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4 pages/≈1100 words
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Style:
APA
Subject:
Social Sciences
Type:
Essay
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English (U.S.)
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Topic:

Be An Anthropologist. Social Sciences Assignment.

Essay Instructions:

Assignment Instructions
Assignment 3: Be An Anthropologist
Studying Change
Due:
11:55pm ET on Sunday of Week 7


Purpose:

The primary goal of this exercise is for the student to further examine evolution from the perspective of two subfields in anthropology. The all-encompassing nature of evolution will be illustrated, and students will have the opportunity to explore the holistic nature of anthropology.

Description:

Anthropologists study many different aspects of humanity in order to fully understand the diversity of the human species. One of these aspects concerns our development as a species, both physically and culturally. For the assignment, the student will first discuss and investigate evolution as viewed by physical anthropology, and then the student will investigate and discuss evolution from one other subfield – cultural, linguistic, or archaeological.

Directions:
In a 4-6 page written assignment, answer the following questions.

1) Define evolution using the course materials.
2) Define physical anthropology. Discuss some of the general ways physical anthropologists investigate evolution.
3) Using the APUS Library, find at least one appropriate outside source that identifies one specific research project in which physical anthropologists are studying evolution (e.g. the Human Genome Project). Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution. Conduct original research, do not use the genome project because that example is given in class. Be sure to cite your source.
4) Choose and define a second subfield of anthropology (cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, or archaeology).
5) Discuss some of the general ways an anthropologist in this second subfield investigates evolution.
*Remember, evolution can apply to both physical and societal changes, so things like language and customs can evolve just as much as bodies and brains can.
6) Using the APUS Library, find at least one appropriate outside source that identifies one specific research project in which anthropologists in this second subfield are studying evolution. Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution. For example, an archaeologist may look at how tools have changed through time, and what has caused that change (conduct your own original research, do not use this example). Be sure to cite your source.
8) Discuss how the study of evolution between physical anthropology and your chosen subfield compares and contrasts.
9) Conclude by discussing and reflecting on one new piece of information you learned about evolution.

Coaching: Finding articles to use for this Assignment
Review this screencast or script to help you learn to locate appropriate college-level sources using the search tool in our Library.
Review this FAQ page from our Librarian: How do I find the full text of publications associated with active anthropological research projects that focus on evolution or culture?

Disclaimer
Originality of attachments will be verified by Turnitin. Both you and your instructor will receive the results.

Writing Expectations
All written submissions should be submitted using APA formatting. In part, this includes:
Typewritten in double-spaced format with a readable style and font and submitted inside the electronic classroom.
Arial 11 or 12-point font or Times New Roman styles.
Page margins Top, Bottom, Left Side and Right Side = 1 inch, with reasonable accommodation being made for special situations and online submission variances.
Save as .doc, .rtf, or .pdf
See a Basics of APA Style tutorial for coaching on APA formatting. For additional resources see our Library, and the Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Be an Anthropologist
Name
Course
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Evolution can be defined as the change over a number of generations in the characteristic traits of a species, which depends on the natural selection process. The physical characteristics of all species depend on the genetic variation in a given populace CITATION Cla12 \l 1033 (Boulanger, 2012). Notably, evolution is of the idea that all species are related in one way or the other and that they all undergo gradual changes as time goes by. However, the physical characteristics of certain organisms give such organisms an advantage over others and these characteristics are passed on to the next generation.
On the other hand, while evolution involve the study of evolution in all species, physical anthropology narrows down to the study of evolution in humans only while looking deep into their adaptations and variations to environmental strains for purposes of survival over time. Physical anthropologists rely on the evolutionary perspective to examine the physical form of humans and its functionality in a bid to enhance its survival as well as reproduce. It should be noted that within this field of physical anthropology, physical or biological anthropologists focus in different areas of interest including the study of primates and hominids based on the fossil information as well as what can be defined via relative anatomy and research on communal organization and conduct from the closest extant relatives of humans CITATION Mha14 \l 1033 (Gibson & Lawson, 2014). This field is known as paleoanthropology.
Similarly, primatology involve the study of the evolution of monkeys, prosimians, and apes, which is relied upon to understand the distinguishing characteristics among the various groups as well as those features that make these groups similar. In addition, skeletal biologists concentrate on studying anatomically modern humans whereby archaeological sites are focused on to provide primary information in a bid to understand the maladies and elucidate the circumstances under which these past individuals died CITATION Mha14 \l 1033 (Gibson & Lawson, 2014). Other physical anthropologists under the name forensic anthropologists rely on the researches done by skeletal biologists in order to help them identify and analyze the most recently deceased people and this often demands complex legal procedures.
Another general way that physical anthropologists study the evolution of humans is through the use of human biologists whose concentration is only based on the contemporary humans to examine to study human anatomy and physiology as well as their reproduction and the impacts of social status and other aspects on their growth and development CITATION Cla12 \l 1033 (Boulanger, 2012). Notably, physical anthropologists are uniquely positioned as the only link betwixt sociology and biology because of the fact that they their study seeks to understand not only the physical features of humans but also the social and cultural factor of their existence.
One of the many research projects pursued by physical anthropologists to study the evolution is the research on the genome evolution of enamel thickness in hominoids CITATION Jul12 \l 1033 (Horvath, et al., 2012). The ...
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