·        Write an essay of no fewer than 2 pages (that is, no fewer than 600 words with standard 1" margins).  You must use citations, and you may use quotes.  Of course, quotes will not contribute to your 600 words.  Post your completed essays in the Essay_2 folder before the time of the final examination.

·        Because it is an essay, we require that you draw upon and include personal observations and reactions concerning the concepts of biological diversity that we stressed during the course.

·        We expect you to weave in examples from the course at large to include the readings (especially Gary Larson's book, Origin, & Paths of Science), the observations, and general connections with other areas of Biology.

·        Consider your reevaluations of the questions that we asked as a pre-assessment on the first day of class:

1.     Define modern evolutionary theory with the emphasis on micro evolution.

2.     What is the relationship between taxonomy, phylogeny and modern evolutionary theory?

3.  What is the relationship between modern evolutionary theory and modern biology?

4.  What are the distinctions between hypotheses, theories, and laws in science?

5.  What kinds of organisms would you consider to be "the most highly evolved"?

We will give you copies of your original responses.

·        This essay will serve as a point of departure for your final discussion.

·        Although you may draw upon it as an example, we will not allow the essay or the discussion to be dominated by the evolution-religion debate.