Charles Robert Darwin

2. Writing a Biography. You are going to write a biography of between 300-350 words about a famous British scientist, Charles Robert Darwin. First, read the biographical notes and decide what information to include. You will not be able to include all the information in 300-350 words. Secondly, make the notes you have chosen into sentences. Try to start each sentence and /orparagraph in a different way. Include some sentences with so…that and so that … if possible. Here are some other words you can use.

Darwin later …

Between 1831 and 1836 …

During his lifetime, …

It was in … that he …

In the 1840s, …

Two years later, …

As his health …

He then …

Darwin, however, …

While …,

1809Charles Robert Darwin born / Shrewsbury / February, 12 / father / doctor / strict / hard to get along with

1817Mother’s death / brought by sister and father / went to school/ hated school / didn’t pay attention in class / copied from pupils/ collected shells, rocks and insects

182516 years old / entered Edinburgh University to study medicine / father wanted him to become a doctor / hated medicine/ found the lectures dull / got sick at the sight of blood during the operations

1829Left Edinburgh University / went to Cambridge University / studied religion to become a clergyman / hated classes / spent time hunting and collecting beetles / didn’t know what to do with his life

1831Friendinvited him on a scientific expedition / friend’s ship called The Beagle / started (December, 27)

1831/36Was seasick / exciting unknown places / had a great time/on his voyage/ studied and collected plants and animals/ visited the Cape Verde Islands / saw a tropical forest for the first time / found the fossils of a rodent the size of an elephant

1832Decided to devote his life to natural science

1836Started writing a book about his adventures / busiest time in his life / began thinking about the ‘transmutation of species’

1837Met his cousin Emma Wedgwood in London / formulated his theory of evolution

1839Married Emma / had 10 children / lived in London / fall ill / couldn’t work for days / published ‘The Voyage of the Beagle’

1842Moved to Down House in Downe / turned the house and the garden into a research centre / lived at Down House for 40 years

1844Wrote 230 pages of his future book / showed it to his friends only / didn’t publish it / knew it would offend religious people

1853Was awarded the Royal Medal

1858Published ‘The Origin of Species’

1872Published ‘The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals’

1880Published‘The Power of Movement in Plants’

1881Published‘The Formation of Vegetable Mould’

1871Published ‘The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex’