The Assignment
The literature in evolutionary biology is extensive and diverse. This assignment is designed to help you learn to work with the literature. The idea for this paper is to critically examine some problem of current interest in evolutionary biology. You have considerable freedom in terms of the approach that you use. However, you must use primary research literature (you can use review articles as points of departure) and you must be critical in your approach. Choose a topic that interests you, and that has some broad evolutionary implications. You might examine the development of a particular concept during the past several years by choosing a paper from 10 or so years ago and then picking a very recent paper for comparison. Alternatively, you might pick a controversial topic and examine different points of view. Be alert to differing scientific methodologies of philosophies and to the possibility of alternative explanations for similar observations. There is no need to limit your options; you may be able to think of some other approaches. However, you should discuss your thoughts on paper topics with the instructors before you begin to write.
Do not approach this assignment with the idea that there is going to be something wrong with the papers you read. A critic is one who expresses a reasoned opinion on a matter, involving a judgement on its correctness, value, or significance. Give your reader enough information so that your arguments can be followed and your opinions understood, but do not summarize the papers being discussed. Rather, focus on issues that attract your attention and present them in a comparative, critical and synthetic way.
Choosing a Topic
You might start by reviewing Evolution (QH301.E82), American Naturalist (QH1.A5), Systematic Zoology (QL1.S95), or some other journals. Scan tables of contents for several volumes issued during the past ten years. You might get some ideas from your text or from such books as Kimura's The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution, Raff and Kaufman's Embryos, Genes and Evolution, Stanley's Macroevolution, Endler's NaturalSelection in the Wild, or Levinton's Genetics, Paleontology and Macroevolution. Collections of articles such as Bateson's Mate Choice and Otte andEndler's Speciation and Its Consequences, and reviews like Evolutionary Biology (QH366.A1.E9), Trends in Ecology and Evolution (QH366.A1.T7), Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics (QH540.A55) will also give you ideas. There are some interesting newer journals, such as Paleobiology (QE701.P2952), in addition to such standard ones as Science (Q1.S33) and Nature (Q1.N2). Once you find an article of interest explore its literature cited for other articles of related interest.
Use Science Citation Index for determining the workers who are citing papers of interest to you. The Biosciences reference desk is an excellent resource if you are not familiar with library research (and even if you are). See also the tips on getting started.
Here are a few tips for writing the term paper
Write in a scientific style. In general, discuss ideas not "papers", "articles" or authors. Do not talk about the "assignment". Avoid "book report" style. Write for a professional audience. Use journals like TREE, Evolution, and American Naturalist as models for writing style.
Avoid passive voice in your writing (see us if you need clarification).
Avoid excessive quotation.
Avoid overly verbose or pedantic style.
Avoid "touchy-feely" writing that relies too much on your personal experiences.
Be organized. Start from an outline.
Make your goals clear in your introduction (you could even state them explicitly as "I will argue that 1) xxxxxx, 2) xxxxxx; and therefore 3) xxxxxx").
Support all of your statements, preferably with scientific evidence from the primary literature. If you are guessing or making an arbitrary judgement, say so. Admit to uncertainty in your or others' conclusions.
Make sure that your paper concludes by fulfilling your goals. You might suggest future directions or unsolved questions.
When finished, make sure to trace the logic of your arguments from introduction to conclusion -use formal logic if applicable. Many papers lack logically cohesive arguments or are contradictory; don't let this happen to you.
Present your paper in good form: underline/italicize scientific names and use the literature citation format of Evolution and American Naturalist. Cite all sources, each time you mention ideas or data attributable to them. Include all (and only) references cited in the text in the literature cited section.
Make sure to edit carefully. Use a spelling-checker if you have a computer. Plan on cutting out unnecessary or redundant sections. Plan on adding sections to clarify key points. (This is a normal part of the evolution of any paper). Do not hand in a first draft.
Have someone proofread your paper.
Use Writing about biology by Jan Pechenik or another science-writing manual as a guide for style.
The length of the paper should be a minimum of 8 and maximum 12 pages (not including literature cited), double-spaced, typed with 12 point Times New Roman font with 1" margins. The grade will be based on our assessment of your critical abilities, on the originality of your treatment, and on the total development of the paper.