In this activity, you’ll prepare a two- to three-page research paper that makes an argument about the future of the English bulldog breed using current scientific evidence. Follow the steps provided to research, plan, and write your paper. Use this information about the research process and other links throughout the activity as a guide.

Time to complete: 2 hours

Part A: Ask Questions
Begin by making a list of questions that will help you conduct research on the topic. To get you started, here are some questions that may lead you to a better understanding of the topic:

How does artificial selection differ from natural selection?
How did modern dogs evolve? Who are their ancestors?
What is a dog breed? What is a pedigree?
What methods are used to breed dogs? Are there any ethical issues with these methods?
What are the benefits and consequences of dog breeding?
What are bulldogs like? What traits does the English bulldog have?
Are bulldogs more healthy or less healthy than other breeds?
What is genetic diversity? What is the current genetic diversity of the English bulldog?
How does the genetic diversity of the English bulldog relate to the breed’s future viability?
Now write down four more questions about bulldogs that will help you strengthen your arguments in your research paper.