Creation, S. Henry Wild, 1999
http://www.sonic.net/~swild/creation.html

Your first step on this assignment is to pick a piece of literature with which to work that addresses evolution in some way.  You may use creation stories from any culture, poems that address creation or evolution, or The Da Vinci Code.  After choosing a piece, re-read it several times to make sure you remember and understand its finer details.  In this paper you will explain what and how it means, particularly in relation to evolution.  You should discuss how at least one of the elements the poet or author uses is essential to the communication of the piece's theme (for example, a thesis on Olds's "Sex without Love" might be that the sarcastic tone helps convey that sex can happen whether or not men and women love each other) or you might concentrate on how specific symbols or words are used to communicate the piece's theme (a thesis might explore how several of Brown's characters illustrate the evolution of the Catholic Church or of Christianity, showing us that change is always present). 

Remember that the theme, for these purposes, can be understood as the moral or lesson that readers learn about their own lives from the poem--and it will have something to do with evolution.

Remember to state your thesis clearly in your opening paragraph.  You must then pull (and quote) evidence from the piece, or from research on the piece, to support that thesis and organize it in a logical manner.

The main difficulties you are likely to experience while working on this paper (after figuring out what to use) are creating your thesis, narrowing it effectively and then making sure that the rest of your paper supports that thesis and does not stray to other interesting but irrelevant points or does not repeat the same supporting points. You should steer clear of including biographical information about the poet or author, as that can often sidetrack you from the theme or lead you to make the error of believing the poem's speaker is the poet.  Poets often adopt different imaginative personalities to communicate their themes. 

Format: This paper should be double-spaced, laser-printed, carefully edited and proofread, prepared using the MLA format, and stapled before you turn it in.  You should have a heading with your name, my name, the course title and section number, and the date on it.  You should have the paper number and the title of your essay on a separate centered line before you begin your paper.  Additionally, your last name and the page number should appear at the top right of each page.  The essay should be two to three pages in length with one-inch margins, not including your required Work(s) Cited. If your piece is not provided on the Evolution Debate Page, then you should attach a copy as an Appendix page following your Work(s) Cited.

Your rough draft is due at the beginning of class for peer review on ______________ .