Syllabus for ANS 400: Great apes Fall, 2012; Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Robert W. Mitchell () Office: 114 Cammack, #2-3122
Class Hours: TR 3:30-4:45 pm, Camm 205, CRN 16493 Office: MT 8-10, WR 9-10, F 9-12
Texts:
Caldecott, J., & Miles, L. (2005). World atlas of great apes and their conservation. University of California Press. ISBN: 9780520246331.
Cohen, J. (2010). Almost chimpanzee. Times Books. ISBN: 9780805083071.
Corbey, R. (2005). The metaphysics of apes: Negotiating the animal/human boundary. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9780521545334.
Mitchell, R. W. (1999). Scientific and popular conceptions of the psychology of great apes from the 1790s to the 1970s: Déjà vu all over again. Primate Report, 53, 1-118.
Parker, S. T., Mitchell, R. W., & Miles, H. L. (1999). Mentalities of gorillas and orangutans. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9780521031936.
Poe, E. A. (1841, April). The murders in the rue Morgue. Graham’s Magazine, 18, 166-179.
Robbins, M. M., & Boesch, C. (2011). Among African apes: Stories and photos from the field. University of California Press. ISBN: 9780520267107.
Sorenson, J. (2009). Ape. Reaktion Press. ISBN: 9781861894229.
Course description: This course is a seminar that serves as an introduction to
The course will be discussion-oriented; students will be required to read material before class, and then will discuss the material in class. The reading required for this course will be extensive but engaging.
A seminar is a group of "advanced students studying under a professor, with each student contributing to class participation through active reading, library research, presenting and discussing the material with one another and the professor" (quoted from a syllabus at Illinois State University). Consequently, students in a seminar are graded on three activities: class participation/preparation, a formal presentation, and written material. There are no formal exams. Students will be expected to read materials prior to class, discuss the material, and, on occasion, lead the discussion. The presentation and paper will require students to select (in consultation with the instructor) some aspect of theories of sexual orientation to examine in depth.
Course Description: A survey of research on great apes, and human-great ape interaction, focusing on animals’ lives and histories, and the human uses of great apes as food, as objects of entertainment, spectacle and science, as companions, and as representations.
Student learning outcomes and Evaluation methods:
The course will introduce students to the field of animal studies by reading, discussing, thinking, and writing about various traditions in the field, including anthropology, art, biology, history, literature philosophy, psychology, and sociology. At the end of this course students should:
A. Understand diverse methodologies to study both great apes themselves as well as their interactions with people. How this objective is evaluated: Essay exams.
B.Read, write, evaluate, and talk knowledgeably about research and theory about great apes in science and the humanities. How this objective is evaluated: Class discussion, multiple-choice quizzes, essay exams.
C.Understand diverse approaches to thinking about and representing great apes. How this objective is evaluated: Class discussion, multiple-choice quizzes, essay exams.
D.Analyze one topic about great apes in depth, using diverse perspectives. How this objective is evaluated: Book review, film review.
EIntegrate class material. How this objective is evaluated: Book review, film review, essay exams.
Course objectives: To make students knowledgeable about
Class participation: During each of the 28 class discussion periods, students are evaluated for their participation on a 6-point scale: 0 = absence, 1 = no participation, 3 = minimal participation, 4 = adequate participation, 5 = very good or excellent participation. However, for 4 of these classes that occur on Friday, students who are unable to attend class for whatever reason must submit a written discussion of the class material. This written material will be evaluated in the same scale as the class discussion. The two lowest grades for class discussion (not written material) will be dropped. Class participation (including written material) is worth 85 pts. If many students fail to participate in class discussion, daily quizzes will be initiated.
Book review:
The paper must be 7 full pages minimum, and is graded out of 15 pts. You should be using this review to show that you have consolidated your understanding of the material in the class, and thus tying in class material with discussion of the book itself.
Class presentation: Each student will select a topic to explore further, and present this topic to the class during a 10-minute period. (This topic is likely to be identical to the topic explored in the student's paper.) The actual presentation should take 9 minutes, which is followed by a 1-minute question and answer period. Students are evaluated on the quality of their overall presentation, their apparent preparation and thoroughness, and the coordination of their materials to effect understanding in their audience. The presentation is worth 100 pts.
Paper: Students will choose a topic from among those discussed, and will write a typed double-spaced paper about it, in APA style; the paper will be 15 or more pages of text (references and title page do not count). Students can use material from the course to write their paper, but they must also use other related scientific articles, books, or book chapters discovered on their own (or with help from me). The paper can be a review paper, in which the student summarizes research and offers an analysis of the general findings;
a theoretical paper,
; a historical paper, in which a theory is placed in its temporal context;
or a research proposal, in which the student presents a strong introductory analysis and uses prior research to develop his or her own research (avoiding previous confounds).
Possible topics are:
The paper is worth 100 pts.
NOTE: References for any written material must be in APA style.
Grading: 300 pts. possible. Cutoffs for: A=90%; B=80%; C=70%; D=60%; F=below 60%.
TENTATIVE Schedule of Required Readings and Lecture Topics
Book, articles, chaptersClass meeting
History & Literature & Popular Culture
Poe “Murders”; Sorenson, ch. 1-301: 21 Aug
Sorenson, ch. 5-6 + Timeline (pp. 190-191)02: 23 Aug
History & Philosophy
Corbey, Introduction, ch. 1-403: 28 Aug
Corbey, ch. 5-704: 30 Aug
History & Psychology
Mitchell, “History”05: 4 Sept
Sociology etc.
Cohen, Introduction, ch. 1-406: 6 Sept
Cohen, ch. 5-807: 11 Sept
Cohen, ch. 9-1208: 13 Sept
Behavioral Ecology
Caldecott & Miles, pp. 10-9609: 18 Sept
Caldecott & Miles, ch. 6-1010: 20 Sept
Caldecott & Miles, ch. 9-1211: 25 Sept
Caldecott & Miles, ch. 13-1512: 27 Sept
Conservation
Caldecott & Miles, pp. 286-37713: 2 Oct
Caldecott & Miles, pp. 378-43814: 4 Oct
Meet individually to discuss term paper topic15: 9 Oct
Personal relationships
16: 11 Oct
Ethology
Robbins & Boesch, Introduction, ch. 1-617: 16 Oct
Robbins & Boesch, ch. 7-1118: 18 Oct
Evolution
Mitchell & Parker, ch. 1-219: 23 Oct
Psychology
Mitchell & Parker, ch. 3, 1720: 25 Oct
Mitchell & Parker, ch. 4, 6-921: 30 Oct
Mitchell & Parker, ch. 10, 12-1322: 1 Nov
HOLIDAY!23: 6 Nov
Mitchell & Parker, ch. 5, 14, 1624: 8 Nov
Mitchell & Parker, ch. 11, 15, 18, 1925: 13 Nov
26: 15 Nov
27: 20 Nov
HOLIDAY!28: 22 Nov
29: 27 Nov
30: 29 Nov
Presentations:31: 4 Dec
Presentations:32: 6 Dec
Final paper due:Thurs, 13Dec, 1pm
Final notes: Departmental Writing Statement: Students in all psychology courses are expected to use correct grammar, spelling and composition in written assignments. These elements of writing will be taken into consideration in grading all out-of-class writing assignments. If you would like free help with your writing, you may use the Noel Studio in Library 208.
Disability Statement: If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please obtain your accommodation letters from the OSID and present them to the course instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you believe you need accommodation and are not registered with the OSID, please contact the Office in the Student Services Building Room 361 by email at or by telephone at (859) 622 2933 V/TDD. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in an alternative format.
Academic Integrity Statement: Students are advised that EKU’s Academic Integrity policy will strictly be enforced in this course. The Academic Integrity policy is available at Questions regarding the policy may be directed to the Office of Academic Integrity.
Official E-mail: An official EKU e-mail is established for each registered student, each faculty member, and each staff member. All university communications sent via e-mail will be sent to this EKU e-mail address.