Order Description
1) Homo sapiens: encephalization & cooperative breeding Describe some of the potential problems for Homo sapiens when the selection pressures favoring bipedal morphology eventually conflicted with the selection pressures favoring increased encephalization. Then explain some of the physical and behavioral adaptations that evolved to solve these problems; be sure to describe adaptations seen in both infants and adults that evolved as solutions to the problems of encephalization. Articles to answer this question : “Mothers and Others” and “The Evolution of Menopause”
2) Homo sapiens: cognitive changes & spread First, describe the debate about the Out of Africa versus Multiregional theories of human evolution, and then explain what theory is now best supported by the current fossil and genetic evidence. Next, describe the debate about whether there was a sudden cognitive “revolution” versus there was a more gradual cognitive “evolution”, and explain which theory is best supported by the current evidence.
Articles to answer this question : “Morning of The Modern Mind” and “ New View of the birth of Homo sapiens”
3) Homo sapiens: variation First explain the timing and selective pressures causing hominin skin color changes from our LCA 6 m.y.a. to the diversity we see now in modern humans. Use evidence from the readings to evaluate the debate about whether race is a biological or cultural category. Then, explain why sex and gender have traditionally assumed to be binary, and the current evidence suggesting that these assumptions may be invalid. Finally, discuss why we should carefully examine our current use of racial and/or gender categories.
Articles to answer this question : “How Real is Race” and “Gender Cognitive Dissonance”