ANT 426 FORENSIC OSTEOLOGY METHOD AND THEORY

SPRING 2012 SYLLABUS

Professor:

Dr. Albert

Office:

Social & Behavioral Sciences Building (SBS), Room 102

Phone:

910.962.7078

Email:

albertm@uncw.edu

 

Office Hours:

Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-9:15 AM or by appointment

Class Website:

http://people.uncw.edu/albertm/ant426spring2012

Class Meetings:

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 AM-12:15 PM,  SBS 201 and 101 as announced

Required Textbooks (2):

(1) Introduction to Forensic Anthropology , 4th edition, Steven N. Byers, Prentice Hall Publishers, ISBN 13:  978-0-20579012-8; ISBN 10:  0-20579012-7

 

(2) Hard Evidence:  Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology, 2nd edition, Dawnie Wolfe Steadman (Ed.), Pearson/Prentice H all Publishers, ISBN 13:  978-0-13-605073-5; ISBN 10:  0-13-605073-5

 

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION:  ANT 426 Forensic Osteology Method and Theory (3) Prerequisites:  ANT 326 and ANTL 326 with a grade of “C” (2.00) or better.  This is an advanced osteology seminar/laboratory course focusing on the application of skeletal and dental analyses for establishing human identification, time since death, and manner of death.

DETAILED COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This 3-credit hour seminar/laboratory course offers students both a theoretical and applied understanding of techniques used in the practice of human identification, which includes analyses of time since death and pathology (i.e., trauma and disease).   Students will learn forensic anthropology concepts and methods through required reading—a textbook and an edited book of case studies—and during class sessions.  Students will demonstrate knowledge of the material via seminar-style class discussions (e.g., oral communication), written exercises from the textbook, and written quizzes (e.g., written communication).  A semester project involves students working on a mock forensic case:  conducting a bone inventory, collecting data, analyzing results, completing a written forensic case report, and delivering an oral presentation on their forensic case, summarizing the background and key findings of the case.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  Below is a synopsis of what you will be able to do/know—and the questions you will be able to answer—after successful completion of this course if you have read the material, attended class regularly, and actively participated:

1.        Discuss the significance of forensic anthropology:

·         What do forensic anthropologists research?

·         How and what does forensic anthropology contribute to science and humanity?

2.       Understand the history of forensic anthropology:

·         What events led to the founding of a science of human identification? 

·         What does “forensic” mean?

·         What is the difference between forensic anthropology and other forensic sciences?

 

3.       Recall basic osteology:

·         Names and locations of bones, features, teeth, and landmarks that compose the human skeleton.

·         Anatomy and growth of bones.

4.       Recognize skeletal remains in a forensic context:

·         Understand how to determine bone from nonbone and human bone from nonhuman bone.

·         What is the difference in skeletal remains that are contemporary versus noncontemporary?

5.       Discuss body/skeletal material recovery methods and time since death estimations: 

·         How are remains located?

·         How is a death scene mapped?

·         How is a body exhumed?

·         What is collected and how?

·         What is done in a mass disaster situation?

·         What is done in a situation of genocide?

·         How does a body decompose?

·         How can the postmortem interval be determined?

6.       Describe and analyze skeletal remains and be able to determine:

·         Biological sex, ancestry, age at death, stature.

·         Trauma:  antemortem, perimortem, or postmortem?  What are the characteristics?

·         Patterns of Injury:  Explain the differences between blunt force, sharp force, and projectile injury to bone.

·         Disease and anomalies:  how is disease recognized?  What are skeletal anomalies?

·         How do bones change after death as a result of dismemberment; animal scavenging; and fire, weathering, burial, and water damage?

7.       Obtaining a positive identification:

·         What features of the body and or methods are used to positively identify an unknown individual?

·         Explain how facial characteristics may be used to positively identify an unknown individual.

·         How can handedness and body weight be determined?

8.       Understand and discuss and the various types of cases forensic anthropologists work on:

·         Homicide:  What unusual or typical scenarios might a forensic anthropologist come across?

·         Mass disaster

·         Genocide

 

 

 

 

CLASS MEETINGS:  Readings and class material are discussed seminar-style where discussion is emphasized.   Students are responsible for reading prior to class, attending class regularly, participating in discussions, and taking notes.  It is strongly recommended that you get to know someone in class to study with or get notes from if you miss a class.  Methods of osteological analysis are practiced in class, laboratory-style. 

 

ASSESSMENT:  Quizzes, Textbook Exercises, and a Semester Project which includes an oral presentation on the day final examinations are scheduled, compose the overall course grade.

 

·         Quizzes:  The best 12 of 15 quizzes will count 35% of your overall course grade.  Quizzes are based on outside readings and are worth 20 points each.  There are no make ups for missed quizzes; if you miss class on a day when a quiz is given, the missed quiz may count as one of your three drops.  Quiz format may vary (e.g., multiple choice, matching, fill in, short answer).

 

·         Textbook Exercises:  Written answers to questions posed at the end of most chapters of your textbook will be due at the beginning of class when noted on the schedule.  Answers must be typed and printed out (no email attachments).  A total of 17 exercises worth 10 points each counts for 35% of your overall course grade.  If you miss a class, you may still turn in (physically, no email attachments) the exercises for credit.

 

·         Semester Project:    A skeletal case will be assigned to you that you will work on as part of a collaborative effort, in a small group, where you will conduct a bone inventory, collect data (i.e., take measurements), and analyze the remains in order to develop the biological profile, determine time since death, and explain any anomalies, disease or trauma.  You will create a portfolio of your “forensic case” which will contain data sheets, notes, and observations.  A final written osteological report will be submitted and on the day of the final exam, oral reports will be presented where you will summarize the highlights of your “forensic case” with the other groups in class.  More detailed information regarding the project will be provided in class.  The project is worth 30% of your final course grade (20% for the written report and portfolio and 10% for the oral presentation).

 

·         Extra credit:  Bonus questions may appear on quizzes.   There are no outside assignments for extra credit. 

 

·         Grading Scale:

 

A

94-100

B

84-86

C

74-76

D

64-66

A-

90-93

B-

80-83

C-

70-73

D-

60-63

B+

87-89

C+

77-79

D+

67-69

F

59 and below

 

·         Attendance and Participation:  Attendance is taken each day class meets.  There is no penalty for missing class—you will not lose any points.  Attendance counts as extra credit for participation in that you earn a grade for the number of times you attend class out of the total times class meets.  If class meets a total of 30 times this semester, and you miss three classes, then you’ve attended 27 out of 30 times (27 divided by 30 = .90) which is 90% and translates to .5 points added to your total course points.   If at the end of the semester, you have a borderline grade, the .5 boost will get you to the next highest grade. 

ACADEMIC HONOR CODE:  Students are expected to respect and follow the guidelines of the Academic Honor Code (Section I, UNCW Code of Student Life).  Please be informed of this campus-wide policy:  http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/odos/honorcode/index.html   Academic dishonesty such as cheating or plagiarizing will not be tolerated and violations will result in disciplinary action (Section I, Code of Student Life).

 

SEAHAWK RESPECT COMPACT:  Framed and hanging on the wall in each of the classrooms, the Seahawk Respect Compact is a reminder of the importance of our environment in fostering effective learning.  Please become familiar with this campus-wide message:  http://www.uncw.edu/diversity/src.html

DISABILITY SERVICES:  If you have a learning disability, or believe you may have a learning disability, you are encouraged to contact Disability Services (910.962.3746) in Westside Hall. If alternate testing accommodations are desired, the appropriate paperwork must be completed so that arrangements can be made prior to testing.For more information on this topic, please refer to the UNCW Code of Student Life, POLICY B, Disability Accommodations. 

COURSE SCHEDULE:    The schedule of class meetings, lecture topics, laboratory sessions, required textbook readings, and test days are listed on the next page.
ANT 426 Forensic Osteology Method and Theory:  Course Schedule

T=Tuesday, R=Thursday

Week

Dates

Topics

Byers Chapter Exercises due

Readings:  Byers

Readings:  Steadman

1

R 1/12

Course Introduction:  topics, class format, discussion of content and lab exercises, semester project

 

 

 

2

T 1/17

R 1/19

Osteology review, defining forensic relevance

1 (odd numbers)

2 (odd numbers)

Chapters 1-2
Chapter 3

 

3

T 1/24

R 1/26

Search and recovery of remains, time since death estimation

Quizzes 1 and 2

4 (even)
5 (odd)

Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Chapter 7
Chapter 13

4

T 1/31

R 2/2

Conducting a skeletal inventory, ancestry estimation

Quizzes 3 and 4

6 (even)

7 (odd)

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapters 12 and 3
Chapter 14

5

T 2/7

R 2/9

Sex determination

Quizzes 5 and 6

8 (even)

Chapter 8

Chapter 1
Chapter 19

6

T 2/14

R 2/16

Age Estimation

Quizzes 7 and 8

9 (odd)

Chapter 9

Chapter 4
Chapter 16

7

T 2/21

R 2/23

American Academy of Forensic Sciences Meetings

10 (even)

Chapter 10

 

8

T 2/28

R 3/1

Stature estimation, trauma analysis

Quizzes 9 and 10

11 (odd)

12 (even)

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 15
Chapter 17

9

T 3/6

R 3/8

Blunt trauma, sharp trauma

Quizzes 11 and 12

13 (odd)

14 (even)

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 5
Chapter 22

10

T 3/13

R 3/15

SPRING BREAK:  CLASS DOES NOT MEET

 

 

 

11

T 3/20

R 3/22

Disease and pathology

Quiz 13

Postmortem trauma
Quiz 14

15 (odd)

 

16 (even)

 

Chapter 15

 

Chapter 16

 

Chapter 6

 

Chapter 2

12

T 3/27

R 3/29

Antemortem info and ID

Semester Project Consults
Quiz 15

17 (odd)

18 (even)

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 9

Chapter 20

13

T 4/3

R 4/5

The future
SPRING HOLIDAY:  CLASS DOES NOT MEET

 

Chapter 19

 

14

T 4/10

R 4/12

Semester Project
Semester Project

 

 

 

15

T 4/17

R 4/19

Semester Project
Semester Project

 

 

 

16

T 4/24

R 4/26

Semester Project
Semester Project

 

 

 

17

T 5/1

Reading Day

 

 

 

Semester Projects due Thursday, May 8 at 11:30 AM; Oral Presentations begin at 11:30 AM