HAM-NYE DEBATE PAPER & LINK
While the principle focus of the course is on learning about biological evolution, we do engage
the notions of creationism and intelligent design (ID) so that the student is conversant in these
arguments and understands the biologists’ response to challenges from these areas. Our
engagement with creationism and ID does not in any way endorse these viewpoints as valid
alternatives to the biological interpretation of life’s history. We will watch videos on these topics,
and students will engage in a debate at the end of the semester (for face-to-face classes) or write
a paper (for virtual classes) in which they will be asked to represent one or the other position
(biological evolution vs. creationism/ID); for the purposes of this debate, students are not
required to endorse the viewpoints of the side they represent, only properly represent those
views.
For this semester, you will write a short paper on the Ham-Nye debate. If you recall, or look at
the syllabus, you have to write a short paper comparing and contrasting Bill Nye and Ken Ham
and their approach to explaining biological evolution (or not, in the case of Ken). You need not
watch the entire debate (well over an hour), but watch enough to get a sense of their stances
(watch at least 30-45 min). Then, instead of the debate, you should write a short paper of 1.5 2
pages, single-spaced, no need of references unless you are citing someone other than Ken or Bill
in the context of this debate. Your paper will be due to a dropbox at the end of week 15. (50
points). The following two links should bring you to the same debate (shouldn’t need to watch
both; one hosted by a Christian organization, the other by an atheist organization, take your
pick).

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