Reading Primary Sources: Darwin & Wallace Questions
1.
a. What words did Lyell and Hooker use to describe Darwin’s and Wallace’s theory in their
letter to the Linnean Society?
i. They stated that this theory would affect the Laws which affect the Production of
Varieties, Races, and Species. They said their theory was “ingenious”.
b. . How would you rephrase what they wrote in your own words?
i. I would say that two men who had never heard of each other or spoken have both
come up with an amazing theory about Evolution. They both thought of the idea
around the same time and neither of them has published a document about their
findings to date. I would show everyone both papers and let the people in the
Linnean Society which should be shown before the Linnean Society.
2. Make a claim about who Lyell and Hooker thought should receive credit for formulating the
theory. Provide evidence from the text to support your claim.
a. Claim: I think Lyell and Hooker thought that Darwin should receive credit for the theory
of evolution
b. Evidence: The reading says they were both Darwin's colleagues, and in the letter, they
said that “Neither of them having published his views, though Mr. Darwin has for many
years past been repeatedly urged by us to do so” this was an attempt to say he's had this
idea for years and should receive credit.
3. What reasons do Lyell and Hooker give for wanting to make the writings of Darwin and
Wallace public? Provide evidence from the text in your answer.
a. They said that is would be for the best interest of everyone that they were able to read
both documents of research for the interest of science. Both had amazing facts, and years
of reflection so that should be seen by the whole scientific world. For this reason, they
felt they had to be made public.
4. Complete the following chart for the excerpt from Darwin’s paper. Provide examples of
evolution by natural selection that Darwin used in his writing. Describe the species, the
variations among individuals, the selective pressure, and how species change over time.
1.
a. What words did Lyell and Hooker use to describe Darwin’s and Wallace’s theory in their
letter to the Linnean Society?
i. They stated that this theory would affect the Laws which affect the Production of
Varieties, Races, and Species. They said their theory was “ingenious”.
b. . How would you rephrase what they wrote in your own words?
i. I would say that two men who had never heard of each other or spoken have both
come up with an amazing theory about Evolution. They both thought of the idea
around the same time and neither of them has published a document about their
findings to date. I would show everyone both papers and let the people in the
Linnean Society which should be shown before the Linnean Society.
2. Make a claim about who Lyell and Hooker thought should receive credit for formulating the
theory. Provide evidence from the text to support your claim.
a. Claim: I think Lyell and Hooker thought that Darwin should receive credit for the theory
of evolution
b. Evidence: The reading says they were both Darwin's colleagues, and in the letter, they
said that “Neither of them having published his views, though Mr. Darwin has for many
years past been repeatedly urged by us to do so” this was an attempt to say he's had this
idea for years and should receive credit.
3. What reasons do Lyell and Hooker give for wanting to make the writings of Darwin and
Wallace public? Provide evidence from the text in your answer.
a. They said that is would be for the best interest of everyone that they were able to read
both documents of research for the interest of science. Both had amazing facts, and years
of reflection so that should be seen by the whole scientific world. For this reason, they
felt they had to be made public.
4. Complete the following chart for the excerpt from Darwin’s paper. Provide examples of
evolution by natural selection that Darwin used in his writing. Describe the species, the
variations among individuals, the selective pressure, and how species change over time.
