Biological Anthropology Assignment: The Fossil Record
This take-home assignment is due by 11:05 am, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. No assignment will be accepted after 11:05 AM on the next day (Thursday). Assignments turned in between 11:05 AM Wednesday and 11:05 AM Thursday will be counted as one-day late (and thus subject to an automatic 5-point deduction).
Objective: Demonstrate that you are learning how to think scientifically and that you are developing an understanding of key ideas and examples relevant to biological anthropology.
Instructions: Type your answers to the questions on this page. Use New Times Roman 12-point font and single-space your answers. Exams that are not typed will be returned to you ungraded. While you are encouraged to study with classmates for this exam, be sure that you write your exam answers in your own words. Any answer that is copied in whole or in part from books, classmates, or Internet sources will result in failure of the entire exam.
Question 1 (15 points). In your own words, summarize the scientific thinking and processes that are used to complete the three-day skull comparisons activity. Also, state the conclusion that emerged after you summarized the data (for the eight skulls), making sure to link your conclusion to the data. Finally, what is the significance of the recent addition of Ardipithecus ramidus to the fossil record? [Hint: Be sure to use the scientific terminology emphasized in class; also, be sure to use scientific conventions when identifying individual fossils!]
Question 2 (15 points). In the video Becoming Human (Episode 1: “First Steps”), four hypotheses are identified in regards to how hominids became bipedal. Identify those four hypotheses, and then explain how paleoanthropologists can accurately infer that a species was bipedal based solely upon examination of a skull. Likewise, how can paleoanthropologists accurately identify an anatomically modern human skull from that of other hominins? [Hint: to fully answer both questions, you need to identify distinguishing features of hominid skulls using the scientific terminology presented in the course!]
Evaluation Criteria (description of how you earn points for each of your exam answers):
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Outstanding (30 points) |
Competent (20 points) |
Learning not demonstrated (0 points) |
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Complete and accurate answer to each part of question. |
Complete and accurate answer to each part of question. |
Incomplete or partial answers; major inaccuracies in answer. |
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Relevant scientific terms spelled correctly, defined in your own words, and applied in way that demonstrates a solid understanding of key concepts and processes. |
Relevant scientific terms spelled correctly, defined in your own words, and applied in way that demonstrates a basic understanding of key concepts and processes. |
Lacks relevant, scientific terms, lacks definitions in your own words, or terms applied in a way that does not reveal an emerging understanding of key concepts and processes |
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Specific examples (exx.) provided for each concept; exx. demonstrate a solid understanding of key course ideas and examples. |
Specific examples (exx.) provided for each concept; exx. demonstrate a basic understanding of key course ideas and examples. |
Lacks specific exx. and/or exx. do not reveal a basic understanding of key course ideas and examples. |