ANTH 150 – Human Adaptation
                                 

                                  Kaua‘i Community College

Class Schedule:      (Not currently scheduled)

Class Credit Hours: 3.0
 

                                               Course Description
 

This class is an introduction to human adaptation and the evolution of culture. Adaptation, occurring through the process of evolution, has helped humans to survive while influencing developments in physical morphology, as well as in human behavior.  The class will begin focusing on the science of archaeology and archaeological evidence for cultural developments leading to the origins of civilization. The final portion of the class concentrates on anthropological studies of present-day peoples, with the goal of understanding the diversity of human cultures and current human adaptation.

                                  Intended Student Learning Outcomes

1) Learn basic concepts for analyzing cultural adaptation.

2) Develop an understanding and respect for cultures other than your own, limiting your own ethnocentrism.

3) Recognize cultural similarities and universals, in addition to cultural variation.

4) Improve critical thinking skills, and knowledge and use of scientific methods (research questions, variables, hypotheses, research instruments, sampling, etc.).

These outcomes will be demonstrated through class participation, discussion papers, a research essay, and exams.


                                                Required Text
Kottak, Conrad Phillip (2008) Anthropology: The Exploration of Human Diversity, 12th Edition Available at the College Bookstore (245-8273)

online: http://www.bookstore.hawaii.edu

                                Course Requirements and Evaluation

Participation and Attendance: Students are expected to be actively engaged in class; coming to class prepared, paying attention and contributing to discussions. Your grade depends in part on the quality of your involvement in class, which includes regular attendance, the ability to discuss concepts presented in lectures and texts and evidence you are keeping up with the reading. Participation will be worth 100 points (20%) of your total grade. Beyond three absences, two points will be deducted from your final grade for every class session you miss.

Readings: Students are expected to have read the assigned readings before coming to class on Tuesdays, and should be prepared to discuss the readings in class.

Discussion Papers: Students are expected to write 10 short discussion papers both summarizing (or comparing) parts of the reading that were interesting to the student and providing at least 2 questions or discussion points relating to the reading. Each discussion paper should be between 150 and 200 words – double-spaced with a 12 point font size. (This is approximately one page.) Discussion papers must be submitted at the beginning of class on Tuesdays, according to the class schedule. Late papers will not be graded and will receive 0 points. Each discussion paper is worth 10 points, for a total of 100 points (20% of your grade).

Research Essay: There will be one research essay. Late essays (those handed in after the start of class when the paper is due) will receive automatic point reductions. The research essay will be broken into three parts: the Prospectus (worth 10 points), the Outline (worth 15 points), and the Final Essay (worth 75 points). The essay itself will be 10 pages, double spaced with a 12 point font size and one-inch margins on all sides. Written work that does not meet college-level writing standards will be returned to you ungraded, with a mandatory referral to the Writing Lab, in the Learning Center. You will be required to revise your essay with the help of a tutor in the Writing Lab and then resubmit your essay (accompanied by the ungraded draft) in order to receive a grade. The research essay overall is worth 100 points (20% of the course grade).

Films: Films are an important part of this course, as they provide links to weekly topics in a rich medium of sights and sounds. Films are considered as texts and will be drawn upon for exams – this means that students are expected to take notes on the films and discussions about the films.

Exams: The mid-term and final exam will each be worth 100 points (each being 20% of your final grade). Both exams will be in the format of short-answer, true-false, identification, and multiple-choice. They will test your knowledge of concepts, terminology, class discussions, and other important points in readings, and lectures. The class before each exam will be a review session.

                                                     Grading

Kaua‘i Community College grading policies, also found in the 2006-2007 Catalogue, are as follows:

               Grade                                                              GPA points

                  A                     Excellent Achievement                  4.0
                  B                     Above Average Achievement        3.0
                  C                    Average Achievement                    2.0
                  D                    Minimal Passing Achievement        1.0
                  F                     Failure                                             0
                  I                      Incomplete                                       0
                 W                    Withdrawal                                      0
                 N                     No Grade Assigned                         0

Incomplete: A grade of incomplete indicates that the quality of work was satisfactory, but an essential requirement of the course has not been completed. An Incomplete must be made up within the first 12 weeks of the following semester or the grade will be converted to the grade indicated by the instructor at the time the “I” was awarded.

No Grade Assigned: No grade assigned indicates that the student has either not completed the requirements of the course or has not reached a level of accomplishment within a specified time period which will allow for an evaluation.

Grades are based on cumulative points and not on a curve (see below for grade scale). Points are distributed according to the following assignments:

                                 Participation                                 100 points
                                 Discussion Papers                        100 points
                                 Resesarch Essay                          100 points
                                 Midterm Exam                             100 points
                                 Final Exam                                   100 points

                                                                        TOTAL 500 points

                                                  Grading Scale

                                              500 – 451 points A
                                              450 – 401 points B
                                              400 – 351 points C
                                              350 – 301 points D
                                              300 points or fewer F

                                         Other Important Dates

                                Last day to register
                                Last day to receive 100% refund for Withdraw
                                Last day to receive 50% refund
                                Last day to drop (no "w" on transcript) 
                                Last day to withdraw ("w" on transcript) 

                                                     Library
The Library is an excellent source for anthropological information!!! Library hours during the Fall Semester are Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For further information call the Circulation Desk at 245-8322, and/or the Reference Desk at 245-8253.

                                                Learning Center
The Learning Center is a place where students can obtain tutoring and instruction on various subjects. The Writing Lab, located in the Learning Center, helps students to refine and master college writing skills. Tutors help students with all phases of writing, such as: brainstorming, pre-writing, outlining, writing effective statements, organizing papers, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading. Please visit the Writing Lab early for assistance on writing assignments (not 2 days before the assignment is due).

                                                    Disabilities
If you need special accommodation because of a disability or other issue, please see Dr. Greer. Additional information is available from the Disability Services Counselor at the Campus Center, Room 206; Telephone: 245-8314.

                                   Communication with the Instructor
When communicating with the instructor via email, please start the subject line with
Anth 200....

                                          Classroom Courtesy
We are all responsible for creating a friendly, relaxed, and productive classroom atmosphere. That requires listening respectfully to everyone, phrasing comments constructively and politely, turning off cell phones, coming to class on time, and refraining from distractive behavior. *** How well you practice these common courtesies will be reflected in the participation portion of your grade***

                                             Academic Honesty
The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter. Students caught cheating on exams, papers, or other assignments, including plagiarism, will be considered in violation of Kaua‘i Community College’s Policies and Procedures. They will receive a grade of zero on the assignment and the incident will be reported in conformance with university policy.

Plagiarism is defined as using any text or phrase taken from another source, including the internet, that is NOT in quotes, with the original work cited.

            In the interest of effective learning, this syllabus is subject to change.

           Please let me know if you have any questions, I’ll be glad to answer them.