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25667

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Anthropology

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Oct 30, 2023

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Course Syllabus Edit Instructor: Rob Boyd Online E-mail: Rboyd3@asu.edu Office Hours: Tu&Th 1:00-2:30, and by appointment (on zoom) TA’s: Shannon Roivas ( sroivas@asu.edu ) What you will learn in this course Human beings are the products of organic evolution. Over one hundred million years ago a population of small, nocturnal, insectivorous creatures scurried about among the feet of dinosaurs. The combined action of evolutionary processes like natural selection, recombination, and mutation transformed these shrew-like creatures into monkey-like animals clambering through the vast tropical rain forests that covered most of the world 35 million years ago, then into a bipedal ape living in the hot savannas of Africa 5 million years ago, and finally into you and me and all the other people living on Earth today. In this course, you will learn how these transformations took place, and why they are important for understanding our own bodies, our behavior, and the structure of our societies. You will learn how evolution works, and how evolutionary processes have shaped the behavior and morphology of our closest living relatives, the monkeys and apes. You will also learn how this knowledge can be combined with fossil and archaeological evidence to reconstruct the history of our own lineage. Finally, you will see how evolution has shaped the bodies and behavior of contemporary humans. Throughout the course, we will emphasize the processes that shaped the evolution of the human species. These processes provide the key to understanding why we are the way we are. Readings Assigned readings are from: Boyd, R. & J. B. Silk, 2021 H ow Humans Evolved , 9 th ed. W. W. Norton, NY. This book is available as a paperback or as an ebook from WW Norton, Amazon and other sources. There are a couple of ebook options for 2/3 the price of the paper text. The Kindle version does not include the access codes for Norton Online enhancements, but you do not need to access these. You might find used copies of the previous editions and you can probably get by the 7 th or 8 th edition. However, there is quite a bit of material included in the new edition that is not in the older editions. 1 of 11 **Disclaimer** This syllabus is to be used as a guideline only. The information provided is a summary of topics to be covered in the class. Information contained in this document such as assignments, grading scales, due dates, office hours, required books and materials may be from a previous semester and are subject to change. Please refer to your instructor for the most recent version of the syllabus.

Course structure The course is fully online, and is organized so that you will complete one module each week. Module Title Schedule 1 Natural selection and adaptation Oct 11-17 2 Adaptation, molecular genetics and macroevolution Oct 18-24 3 Primate behavior and ecology Oct 25-31 4 Primate cooperation and cognition Nov 1-7 5 Earliest hominins and the genus Homo Nov 8-14 6 The last million years Nov 15-21 7 Modern human variation, behavior, and culture Nov 22-Dec 1 Thanksgiving is Nov 23, so I have left one week after the holiday to do Module 7. Each module contains six or seven video lectures that average about 15 minutes long. For each lecture there is a set of study questions and a reading from the text. Our advice is to view the lecture online first, then scan the study questions (described more fully below), and finally read the assigned pages in the text for more complete coverage of the material. Writing out answers to the study questions will help you make sure that you understand the material and will also help you prepare for the quizzes. The quiz questions are all drawn from the study questions, sometimes simplified or converted to multiple choice format. When you listen to the lectures, you will notice they begin with a flute and percussion track, Sky of Our Ancestors , by Kevin MacCleod under a Creative Commons License. We chose this track because the oldest evidence for a musical instrument is a flute-like pipe made by Neanderthals. Perhaps early humans sat around a fire listening to music something like this. Study Questions Each module contains a set of 2-8 study questions. Links to each question are provided for each lecture. Each question is posted as an individual discussion thread. Students are encouraged to answer the provided questions, discuss answers, ask additional questions or request clarifications, and generally try to help fellow students who may need a little extra guidance. These discussions are NOT graded. However, you are encouraged to engage with them as they will help you with the course assessments. Do not be shy about leaving comments or answering questions---we want to see participation by everyone. The teaching staff will be monitoring the discussion threads, and where needed will jump in to maintain decorum and provide clarifications. 2 of 11

Exercises Each module has an exercise that is meant to help you master the content of the module. You will complete exercises online, and they will be graded. Try to do these a day or so before you take the quiz so you can take advantage of what you have learned. They are not timed, and you can try them as many times as you want. Quizzes There also will be a 60-minute quiz for each module. Each quiz will have 10 objective questions (e.g. multiple choice, true false, fill in the blank) and two short answer essay questions. The exams are open book, so you can use the book or other written material to help with some details. However, you will have you will have a limited period to complete the quiz, so you should study for the quiz and have important concepts and facts in mind before you begin. We will proctor the exam via your web cam and require that you use the lockdown browser. If you want to be able to use digital notes or have access to a digital copy of the book during the exam, you will need to use a separate device. An ungraded practice quiz is posted so that you can make sure that you know how to use the lockdown browser and are able to get access to the exams before you attempt to take the first graded quiz. We strongly suggest that you do the practice quiz at the beginning of the first week so you can make sure you are set up for the first exam. Information on Exams and Grading Your grade will be based upon the seven quizzes (60%) and the seven exercises (40%). All of the quizzes are cumulative because the material presented in later lectures draws on concepts and evidence presented in earlier lectures. However, later quizzes will include material from earlier in the course only when that follows from the logic of the material. Grades will be assigned based on the scores from all of the quizzes and exercises. The combined scores will be summed and weighted to compute the final point total. Final letter grades in the course will be assigned according to the following percentiles. Grade Percentile A+ 97 A 85 A- 70 B+ 50 B 30 B- 25 3 of 11

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C+ 20 C 15 E 5 Note that per centiles are based on the ranking of scores for all of the students in the class, not a simple per centage of points a student earned. Per centiles are calculated by dividing the rank of a particular score by the total number of scores. So, if there were 100 students in the course, the top 3 students (97- 100 th per centile) would get an A+. The next 12 would get an A and so on. In order for you to keep track of how well you are doing in the class, we will post your scores one each assignment and quiz on Canvas, and we will also post announcements that provide information about the per centiles that correspond to letter grades. That will show you how your score would be related to a grade on that particular assignment/quiz. Submitting Assignments All assignments, unless otherwise announced, MUST be submitted to the designated area of Canvas. Do not submit an assignment via email. Assignment due dates and exam times follow Arizona Standard time. Remember that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings time. Late or Missed Assignments We expect you to notify your TA or instructor before an assignment is due if you anticipate problems meeting a particular deadline. Follow the appropriate University policies to request an accommodation for religious practicesLinks to an external site. or to accommodate a missed assignment due to University-sanctioned activitiesLinks to an external site. . If something unexpected comes up and you miss a deadline, we expect you to contact us PROMPTLY to explain the situation. We realize that the pandemic has disrupted many people’s lives, and will make reasonable accommodations for unexpected events. Email ASU email is an official means of communicationLinks to an external site. among students, faculty, and staff. Students are expected to read and act upon email in a timely fashion. Students bear the responsibility of missed messages and should check their ASU-assigned email regularly. Syllabus Disclaimer The syllabus is a statement of intent and serves as an implicit agreement between the instructor and the student. Every effort will be made to avoid changing the course schedule but the possibility exists that unforeseen events will make syllabus changes necessary. Remember to check your ASU email and the course site often. 4 of 11

Academic Integrity Academic honesty is expected of all students in all examinations, papers, and laboratory work, academic transactions and records. The possible sanctions include, but are not limited to, appropriate grade penalties, course failure (indicated on the transcript as a grade of E), course failure due to academic dishonesty (indicated on the transcript as a grade of XE), loss of registration privileges, disqualification and dismissal. For more information, see http://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrityLinks to an external site. Disability Resources Students who feel they will need disability accommodations in this class but have not registered with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) should contact DRC immediately. The DRC Tempe office is located on the first floor of the Matthews Center Building. DRC staff can also be reached at: (480) 965-1234 (V) or (480) 965-9000 (TTY). For additional information, visit: Links to an external site.www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drcLinks to an external site. . Policy Against Threatening Behavior All incidents and allegations of violent or threatening conduct by an ASU student (whether on-or off campus) must be reported to the ASU Police Department (ASU PD) and the Office of the Dean of Students. If either office determines that the behavior poses or has posed a serious threat to personal safety or to the welfare of the campus, the student will not be permitted to return to campus or reside in any ASU residence hall until an appropriate threat assessment has been completed and, if necessary, conditions for return are imposed. ASU PD, the Office of the Dean of Students, and other appropriate offices will coordinate the assessment in light of the relevant circumstances. For more information please visit https://eoss.asu.edu/dos/srr/PoliciesAndProceduresLinks to an external site. and https://eoss.asu.edu/dos/safety/ThreateningBehavior.Links to an external site. Policy on Sexual Discrimination Arizona State University is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for the entire university community, including all students, faculty members, staff employees, and guests. ASU expressly prohibits discriminationLinks to an external site. , harassmentLinks to an external site. , and retaliationLinks to an external site. by employees, students, contractors, or agents of the university based on any protected status: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and genetic information. As a mandated reporter, I am obligated to report any information I become aware of regarding alleged acts of sexual discrimination, including sexual violence and dating violence. ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counselingLinks to an external site. , is available if you wish discuss any concerns confidentially and privately. Copyrighted Materials Students must refrain from uploading to any course shell, discussion board, or website used by the course instructor or other course forum, material that is not the student's original work, unless the students first comply with all applicable copyright laws; faculty members reserve the right to delete materials on the grounds of suspected copyright infringement 5 of 11

Title IX Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded on the basis of sex from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. Both Title IX and university policy make clear that sexual violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited. An individual who believes they have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the basis of sex can seek support, including counseling and academic support, from the university. If you or someone you know has been harassed on the basis of sex or sexually assaulted, you can find information and resources at https://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/faqsLinks to an external site. . As a mandated reporter, the instructor is obligated to report any information they become aware of regarding alleged acts of sexual discrimination, including sexual violence and dating violence. ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counselingLinks to an external site. is available if you wish to discuss any concerns confidentially and privately. ASU online students may access 360 Life Services, https://goto.asuonline.asu.edu/success/online-resources.htmlLinks to an external site. . 6 of 11

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Lectures and Readings Module 1: Natural Selection and Adaptation Oct 11-17 Lectures Reading HHE9 1.1 I ntroduction . Why the study of human evolution is interesting and important xix-xxiii 1.2. Natural Selection . How natural selection causes adaptive change. 2 – 12 1.3. Complex Adaptations. How natural selection gives rise to complex adaptations like the human eye. 12-17, 1.4 . Rates of evolution and Darwin’s difficulties . Evidence that evolution is sometimes fast and other times slow. 17-22 1.5. Population Genetics . How genetic transmission works at the level of individuals and populations. 52-60 1.6. Modern Synthesis . How genetic transmission solves Darwin’s difficulties 60-65 Assignments Exercise: Hardy-Weinberg Quiz Oct 17 Module 2: Adaptation, Molecular Genetics and Macroevolution Oct 18-24 Lectures Reading 2.1 How learned behavior evolves. Learning and behavior are shaped by natural selection 65-68 2.2. Maladaptation . Why adaptation is always imperfect. 68 – 77 2.3 . Consilience . Different sciences must tell the same story where they meet. 2.4 Molecular Genetics . How life works in terms of physics and chemistry 37-50 7 of 11

2.5 Speciation How new species are formed 80-91 2.6 Systematics. Reconstructing the tree of life 91-105 Assignments Exercise: Systematics problem Quiz Oct 24 Module 3: Primate Behavior and Ecology Oct 25-31 Lectures Reading 3.1 Meet the Family . What are the defining features of the order Primates? 108-126 3.2 Primate ecology and sociality. What do primates eat, where do they live, and how are they distributed in space? 126-140 3.3 Mating and parenting. How mammalian reproductive biology shapes reproductive strategies 142-150 3.4 Variation in female fitness . factors that influence female reproductive success 150-155 3.5 Male reproductive strategies . tradeoffs between mating effort and parenting effort 155-160 3.6 Sexual selection . Consequences of competition over access to mates. 160-164 3.7 Sexually selected infanticide. male tactics and female counterstrategies 164-168 Assignments Exercise: Dominance hierarchies Quiz Oct 31 8 of 11

Module 4: Cooperation and Cognition Nov 1-7 Lectures Reading 4.1 The puzzle of cooperation . How do behaviors that benefit others evolve? 170-178 4.2 Kin biases in cooperation . the impact of kin selection in primate groups 178-186 4.3 Cooperation without kinship . the role of reciprocal altruism 186-188 4.4 Primate life histories. How selection shapes the timing of life events 190-196 4.5 Primate brains. Why has selection favored big brains? 196-199 4.6 Primate cognition. What do primates know about their social world? 199-204 Assignments Exercise: Calculating relatedness Quiz Nov 7 Module 5 The earliest hominins and the evolution of Homo Nov 8-14 Lectures Reading 5.1 Documenting the past . Fossils and genes 208-217 228-229 5.2 Primate evolution. a quick history of the first 55 million years of the primate order 218-234 5.3 The earliest hominins . the evolution of bipedalism 233-248 5.4 The australopiths . Diversification of the hominin community 4-2 million years ago 249-262 5.5 The genus Homo . emergence of our genus 2-1 MA, and the movement out of Africa 264-273 5.6 Hominin tool making . from tool user to tool maker 273-279 9 of 11

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5.7 Plio-Pleistocene life ways . How a shift to a meat-based diet may have shaped the trajectory of human evolution 279-298 Assignments Exercise: Fossils of early hominins Quiz Nov 14 Module 6: The Last Million Years Nov 15-21 Lectures Reading 6.1 The Neanderthals . Large brained hominins, more complex technology. 300-307 310-319 6.2 H. floresiensis and the Denisovans . Tiny hominins in SE Asia and a hominn known mainly from its genes. 307-310 320-322 6.3 H. sapiens , the fossil and archeological evidence . The origin of modern humans in Africa, revolution or evolution? 322-338 6.4 H. sapiens , the genetic evidence . How DNA recovered from fossils gives a richer picture of human evolution. 338-348 6.5 Life in Upper Paleolithic Europe. The settlement of Europe by modern humans and their life ways. 348-360 6.6 Humans colonize the world . Human expansion throughout Asia, the Americas and the Pacific. Assignments Exercise: Fossils and artifacts of later hominins Quiz Nov 21 Module 7: Modern Human Variation, Behavior and Culture Nov 21-Dec 1 Lectures Reading 10 of 11

7.1 Human genetic variation . How selection is shaping the genetics of modern populations 362-390 7.2 Race. Why continental scale populations that correspond to folk racial categories explain little variation. Genetic variation varies smoothly, and most groups are ephemeral. 390-399 7.3 Modern human minds . How selection has shaped human minds and affects how we respond to the world 402-417 7.5 Culture. How has cumulative cultural adaptation enabled humans to become so successful, and at the same time led to behavior quite different from other social mammals. 424-435 7.6 Cooperative Behavior. Humans cooperate on in large groups of unrelated individuals. How has unique aspect of human behavior evolved? 435-438 7.7 Prosocial preferences. understanding the psychology that underlies cooperation 438-443 7.8 Epilog. Why human evolution is inspiring. 445-446 Assignments Exercise: Dynamics of cooperation Quiz Dec 1 11 of 11