Scientifically, 1)what can the fossil record tell us, and 2)what difficulties are there in its interpretation?
I ask a question that I promise is not loaded. I've just spent an hour with my jaw hanging off my face after reading a load of Creationist propaganda. I can pick holes in all their arguments, except when it comes to the fossil record, which I know nothing about. They state all these problems with the data, and I'm sure they're spinning the facts to suit themselves, but I have no grounds to dispute those claims. That makes me a sad panda.
Edit: Also, can anyone suggest some good textbooks where I can learn more about the fossil record? I've had a look through Skelton's Evolution, but it's a tad dated, I feel.
