Choose one of four possible topics as the basis for your assignment and address four questions concerning the topic you have chosen.

Choose one of four possible topics as the basis for your assignment and address four questions concerning the topic you have chosen.

The topics are ones on which you might hold strong views, however, in science and many other fields, it is also necessary to be able to recognise and accurately summarise the arguments on both sides of the debate. Thus, even though you will be asked your opinion you should maintain a professional and dispassionate writing style. OPTIONS: You have ONE of FOUR options – do only ONE option, not all four! OPTION 1: The controversy over whether ‘intelligent design’ should be taught in schools. In the Unites States, there have been strong pushes to have creationism, and particularly Intelligent Design (ID), recognised as a valid alternative theory that should be taught in science classes, and given equal standing alongside evolution. Many biologists have fought hard against this and won high-profile legal cases to prevent them from being legally obliged to include teaching of creationism in biology classes. NOTE the wording of this option. This is NOT about the evidence for evolution vs. intelligent design – but about whether the latter should be taught in schools. OPTION 2: The controversy over evolutionary psychology and whether it is science or pseudoscience. Some evolutionary biologists have argued that human behaviours are the product of evolution by selection, and hence evolutionary explanations can account for the huge range of human behaviours and emotions (e.g. jealousy, warfare, friendship, art, humour etc.). However, others consider evolutionary psychology to be a dubious field of research, arguing that it tries to formulate over-simplistic and scientifically dubious evolutionary explanations for what are complex behaviours. OPTION 3: The controversy over Lamarckian evolution For 150 years Darwin’s theories of evolution by natural selection have dominated evolutionary thinking. However, an alternative, earlier theory, proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, based on the premise that offspring could inherit traits acquired by their parents has never fully died. In recent years the discovery of epigenetic mechanisms of inheritance (traits inherited from parents that are not genetic in basis), has led to a resurgence of Lamarckism, with its proponents arguing it should be incorporated into broader evolutionary theory. Many evolutionary biologists continue to disagree, arguing that epigenetics has no evolutionary effect whatsoever. Suggested reading starting points: OPTION 4: The controversy over sexual selection Darwin produced two key linked mechanisms of evolution – natural selection and sexual selection. The latter identifies that selection for (usually) males by females can drive the evolution of key traits (e.g. like the peacock’s tail). However, recently it has been argued, particularly strongly by respected evolutionary biologist Prof Joan Roughgarden, that sexual selection is fundamentally flawed and needs a rethink. Most evolutionary biologists disagree, but the controversy still persists. Task requirements: When you have decided on which topic you would like to discuss, you will need to address the following questions. 1. Concisely summarise in a single paragraph (max. 150 words) what the controversy is about. This should serve as a brief introduction to the topic only, enough to provide the reader with a clear idea of what the issue is and what the competing viewpoints are, but without detailed argument and explanation. You may need to provide a brief explanation of particular terms. 2. Identify three key points of contention surrounding this issue (max. 600 words). For each point state the arguments on both sides. Do so by citing at least one relevant article that makes the point (hence there should be at least 6 genuine citations – see below for information on appropriate references and referencing style). This section should serve as a more in depth presentation of the key arguments and counter-arguments. You must provide a balanced overview of the arguments with appropriate reference to the literature. 3. Why is this controversy important? Identify, based on your reading, what the broader implications (either scientific or social) are of issues surrounding this controversy (max. 150 words) 4. What is your view and why? State clearly what side of the argument you agree with, but also justify your position. Produce a reasoned argument for why you have decided on this view, using the literature to back up your position. You may want to consider any obvious counter-arguments to your position, and how you would deal with these (max. 300 words) Demonstrate your written communication skills and writing in a professional manner. This will take into account good referencing style, good spelling and grammar, and overall readability and logical structure of your prose (no bullet points – properly written-well structured paragraph(s) that synthesized arguments). Reading and referencing: As indicated earlier, you will be expected to discuss arguments surrounding these issues, and support your own position, with reference to other articles. Clearly, to be able to complete the assignment, you will need to track-down and read these articles, and in part, therefore, this assignment is testing your ability to track down appropriate references. I strongly recommend that you source references through an academic portal such as GoogleScholar (https://scholar.google.com.au), or the Web of Knowledge (www.isiknowledge.com), rather than simply doing an indiscriminate web search (which turns up lots of crazy hits). To find appropriate articles, you might want to type in combinations of terms like ‘teaching, education, evolution, creationism, intelligent design’ or ‘evolutionary psychology, controversies, review, critique’ or ‘Lamarckian evolution, epigenetics’ or ‘sexual selection, Roughgarden’. To get more up-to-date arguments, you might want to restrict your searches to articles published in, say, the last 10 years.

Written assignment addressing questions on a controversy concerning evolution (1000 words)

 

TASK

Answer a series of questions designed to get you to demonstrate your ability to synthesise, and think critically, about arguments surrounding an aspect of evolutionary biology that is the source of public or scientific controversy.

 

Background: Perhaps more than most subjects in biology, evolution seems prone to arguments surrounding its validity, mechanisms or applicability. To many non-scientists in other countries, particularly where religious beliefs are strongly held, these may extend to absolute rejection of evolution. But even within the scientific community, where evolution is generally accepted, there are still ongoing controversies concerning how traditional evolutionary theory deals with particular biological phenomena. In this assignment we are asking you to examine in more depth one of these controversies.

 

Brief: Choose one of four possible topics as the basis for your assignment and address four questions concerning the topic you have chosen (see below). These questions will ask you to identify the source of the controversy, highlight the key arguments, critically analyse these arguments and formulate a logical justification for your own position.

 

Purpose of this assignment:

Show your capacity to:

1) correctly identify and summarise an issue of scientific or public controversy surrounding evolution;

2) utilize scientific literature sources to identify the key arguments at the heart of this controversy;

3) think critically about these arguments to produce a defendable position and

4) communicate through clear writing and structure, in an appropriate scientifically professional style.

 

The topics are ones on which you might hold strong views, however, in science and many other fields, it is also necessary to be able to recognise and accurately summarise the arguments on both sides of the debate. Thus, even though you will be asked your opinion you should maintain a professional and dispassionate writing style.

 

Task requirements: When you have decided on which topic you would like to discuss, you will need to address the following questions.

 

1. Concisely summarise in a single paragraph (max. 150 words) what the controversy is about. This should serve as a brief introduction to the topic only, enough to provide the reader with a clear idea of what the issue is and what the competing viewpoints are, but without detailed argument and explanation. You may need to provide a brief explanation of particular terms.

 

2. Identify three key points of contention surrounding this issue (max. 600 words). For each point state the arguments on both sides. Do so by citing at least one relevant article that makes the point (hence there should be at least 6 genuine citations – see below for information on appropriate references and referencing style). This section should serve as a more in depth presentation of the key arguments and counter-arguments. You must provide a balanced overview of the arguments with appropriate reference to the literature.

 

3. Why is this controversy important? Identify, based on your reading, what the broader implications (either scientific or social) are of issues surrounding this controversy (max. 150 words)

 

4. What is your view and why? State clearly what side of the argument you agree with, but also justify your position. Produce a reasoned argument for why you have decided on this view, using the literature to back up your position. You may want to consider any obvious counter-arguments to your position, and how you would deal with these (max. 300 words)

 

Demonstrate your written communication skills and writing in a professional manner. This will take into account good referencing style, good spelling and grammar, and overall readability and logical structure of your prose (no bullet points – properly written-well structured paragraph(s) that synthesized arguments).

 

OPTIONS: You have ONE of FOUR options – do only ONE option, not all four!

 

OPTION 1: The controversy over whether ‘intelligent design’ should be taught in schools.

 

In the Unites States, there have been strong pushes to have creationism, and particularly Intelligent Design (ID), recognised as a valid alternative theory that should be taught in science classes, and given equal standing alongside evolution. Many biologists have fought hard against this and won high-profile legal cases to prevent them from being legally obliged to include teaching of creationism in biology classes. NOTE the wording of this option. This is NOT about the evidence for evolution vs. intelligent design – but about whether the latter should be taught in schools.

 

OPTION 2: The controversy over evolutionary psychology and whether it is science or pseudoscience.

 

Some evolutionary biologists have argued that human behaviours are the product of evolution by selection, and hence evolutionary explanations can account for the huge range of human behaviours and emotions (e.g. jealousy, warfare, friendship, art, humour etc.). However, others consider evolutionary psychology to be a dubious field of research, arguing that it tries to formulate over-simplistic and scientifically dubious evolutionary explanations for what are complex behaviours.

 

OPTION 3: The controversy over Lamarckian evolution

 

For 150 years Darwin’s theories of evolution by natural selection have dominated evolutionary thinking. However, an alternative, earlier theory, proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, based on the premise that offspring could inherit traits acquired by their parents has never fully died. In recent years the discovery of epigenetic mechanisms of inheritance (traits inherited from parents that are not genetic in basis), has led to a resurgence of Lamarckism, with its proponents arguing it should be incorporated into broader evolutionary theory. Many evolutionary biologists continue to disagree, arguing that epigenetics has no evolutionary effect whatsoever. Suggested reading starting points:

 

OPTION 4: The controversy over sexual selection

 

Darwin produced two key linked mechanisms of evolution – natural selection and sexual selection. The latter identifies that selection for (usually) males by females can drive the evolution of key traits (e.g. like the peacock’s tail). However, recently it has been argued, particularly strongly by respected evolutionary biologist Prof Joan Roughgarden, that sexual selection is fundamentally flawed and needs a rethink. Most evolutionary biologists disagree, but the controversy still persists.

 

 

 

 

Reading and referencing: As indicated earlier, you will be expected to discuss arguments surrounding these issues, and support your own position, with reference to other articles. Clearly, to be able to complete the assignment, you will need to track-down and read these articles, and in part, therefore, this assignment is testing your ability to track down appropriate references.

 

What kind of references should I use?

Bear in mind that the quality and credibility of sources you find on the web can vary enormously.

 

The levels of credibility of sources descends in roughly in the following order:

• peer-reviewed journal articles (highest credibility)
• academic books or professional organization reports
• other books
• academic websites of science/education organisations
• newspaper articles
• non-academic websites/blogs/comment pages (lowest credibility)

 

I strongly recommend that you source references through an academic portal such as GoogleScholar (https://scholar.google.com.au), or the Web of Knowledge (www.isiknowledge.com), rather than simply doing an indiscriminate web search (which turns up lots of crazy hits).

 

To find appropriate articles, you might want to type in combinations of terms like ‘teaching, education, evolution, creationism, intelligent design’ or ‘evolutionary psychology, controversies, review, critique’ or ‘Lamarckian evolution, epigenetics’ or ‘sexual selection, Roughgarden’. To get more up-to-date arguments, you might want to restrict your searches to articles published in, say, the last 10 years.

 

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