Written Assignment #1 Peopling of the Americas:
This week we focused on the first peopling of the Americas during the Pleistocene epoch and the major debates surrounding this topic. Your assignment is to write a short essay (700 words minimum) that summarizes the required readings assigned for Lesson 2 and includes the following:
- Compare and contrast the ‘Clovis first’/ice-free corridor hypothesis with the the coastal migration/‘kelp highway’ hypothesis. Specifically, what do each of these hypotheses claim in terms of the timing and migration routes of the first people in the Americas?
- For each hypothesis, include discussion of specific archaeological evidence/sites that are central to these debates. For example, what evidence supports and/or challenges each hypothesis?
- A critical synthesis of what you think is the most likely scenario given the evidence for or against each hypothesis.
- You must include both in-text citations and a bibliography for all articles you reference. Please format citations and references using APA style (i.e., not MLA). You may pull information from lecture material but it must be appropriately cited. You will be graded on writing quality, so be sure to check spelling, grammar, and sentence clarity.
- Please see below for a grading rubric.
Grading Rubric:
CriteriaRatingsPts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTiming AND route CFMentions both the timing and the route of the ‘Clovis first’/ice-free corridor hypothesis.
| 5.0 pts
Full Marks |
2.5 pts
Timing OR route CF Doesn’t mention either route or timing of the ‘Clovis first’/ice-free corridor hypothesis. |
0.0 pts
No Marks |
5.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTiming AND route KHMentions both the timing and the route of the Kelp highway/coastal migration hypothesis.
| 5.0 pts
Full Marks |
2.5 pts
Timing OR route KH Doesn’t mention either route or timing of the Kelp highway/coastal migration |
0.0 pts
No Marks |
5.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSpecific evidence for both KH and CFFor BOTH hypotheses, discusses specific archaeological evidence/sites that are central to these debates. For example, what evidence supports and/or challenges each hypothesis? Explain!!
| 10.0 pts
Full Marks |
7.5 pts
Evidence for both hypothesis but does not explain Mentions evidence or archaeological sites related to both hypotheses but does not explain how it supports or challenges the hypotheses. |
5.0 pts
Evidence for 1 hypothesis Discusses evidence for one hypothesis, and does not mention evidence for the other hypothesis. |
2.5 pts
Evidence for one hypothesis but does not explain Mentions evidence or archaeological sites related to both hypotheses but does not explain how it supports or challenges the hypothesis. |
0.0 pts
No Marks |
10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWhich hypothesis is more likely?Conducts a critical synthesis of what they think is the most likely scenario given the evidence for or against each hypothesis. Explain why, you think one hypothesis is more likely than the other, using evidence like, timing, route, artifacts, archaeological sites, etc.
| 5.0 pts
Full Marks |
2.5 pts
Does not explain why Indicates a more likely hypothesis but does not explain why this hypothesis is more likely. |
0.0 pts
No Marks |
5.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCitation and BibUsed APA for correct in text citation and bibliography.
| 5.0 pts
Full Marks |
4.0 pts
Bib and In text with mistakes Provided both a bibliography AND in text citation but with mistakes. |
2.5 pts
Bib OR in text citation Provided either a correct bibliography OR in text citation |
1.5 pts
Bib OR in text with mistakes Provided either a bibliography OR in text citation, but with mistakes. |
5.0 pts
Total Points: 30.0
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