- Your final paper should be written in formal academic style, with a clear introduction stating the thesis and purpose of the paper, a body and a strong conclusion summarizing your thesis and the results of your observations.
Section 1: Intro and Primate Descriptions
For Section 1 of the body of your paper, describe very clearly what this paper will be doing, state the nature of your research, and finally, summarize what the research results were. In the next short paragraph write up brief descriptions of the primates you observed at the zoo, based on your field notes. Be sure to describe any interesting behaviors observed and your general impressions of the primates. This section should also include the specific location of your primate observations (Zoo name, location and hyperlinks) the date and time of your observations, the common name of the Primates you observed (i.e. chimpanzee, lemur, etc.), and the scientific name of the species (Genus & species name). Use your own observations to describe the primates. Do not use online source descriptions here.
Section 2: Primate Comparison
Compare and contrast the behaviors of the two primates you observed. How do the behaviors of the primates differ from one another? How are they similar? In terms of evolution and natural selection, why might these differences and similarities exist? For each behavior or physical trait – you must interpret why they are the same or different. You referred to your chart when you discussed it. You addressed different categories of behavior: food acquisition and sharing, mating strategies, social organization, intelligence. You determine if they share or don’t share ancestral traits and if they do or don’t, then explain why.
Section 3: The Effects of Captivity
Reflect on the Captivity Chart that you made. What are the effects that being in captivity and on display in a zoo might have on the behaviors of the primates you observed. How “natural” do you think the behaviors you observed are? Would the primates act differently if observed in the wild? If so, can you explain why?
Section 4: Insights into Human Behavior from observations of Homo sapiens at the zoo
For Section 4 of the body of your paper, consider what kind of insights the primate behaviors you observed might give us insights into human behavior, either ancient or modern. Can you identify similar patterns of behavior in humans that you see at the zoo? If so, do you think that these patterns may come about for similar reasons as in the Primates, or for different reasons? What, ultimately, can studying Primates really tell us about humans, based especially on your work as a Primatologist? Explain why in terms of your data, do they seem to be similar or different from each other and from Homo sapiens. Be thinking the whole time about traits and data. Could each species share traits with humans and not with each other?
Section 5: Conclusion
Wrap it up – summarize everything from the other sections in a clear and concise manner.
Section 6: Works cited & Appendix
NOTE: this section is not part of the 4 page minimum. If you use online sources for example, to learn the scientific name, then cite your sources with a Reference, Works Cited or Bibliography page.