Overview
This optional extra credit assignment consists of reading (or listening on audiobook if you prefer) one of two books, and writing a chapter-by-chapter summary. Specifically, as you read the book you need to provide a 3-4 sentence summary of each chapter, as well as 2-3 sentences of commentary of the chapter (i.e. what was your favorite part, what surprised you, did you not like, etc.). Your commentary does not have to be positive. Feel free to relate to the material through your own lens.
The book options are:
The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time (by Jonathan Weiner)
** this book must be purchased if you choose this option **
The Voyage of the Beagle (by Charles Darwin)
The full text can be found easily for free by going to https://lib.asu.edu (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Type "The Voyage of the Beagle" in the search box leaving "One Search" in the dropdown menu.
On the first entry, click "5 versions found. See all versions." The entry should look like this:
then, find the option that is published by P.F. Collier 1909. It should like like the following:
Finally, click on "Full text available" and it will take you to the ebook.
Keep in mind that you will submit your completed document through the anti-plagiarism software that will compare your paper against websites and other students, so do your own work or don't do it at all.
The max number of points awarded will be 10.5 and this will go towards your overall exam grade. You can get partial credit: 1/2 point for every completed chapter (this includes the epilogue in The Beak of the Finch)- so do your best!