The debate between creationists and evolutionists over the origin of modern life on Earth has increasingly come to the fore in recent years. Unfortunately, this mainstream coverage has meant that many of the related issues have been distorted and misinterpreted. In the article “Five Major Misconceptions About Evolution,” Mark Isaak attempts to clarify the true nature of evolutionary theory so that, if it were to be challenged, such arguments can be made on a purely factual basis rather than, as Isaak says, “ against a set of misunderstandings that are rightly considered ridiculous” (“Misconceptions” par. 1). He presents these misconceptions and his explanation of the faulty logic behind each of them in five main categories: “Evolution has never been observed,” “Evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics,” “There are no transition fossils ", "The theory of evolution says that life originated, and evolution proceeds, by chance,” and “Evolution is just a theory; it has not been proven” (“Misconceptions” par. 2) By addressing each of these proposed falsehoods individually, Isaak forms a few-flawed argument that is clear, precise, and effective. Mark Isaak is not the best-known or most accomplished author, but he has written numerous articles, mostly on creation and evolution . themes, but also on topics as diverse as mythology and philosophy (“Home Page”). While not explicitly claiming to be an expert in this particular topic, Isaak cites reliable scientific sources such as natural history to support his argument. Isaak doesn't seem to have a specific audience he's targeting. Its emphasis on the systematic resolution of common misconceptions points to an audience intended for creation... at the center of the paper... anyone who works with the theory of evolution (and has a good working knowledge of it) is on the same “team”, so to speak, and “finding a better alternative to evolution would earn them fame and fortune” (“Misconceptions” par. 26), which is a final key example of Isaak's logical sensibility. By avoiding harsh criticism of opposing viewpoints and simply presenting the facts in an understandable way, Mark Isaak successfully gets as close to a middle ground as possible to making the truth clear in such a polarized debate. Works Cited Isaak, Mark. “Five Major Misconceptions About Evolution.” The TalkOrigins archive. 01 October 2003. Web. 8 September 2009. .---. "Mark Isaak's home page." Curiosities of biological nomenclature. 11 August 2008. Web. 14 September 2009. .