Posted: July 22nd, 2015

Write a six paragraph essay that explains the mechanisms of natural selection and sexual selection by using a single example of an animal (Tiger). Isolate specific points in the Charles Darwin’s “Natural Selection” essay that deal with various aspects of natural selection and sexual selection and use an example to demonstrate how various adaptations work well and allow the animal to survive and reproduce.

Topic: Write a six paragraph essay that explains the mechanisms of natural selection and sexual selection by using a single example of an animal (Tiger). Isolate specific points in the Charles Darwin’s “Natural Selection” essay that deal with various aspects of natural selection and sexual selection and use an example to demonstrate how various adaptations work well and allow the animal to survive and reproduce.

You do not need to cover the entire reading from Darwin, but you should explain how the plant or animal fits into his basic concept of natural selection. Focus on one point at a time in each body paragraph, such as trifling characteristics being important or the relationship of the young to the old. Explain Darwin’s basic idea after the quotation and then demonstrate how the idea works with an animal. Your analysis of the writing must be based on a close reading of the words Darwin uses and how well the organism fits within his ideas about selection and adaptation.

Research: The research on a single animal does not need to be extensive or exhaustive. The goal of the assignment is not to prove or disprove any aspect of natural selection, so the research does not need to be peer-reviewed, but it should be based in sound research and be reliable. You may use Wikipedia or other popular sources, but try to ensure that any information you use is reasonably credible.

Format: At the beginning of the essay, write a full introduction that sets up the topic and gives a clear indication of what direction the essay is to take in the body paragraphs. The thesis comes as the last sentence in the introduction and needs to be restated as the first sentence in the conclusion. The thesis needs to provide the main idea of the essay and must explain how Darwin’s ideas about selection work with the animal (Tiger) you are writing about.

Each paragraphs needs to have a clearly stated topic sentence that focuses the content of the paragraph. Ensure that all of the descriptions and analyses relate directly to the evidence and do not either stray from the main idea or make redundant points. You must use at least four quotations from Darwin in the essay, and provide at least one quotation per body paragraph. The final version must be typed, double-spaced and should be four pages long with MLA citations for each of the works you use.