Describe 4 skeletal traits in detail that are UNIQUE to Neanderthals. Discuss and describe how each Neanderthal skeletal trait provided a selective advantage in an environment that Neanderthals lived in.

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Describe 4 skeletal traits (2 cranial and 2 skeletal-body) in detail that are UNIQUE to Neanderthals.

Discuss and describe how each Neanderthal skeletal trait (2 cranial and 2 skeletal-body) provided a selective advantage in an environment that Neanderthals lived in (blistering cold climate with receding glaciers).

Based on all discussed skeletal features of Neanderthals in this class, which hominin species do YOU think Neanderthals should be placed with: Homo heidelbergensis (archaic sapiens), Homo sapiens, or should Neanderthals be placed in a completely separate species category other than the ones listed above? Explain in a subsistence manner WHY using skeletal features to support your answer.

 

Create a gif or meme that relates to the subject of your research paper.

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Create a gif or meme that relates to the subject of your research paper.

 

How does the cultural group trace descent? How are marriages established in this society? How are spouses selected? Are there marriage gifts exchanged? Are marriages monogamous or polygamous? Explain.

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SSC 327 paper 1

Continue exploring the cultural group you selected in Module 3 (paper 1). In paper 2, you will be exploring disease, illness, healing, and kinships for that same cultural group. Paper 2 must answer the following:

a. Provide a title to your paper; the title should include the name of the cultural group selected.

b. Research the selected cultural group’s perspective of disease, illness, and healing. Remember a disease is a pathological condition of the body usually diagnosed by a physician. I am also asking you to research illness (not a disease) which is a feeling of not being normal or healthy that can be culturally mediated and not necessarily diagnosed or recognized as a pathological disease by western medicine (examples susto, evil eye, aire, etc…).
• Identify what are their beliefs when it comes to disease (pathological condition) and the role ethnomedicine plays in healing.
• Who does the healing in your cultural group (Medicine man/woman? Shaman? Healer? etc.)
• What is a common illness (culturally mediated condition) in this population and how is it treated?

c. Research Kinship and domestic life structures in your selected cultural group.
• How does the cultural group trace descent? (Unilineal (if so matriarchal or patriarchal)? Bilineal?) Explain.
• How are marriages established in this society? How are spouses selected (endogamous or exogamous)? Are there marriage gifts exchanged? Are marriages monogamous or polygamous? Explain.
• What is the typical household structure (nuclear vs. extended family)?

d. How is the cultural group changing (or is being changed) through globalization when it comes to ethnomedicine and domestic lives?

e. How can anthropologists work to help this population in the changing world? Search for information on what anthropologists are doing to help this population regarding the aspects you discussed, and what are the gaps (what is still missing that anthropologists can still work on to meet the needs of this group).

Include citations from the Miller textbook and a minimum of one NEW peer-reviewed journal article with a date within the last 10 years (the article from the previous assignment can be used if applicable, but you will still need an additional article). Remember to write in your own words by interpreting what you read and citing the source. Avoid long direct quotes. Avoid plagiarism by always citing your sources.

Short paper format:
All short papers should have a title, an introduction, a conclusion, and a References Cited page. All papers in the course must be:
• 2-4 pages
• typed
• doubled spaced
• font size 12
• written with proper grammar and syntax
• in American Sociological Association (ASA) citation and reference style.

Papers turned in up to 7 days after the due date will have a 10% point deduction. Papers received after 7 days past the due date will not be accepted.

Think about movies you have seen and novels you have read that concern anthropologists (for example, Indiana Jones). How are they portrayed? How do popular characterizations match or conflict with what you have learned about anthropology in chapter 1? Did you learn about anthropology at all in your school setting? If so, what did you learn about it?

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Anthropology

If you began this course not really knowing what anthropology was, you’re not alone. There are a lot of misconceptions about anthropology as portrayed in the media, in films, and a general lack of information all around. We will explore those problems in this paper.

Part 1: Self-Reflection.

Think about movies you have seen and novels you have read that concern anthropologists (for example, Indiana Jones). How are they portrayed? How do popular characterizations match or conflict with what you have learned about anthropology in chapter 1? Did you learn about anthropology at all in your school setting? If so, what did you learn about it?

Part 2: Interviews.

Ask five acquaintances (18 or over, for ethics reasons) what they think anthropology is. Ask them to define anthropology. If they answer incorrectly, offer the correct answer. Ask them where they’ve learned about or seen anthropology depicted in the media or popular culture. What (if anything) did they learn about anthropology in school? What do they think a stereotypical anthropologist is based on those depictions? Ask them what they believe the greatest source of misconceptions or lack of information about anthropology comes from. How could anthropology become more widely known?

For each of your interviews, you must take note of demographic information (ask if you need to). Demographic categories include: age, socioeconomic status, marital status, ethnicity, educational level, profession, and gender. Ask your consultants if it is all right if you use their answers as part of a research paper. If a consultant does not want to be identified, take note of their demographics and assign a pseudonym, which will be designated in you paper in quotation marks when you refer to them. For example, ” According to “Brenda”, a 32-year-old, single mother,….”

You will need to submit your raw interview notes with your paper. Failure to do so will incur a large penalty.

Part 3: Putting your Paper Together.

  • Compile your own observations and the observations of the people you interview in the first half of this assignment. This is the data presentation.
  • The second half of your essay should analyze and discuss these findings, the roots of the problem, and what (if anything) you think could change many misconceptions about anthropology.

Your paper should be written in an essay format with your interview notes attached either as a separate file or embedded after the end of your paper. Your notes can be typed, embedded photos or screenshots, scans of pages, etc. Essay format means that there should be an introduction with your own perceptions/media discussion, a brief discussion/summary of your interviews, and an analysis utilizing examples from your data. Wrap it up with a conclusion.

Type your answers into a word processing file, the essay should be at least 2.5 full double-spaced pages.

Relevant Course Objective: Describe the holistic field of anthropology and its interest in global diversity.

 

Explain the specific language ideology or ideologies that it reflects?

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Language ideology

Explain the specific language ideology or ideologies that it reflects?

It is easier to learn Chinese if you come from a Chinese family

 

Summarize the key points in the article. Be sure to state what the find was and where it was found. State the main question the author attempts to answer with the find. What material was found by archaeologists or discovery made in a lab?

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Human Evolution 101

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/human-evolution-101

Anthropology 1102     Instructor: Dr. Bratton

Assignment #2: Physical Anthropology

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to review a scientific magazine article about a recent (last five years) evolutionary discovery about human ancestor or hominid evolution (dating to the Mesolithic or earlier).

Background: As articulated in the textbook, new fossil evidence can cause a scientist to review and often modify their theoretical framework in explaining hominid evolution.  Fossils are not the only archaeological remains that educate scientists about our evolutionary past. In some circumstances, items utilized by hominins have brought greater attention to abilities and capacities of culture, society, learning, and appreciation of art.  Therefore, you are tasked with finding an article about a new discovery that may or has changed our understanding of hominid evolution.

Sources for article must come from one of the following. If you find another that you want to use you must clear it with the professor first (note these have free article availability).

Discovery Magazine                                                           National Geographic                           Scientific American

Smithsonian Magazine                                                      Science Magazine                               Science News

 

Paper: Write a five paragraph paper that describes and summarizes the article you found.  The article (not a blog or opinion piece) you choose should be over 700 words in length.

  1. State the title of the article and briefly explain what topics the paper will cover. Remember that a thesis statement is the last sentence of the paragraph and summarizes what the paper will talk about.
  2. Summarize the key points in the article. Be sure to state what the find was and where it was found. State the main question the author attempts to answer with the find. What material was found by archaeologists or discovery made in a lab (e.g., about dating processes, genetic similarities, etc.)?
  3. Explain how this discovery is important for the scientific community. If it is new information, then explain why it’s new, ground breaking, or what makes it unique (which means you have to know the old ideas too).
  4. Explore how it compares to the information introduced in your book and/or lecture (could it change existing theories). Explain significance of this find in comparison to the content in your textbook and/or lecture (remember use of material from either requires citations).
  5. Conclude by explaining whether you were surprised by the find and why. Does this article challenge or confirm your understanding of human origins (before taking this class) and what were those views based on? Use this opportunity to critique the content/argument of the article.
  6. Include a works cited section

Some topics you may want to look for

  • Use of tools/fire
  • Expansion or use of culture (e.g., cooking, cooperation)
  • Use of language/symbols (art)
  • Prehistoric dwelling, hunting
  • New species identification or reclassification
  • Last common ancestors
  • Irreducible Complexity

Technical Requirements: ~Three pages typed in Times 12 point-font, double-spaced, 1” margins on all 4 sides including page numbers.

 

Intro                                       10

Main pts                                 10

Importance                           15

Class                                       15

Critique                                  10

Source (mag,date)               10

citation                                   10

grammar                                10

writing                                    10

 

Analyze the history of weapons of mass destruction, biological weapons, chemical weapons, and nuclear weapons and the future threat of WMD. Explain the types of WMD that are readily available to terrorist groups and explain the toxicity of the agent.

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History of weapons of mass destruction

In a 200-300 word essay, elaborate on the history of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and the types of WMD. Make sure to answer all the following questions in detail and cite your sources.

  1. Analyze the history of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), biological weapons, chemical weapons, and nuclear weapons and the future threat of WMD.
  2. Explain the types of WMD that are readily available to terrorist groups and explain the toxicity of the agent.

 

Use Vaughn’s textbook to help you explain Gardner’s theory and its strengths and weaknesses. Choose an object, performance, or piece of writing as an example, and explain whether Gardner’s theory would classify the object as Art. Do you agree with objectivism about Art or do you find another theory more convincing?

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Objectivist view of art

What is Martin Gardner’s argument for the objectivist view of art? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Use Vaughn’s textbook to help you explain Gardner’s theory and its strengths and weaknesses. Choose an object, performance, or piece of writing as an example, and explain whether Gardner’s theory would classify the object as Art. Do you agree with objectivism about Art or do you find another theory more convincing? Defend your point of view.

Topic B

Explain Locke’s view of human nature. Use details from the textbook to support your description. Explain Hobbes’s view of human nature, again using details from the textbook to support your description. How do Locke’s view of human nature and Hobbes’ view differ? Which do you think is more accurate? Explain, and defend your answer.

 

How do you make sense of Edith Turner’s experience? Do you believe that she saw a spirit? If so, why? If not, why not?”

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Address the following prompt: “How do you (personally and academically) make sense of Edith Turner’s experience (as written about in “A Visible Spirit Form in Zambia”)? Do you believe that she saw a spirit? If so, why? If not, why not?”

Write a 200-word response to this prompt, due this Thursday, September 29th, at 11:59 PM. To begin, click on the “Reply” button below. Once you have submitted your first response, you will then choose one of your peers’ responses, and write a 100-word response to that.

 

Select an ethnic group other than the one they primarily identify with and which is represented in the current population of Southeastern Louisiana. Projects consist of various assignments that are due on different dates throughout the semester.

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Class Project:.

Southeastern Louisiana is a highly diverse region whose social landscape has been shaped through migration, colonization, forced displacement, and human trafficking during the last 10,000 years. Today, New Orleans and its surrounding areas are home to people with cultural roots in all continents. For this project, students will select an ethnic group other than the one they primarily identify with and which is represented in the current population of Southeastern Louisiana. Projects consist of various assignments that are due on different dates throughout the semester. The assignments and their due dates are as follows:

1. Introduction to cultural group: The student will indicate the cultural group they will be focusing on throughout the semester and will provide a brief description of that population’s cultural and migration history. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

2. Religion and Cosmology: The student will provide a description of the primary religious behaviors their chosen cultural group has practiced in the past and is practicing in the present. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

3. Language: The student will provide a brief description of the language(s) primarily spoken by their chosen cultural group, including the language’s primary features and broader language family. Students should reflect on how the language of their chosen cultural group differs from Standard American English. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

4. Economic Behavior: The student will provide a brief description of the past and present primary subsistence and economic practices of their chosen cultural group. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

5. Food or Popular Culture: The student will either a) provide a description of the foodways of their chosen cultural group. Assignments should discuss themes such as ritual importance, meaning, and ecological origins and impact. Assignment must be based on the review of at least 1 scholarly sources and 1 or more popular sources (2 pages, 12 pt type, double spaced, one inch margins, 250 words), or b) provide a description of an event or example of popular culture (music, film, social media) related to the cultural group they are focusing on (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one inch margins, 250 words).