Download FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY ANTH 336

FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 336-01, Fall 2016
Instructor: Dr. Tracy Betsinger
Office: PSCI 138
Office Phone: 436-3394
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-10:30am or by appointment
Class Time and Location: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:00-1:50pm,
Sciences I room 202
Course Description: What can be learned from human skeletal remains? How can
someone be successfully identified when only the skeleton is found? Which methods
are most reliable and useful in identifying an individual’s remains? What are the
medicolegal implications of forensic cases? These questions and more are addressed
in this course. Forensic anthropology is a specialized, applied subfield of biological
anthropology that is focused on identifying human remains from within the last 100
years. Forensic anthropology utilizes many of the same methods and skills that are
employed in other specialties within biological anthropology; however, instead of asking
population-level questions, forensic anthropology is focused on individuals. Throughout
this semester, we will explore the field of forensic anthropology, including both
methodological and theoretical aspects, including sex determination, age estimation,
and courtroom testimony. We will have ample opportunity to have hands-on
experiences.
Course Objectives: By the end of the semester, you will better understand the
methods employed by forensic anthropologists to determine time since death, ancestry,
sex, age-at-death, stature, and other features. You will NOT become proficient in these
methods, as they take years to develop. Instead, you will have more knowledge of
which methods are employed, how they are used, and debates about various aspects of
forensic anthropology. Additionally, you will understand how a forensic context is
established, how evidence (including the skeleton) is recovered from a scene, and the
initial treatment that skeletal remains undergo. You will be able to identify the various
forms of trauma that can affect skeletal remains, and you will be able to demonstrate
how forensic anthropologists determine the timing of such injuries. Finally, you will be
able to discuss the process and importance of courtroom testimony.
In this course, you will be having hands-on experiences during class. You will also have
the opportunity to practice your written communication skills, as you gain experience
with library research. This course does require ample effort on your part. It is not
enough to read course materials or look at pictures (in your book or online)…you need
to handle the skeletons to really gain an understanding of forensic anthropology, so take
advantage of every opportunity to do so.
If you would like to read the more formal version of these course objectives, please see
the document on our course Blackboard page.
Course Requirements:
(1) Hands-on assignments – 25% - There will be a few of these each week. Lab
books will be collected after each quiz and returned during the next class
period. These assignments will give you experience with various forensic
anthropological methods. They will also serve as the basis for the quizzes.
(2) Quizzes – 30% – The quizzes will be held every two or three weeks and will
cover the topics from the previous few weeks, including lecture, hands-on
assignments, and reading materials. The quizzes may include both a handson and written portions, depending on the topics being covered. The written
portion may include multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, and/or short
answer. Hands-on portions will be a timed-station format.
(3) “Bones” Assessment – 10% – We will be watching an episode of the “Bones”
television series. While watching, you will need to record aspects of the show
that are accurate and aspects that are inaccurate.
(4) Annotated Bibliography – 15% - This assignment will be on a forensic
anthropological topic of your choice, with instructor approval. You will be
required to do library research and find 15 books and articles (peer-reviewed
journals) related to your topic and write a summary and review of each
reading. More information will be provided during the semester.
(5) Final Exam – 20% - This is a comprehensive exam, including both hands-on
and written portions. Details regarding format will be provided during the
semester.
Course Materials:
• Byers, Steven N. Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, 4th edition. Pearson
Press.
• Byers, Steven N. Forensic Anthropology Laboratory Manual, 3rd edition. Pearson
Press.
Course Resources:
• Don’t forget that I am a resource for you! Please visit me during office hours; if
you are unavailable during those times, contact me to arrange for an
appointment.
• I will be posting copies of all handouts as well as review materials for you to
utilize on our course Blackboard page. If you need assistance accessing or using
Blackboard, please see me or contact the IT Help Desk in the basement of Milne
Library (436-4567, [email protected]).
• Since you will be writing an annotated bilbiography, feel free to seek additional
assistance from the College Writing Center, which can provide instruction and
consultation to improve your writing style. You can find them in 225 Alumni Hall
(436-3010, [email protected]).
• If you need help finding appropriate materials for your annotated bibliography
including books, journal articles, etc., you should contact the very helpful
•
Reference Librarians at Milne Library. They perform one-on-one research
consultations. Fill out the request form at the following link:
http://www.oneonta.edu/library/research/researchconsultation.aspx
If you have any type of disability (including learning disabilities, test anxiety, etc.),
please contact Student Disability Services in 209 Alumni Hall (436-2137;
[email protected]) to obtain an accommodation plan. Then, be sure to share the
plan with me so we can make any and all necessary arrangements.
Course Schedule: The schedule below indicates the topics and chapters we will be
covering each week as well as dates of quizzes and the various parts of the research
paper project. This schedule is subject to change. I will announce any changes in class
and post the information on our course Blackboard page.
READING ASSIGNMENT
WEEK 1
Aug. 29 - Sept. 2
NO CLASSES – See email and online assignments for this week!
WEEK 2
Sept. 5 (M)
7 (W)
9 (F)
NO CLASSES (Labor Day)
Introduction & Overview
Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
WEEK 3
12 (M)
14 (W)
16 (F)
Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
Establishing Forensic Context
Establishing Forensic Context
Labs 1.1, 1.2
Chapter 3
Labs 3.1-3.3
WEEK 4
19 (M)
21 (W)
23 (F)
Estimating Time Since Death
Estimating Time Since Death
Review session / Finish lab assignments
Chapter 5
Lab 5.1
WEEK 5
26 (M)
28 (W)
30 (F)
Quiz 1
Initial Treatment and Examination
Initial Treatment and Examination
WEEK 6
Oct. 3 (M)
5 (W)
Attribution of Ancestry
Attribution of Ancestry
7 (F)
WEEK 7
10 (M)
Review session / Finish lab assignments
NO CLASSES (Fall Break)
Chapter 1,
Labs 2.1-2.5
Chapter 6
Labs 6.4, 6.5
Chapter 7
Labs 7.1,
7.3, 7.4
12 (W)
14 (F)
Quiz 2
Annotated Bibliography Topic Approval Due
Attribution of Sex
Chapter 8
WEEK 8
17 (M)
19 (W)
21 (F)
Attribution of Sex
Estimation of Age at Death
Estimation of Age at Death
Labs 8.1-8.5
Chapter 9
Labs 9.1,
9.2, 9.4-9.7
WEEK 9
24 (M)
Estimation of Age at Death
Labs 9.1,
9.2, 9.4-9.7
26 (W)
28 (F)
WEEK 10
31 (M)
Nov. 2 (W)
Review session / Finish lab assignments
Quiz 3
Stature Estimation
Stature Estimation
4 (F)
Trauma
WEEK 11
7 (M)
Trauma
9 (W)
11 (F)
WEEK 12
14 (M)
16 (W)
18 (F)
Watch “Bones” episode (Instructor at conference)
WEEK 14
28 (M)
30 (W)
Dec. 1 (F)
Labs 11.111.4, 12.1
Review session / Finish lab assignments
Quiz 4
Aspects of Individualization
Annotated Bibliography Due
Aspects of Individualization
WEEK 13
21 (M)
23 (W)
25 (F)
Chapter 10
Labs 10.110.2
Chapters 1114
Chapter 17
Labs 17.117.2
Antemortem Skeletal Conditions
NO CLASSES (Thanksgiving Break)
NO CLASSES (Thanksgiving Break)
Chapter 15
Antemortem Skeletal Conditions
Bones Assignment Due
Postmortem Changes to Bone
Postmortem Changes to Bone
Labs 15.215.3
Chapter 16
Lab 16.2
WEEK 15
5 (M)
7 (W)
9 (F)
Review session / Finish lab assignments
Quiz 5
Courtroom Testimony
Lab 17.1 Due
WEEK 16
12 (M)
Chapter 19
Final Exam Review Session / Clean skulls
** FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, December 14, 2:00-4:30pm**
Course Guidelines and Other Details:
Course Catalog Listing: This course will provide students the opportunity to learn about the field of
Forensic Anthropology through hands-on exercises that replicate the methods commonly used. Students
will learn how to assess age, determine sex, identify ancestry, estimate height, and identify traumatic
injuries. We will also discuss how individual identifications are made and the role of the forensic
anthropologist in law enforcement and in legal settings.
Prerequisites: ANTH 331 or BIOL 205 or by Permission of Instructor.
Course Evaluation:
Assignments
Quizzes
Bones Assignment
Annotated Bibliography
Final Exam
TOTAL POINTS
125
150
50
75
100
500
Course Grading:
Final grades are based on a standardized scale using the total number of points available for the course:
(A: 458-500, A-: 448-457, B+: 438-447, B: 408-437, B-: 398-407, C+: 388-397, C: 358-387, C-: 348-357,
D+: 338-347, D: 308-337, D-: 298-307, E: 0-297).
Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory. For an excused absence, please contact the instructor. For a list of college
approved excused baseness, see the College Handbook
(http://www.oneonta.edu/collegehandbook/excused-absences.asp)
Missed Exam Policy and Late Assignment Policy: If you have to miss a quiz for appropriate reasons, you
must notify the instructor within 24 hours AND provide appropriate documentation in order to make up the
quiz. Any assignment submitted late without consultation with me will receive a 10% grade reduction for
each day it is late.
Academic Honesty: The work in this course should represent your thoughts, ideas, and understanding of
course material. When completing an assignment, if you have borrowed, summarized, or otherwise
utilized information that is not your original thoughts (this includes material from reading assignments,
class discussions, out-of-class discussions, websites, or other media), be sure to provide proper credit to
the source, even if it is not a direct quote. Failing to do so constitutes plagiarism. It is always preferable to
submit an assignment late rather than submitting plagiarized materials. If you need assistance with citing
sources, completing a bibliography, or the like, contact me or the College Writing Center (see Course
Resources above). If you have further questions regarding campus policy on academic honesty, see the
Code of Student Contact (http://www.oneonta/edu/development/judicial/code.asp#conduct). Feel free to
contact me regarding questions you may have about what constitutes plagiarism. You will not be
penalized for doing so!
Emergency Evacuation/Shelter-in-Place Procedures: In the event of an emergency evacuation (i.e., fire or
other emergency), classes meeting in this building are directed to reassemble at Chase gymnasium so
that all persons can be accounted for. Complete details of the College’s emergency evacuation, shelterin-place and other emergency procedures can be found at http://www.oneonta.edu/security/.