 – Course
Introduction
a. Chapter 1 –
Introduction to Anthropology, scientific method, criteria for scientific
judgments, terms and concepts. Handouts
include Criteria for Scientific Judgments – available on www.southwestpotters.com. Quiz 1 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
2. Week 2 – The
Development of Evolutionary Theory . Terms and concepts associated with the
history of the development of geology and human biology leading to the concept
of evolution by natural selection. Chapter 2 in the text.
Quiz 2 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
3. Week 3 – The
Biological Basis of Life. Terms and
concepts associated with DNA, RNA, Cell biology, Meiosis and Mitosis. Chapter 3 in the text. Quiz 2 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
4. Week 4 and 5 –
Heredity, Evolution, Human Variation, and Environmental Adaptation. Terms and concepts associated with population
genetics in human and non-human populations world-wide. Chapters 4 and 12 in the
text. Handouts
on
5. Week 6 an 7 –
Overview of the Living Primates. Terms
and concepts associated with biological taxonomy and the Order of
Primates. Chapter 5 in
the text. Quiz 5 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
6. Week 8 -- Primate
Behavior. Overview of non-human primate
behavior patterns across species and habitat lines. Chapter 6 in the text. Field Trip to the
Sacramento Zoo for primate observation.
Quiz 6 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
7. Week 9 – Processes
of Macroevolution and Primate Evolutionary History. Terms and concepts associated with vertebrate
evolutionary history and classification, the geologic time scale, and
comparisons of phyletic gradualism vs. punctuated equilibrium theories. Chapter 7 in the text. Quiz 7 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
8: Week 10 – Review
of Terms and Concepts to date and preparation for the midterm.
9. Week 10 – Midterm
Examination and Discussion. Take-home
essays and online review quiz.
10. Week 11 – Origins
of the Hominids – Taxa associated with early hominid evolution. Australopithecines and
early Homo. Chapter
8 in the text. Quiz 8 available
on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
11. Week 12 – Homo
erectus forms, their origins and development.
Chapter 9 in the text. Quiz 9 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
12. Week 13 – Homo
sapiens sapiens, their origins, development, and
culture. Chapter 11 in
the text. Quiz 10 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
13. Week 14 and 15 –
Human growth and development, human cultural expansion, somatic changes through
time. 7 major somatic changes in human
and non-human primates, conjunction of neurological pathways enabling
articulate speech, cultural diversity. Chapter 13 in the text.
Quiz 11 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
14. Week 16 – Lessons
from the past in geologic and cultural history.
Terms and concepts associated with population expansion and the future
of our and other species. Chapter 14 in the text.
Quiz 12 available on http://blackboard.losrios.edu.
15. Week 17 – Review
of terms and concepts since the midterm and comprehensive review of course in
preparation for the final examination.
16. Week 18 – Final
examination in two parts.