4A. 1840 ASSESSMENT, DEBATE

("RESEARCH OPTION" PAPER 1)
 

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RESEARCH, WRITING, AND DEBATE

1. "Credit where credit is due: Esmark - Bernhardi - Venetz/Charpentier - Agassiz." By 1840, which of these individuals deserves credit as having originated the theory of glaciation? Argue in favor and against each of them.

2. Debate: chose one of the following "character teams" and make the strongest case possible for their interpretation of the data available in 1840:  involve as much of the evidence as you can, and point out weaknesses in others' explanations:

a.      Hall - de la Beche
b.      Lyell - Darwin
c.      Charpentier - Agassiz

3. Science has sometimes been described as a "puzzle-solving activity." Comment on each of the following in relation to the development of ideas presented here:

• "Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts;"
• "Facts are facts"
• "Facts do not go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them." 
• "Facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty;"

Prepare and submit for review one week before an in-class debate or presentation:

1. A written paper:

• 1,000-1,250 words, excluding references and visuals
• evidence from at least three primary documents (use Google Translate to help with other languages, as needed)
• cite all sources fully
• at least three appropriate visual images, correctly captioned and referenced in the paper.

Evaluation will be based on :

• how deeply you reconstruct the historical context and arguments
• your contribution to class understanding on the question

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