Adaptation Essay

Inference - a thinking process that allows us to think about ideas and build models of concepts that are NOT directly observable.  Inference often leads to explanatory or predictive statements.

Problem Statement
    Scientists define evolution as the natural selection of genetic traits which allow a species to adapt to their environment. People are as much a part of the environment as any other living organism and people’s actions are just another natural process. 

1) People should be able to act as they choose and accept the consequences of their actions as natural evolution. 
                or
2) People’s actions should be controlled to limit certain evolutionary processes (extinction of species, forced adaptation, etc.).

Thesis Statement
    A statement of the author’s position on the topic and a few sentences about what you expect to find in your research.

Deadlines
    You must strictly adhere to all due dates. Elements of the essay are to be turned in at the beginning of class. Late thesis statements or rough drafts will NOT receive credit, although they may be turned in for comment. 10 points will be deducted for each day the final draft is late.

Writer’s Workshop
    First of all, THANK YOU to Ms. Williamsen for her help with the grading rubric for this essay. You will recognize the rubric because Ms. Williamsen developed it. I simply adapted the rubric to fit our needs in science.
    Secondly, go to Ms. Williamsen’s WRITER’S WORKSHOP at lunchtime. What a fantastic resource! Take advantage of it! Ms. Williamsen will help you with pre-writing, mechanics and content. I cannot emphasis enough how much this will help your grade. Go early; don’t wait until the day before the deadline when everyone else will be there.

Thesis Statement and Rationale (due May 10, 2006)
A statement of the author’s position on the topic and a few sentences about what you expect to find in your research.          __________ of 5

Rough Draft (due May 17, 2006)
A minimum of an introductory, concluding and three body paragraphs. Each paragraph has a minimum of four sentences.       __________ of 5

Final Draft (due May 26, 2006)
Introduction & Thesis __________ of 15
Does the essay have a thesis statement at the beginning of the introductory paragraph that addresses the author’s position on the topic? Does the introduction give information about the evidence the author will use to support the thesis, but does not repeat what the body paragraphs offer?

Topic Sentences __________ of 10
Does each body paragraph have a strong topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph will discuss?               

Evidence __________ of 20
Do the body paragraphs offer evidence from your listed sources to support the assertions of your thesis? Does the essay offer interpretation of the evidence, telling how and why specific points are relevant? 

Conclusion    __________ of 20            
Does the concluding paragraph of the essay offer more than a repetition of the introduction? Does the conclusion assert a main point and summarize the key pieces of evidence?       

Mechanics __________ of 15
Does the essay use proper grammar and spelling? Is it organized logically? Does the essay follow the assigned topic an length? Does the essay have an interesting, creative title?            

Quotation Format __________ of 5
Does the essay contain three to six properly introduced, punctuated, and cited in the APA format (Williamsen, 2003). Are the quotations placed in “sandwiches” that provide context and interpretation?    

Bibliography  __________ of 5
Is there a bibliography citing at least five sources (your Text and David Attenborough’s Life on Earth may be used as two of the sources) using APA style?                                       

Comments

[Einat B.]

Mr. Byerly-
You said that for the quotations we need to put them in sandwiches. However, how can we interpret the quotations because since this is a scientific paper, everything we write is fact. In literature, we take a quotation from the book and interpret it to a theme or a general idea that is not fact. How are we supposed to interpret something that is already fact?

[Haley]

Hi Mr. Byerly
I was wondering if you had the example of the Adaptaions Essay on your website. I cant seem to find it and I am having trouble with my Bibliography so i was wondering if i could take a look at the example you showed us in class.

Thanks!!

[Sarah Milstein]

Hi Mr. Byerly,
I do not really understand what the thesis is supposed to be. It sounds like it is the Intro Paragraph, but you call it a thesis statement. I will do my best if I do not see a reply to this.
Thanks,
Sarah M.