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Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science (1998) / Chapter Skim
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Chapter 5: Frequently Asked Questions About Evolution and the Nature of Science
Pages 55-60

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From page 55...
... Biological evolution concerns changes in living things during the history of life on earth. It explains that living things share common ancestors.
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From page 56...
... fIe was discussing whether the rate of change of species is constant and gradual or whether it takes place in bursts after long periods when little change occurs an idea known as punctuated equilibrium. As Gould writes in response, "This quotation, although accurate as a partial citation, is dishonest in leaving out the following explanatory material showing my true purpose to discuss rates of evolutionary change, not to deny the fact of evolution itself."
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From page 57...
... During the Cambrian explosion, primitive representatives of the major phyla of invertebrate animals appeared hard-shelle(1 organisms like molLlusks and arthropods. More modern representatives of these invertebrates appeared gradually through the Cambrian and the Ordovician periods.
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From page 58...
... . Teachers' organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the National Association of Biology Teachers, the National Science Education Leadership Association, and many others also have rejected the science an(1 pedagogy of creation science and have strongly discouraged its presentation in the public schools.
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From page 59...
... Constitution states that schools must be religiously neutral, so legally a teacher could not present any particular creationist view as being more "true" than others. Why should teachers teach evolution when they already have so many things to teach and can cover biology without mentioning evolution?
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From page 60...
... 'em, ~ j - !
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Key Terms

  • fossil record
  • natural world
  • punctuated equilibrium
  • scientific explanation
  • biological evolution

  • evidence supporting
  • religious views
  • common ancestor
  • public schools
  • science curriculum

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  • school district
  • modern apes
  • directly observe
  • religiously neutral

  • cambrian explosion
  • common ancestors
  • religious view
  • evolution forms
  • produce minor

  • evolution occurred
  • science differs
  • evolution vary
  • stop sharing
  • genetic patterns

  • behavioral similarities
  • capistrano school
  • teach creation
  • evolution occur
  • following explanatory


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