Previous to the theory of evolution, are there records of ancient atheist philosophers' ideas to how species came to be?

You need a grammar book more than anything else. Holy s h it. Your first question, starting with the word "have," is atrocious.

Don't they teach theists how to use the English language properly in those preposterous bible-thumping schools? Sad.....

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.