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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/.