Lost Tribes and Sunken Lands

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Critically analyze claims, arguments, artifacts or information. (MAC SLO 1)

• Construct coherent, evidence-based arguments. (MAC SLO 2)

Through specific course assignments, students will be asked to demonstrate the following:

• Define valid evidence supporting a theoretical or factual claim. Name the significant historical circumstances that supported the creation of particular myths in the United States during the colonial period. Relate how historical circumstances can impact research goals and the nature of scientific inquiry.

• Recognize the difference between scientifically obtained knowledge and fantastical claims. Identify stereotypes, biases, and unfounded assumptions.

• Apply scientific principles, archaeological methods, and critical thinking to claims made about the past, present, and future. Interpret material evidence from the past or present with regard to its historical development and its context.

• Question material presented in the popular media and the agenda of the presenter.

• Formulate expectations of what evidence would be required to test a hypothesis or substantiate a claim.

• Evaluate current beliefs with regards to the paranormal, extraterrestrial encounters, and other popular myths, and judge a popular myth or recent “scientific” discovery based on valid evidence in a brief essay.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
5 Discussion Boards	50 points
10 Weekly Exercises	100 points
2 Exams	100 points
Unit 1 Assignment	50 points
Unit 2 Assignment	70 points
Final Exam	100 points

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
93-100%	A
90-92%	A-
87-89%	B+
83-86%	B
80-82%	B-
77-79%	C+
73-76%	C
70-72%	C-
67-69%	D+
63-66%	D
60-62%	D-
59% and below	F

Attendance/Participation:

Because this course is online and asynchronous, there is no attendance grade. However, students should keep up with the suggested deadline for each lesson—do not wait until the last week that a unit is due and attempt to complete it all at once. The course schedule is posted on the class canvas page and lists both the recommended due date for each assignment and the required due date (a no later than date) for each unit. Students will have until the required due date to finish all assignments for each unit.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Feder, Kenneth 2025 Frauds, Myths and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology (eleventh edition). McGraw-Hill, New York.