Comparison of Two Articles on Pepper Moth Evolution

This week we started learning about evolution, so the two articles you will be comparing in this conference deal with the evolution of the Peppered Moth during the Industrial Revolution in England.

Read the following articles and address the questions listed below.

1.  Which article in your opinion was of more scientific merit? Why?  Be sure to use concrete examples from the articles to support your claims.

2.  Which article did you find more compelling?  Why?  Again, be sure to use concrete examples from the articles to support your claims.

3.  Both articles cite other sources, how does this impact your opinion of the merit/credibility of the articles?   How does the source of the article impact your perception of its merit?

4.  A compelling argument can sometimes lack scientific merit, what are some strategies you can employ to avoid being “taken in” by a compelling, but not accurate argument? Consider here other arguments you come across in your daily life – commercials for products, advertisements for diet pills, etc.

Article 1: The Peppered Moth – An Update by Kenneth Miller

Article 2: The Peppered Moth as found on Truth in Science