Podcast Intro/Webtext revision response

A:

• Identify and explain the problem you are going to solve, and who cares about this problem:  The topic I will use as the focus of my podcast is labeling GMO food products. In my Webtext I have touched base with what a GMO is, the amount of GMO foods, the safety and research that is behind them, how prominent these foods have become in our food supply.  I plan to use the Podcast as a way to focus on the action of labeling genetically engineered foods.  I want to briefly discuss the argument in question (on both sides) and provide a way of action the listener can take.  The audience for this podcast will stay the same, but as this will be a  call to action this may only reach those of age to actually stand against GMO's. So specifically I want to focus on consumers of decision making age that have the ability to take action for the labeling of GMO foods.  
• Describe the effects of the problem, and specify how the effects affect your audience:  The effects of this issue is unknowingly consuming controversial GE foods.  As my Webtext has also described, I believe in the right of the consumer to make a choice, but a choice has to be given in order for that to happen.  Labeling GE foods is paramount in giving the choice back to the consumer about what types of foods they want to eat. Easily connected then is this topic to my audience as they are the consumers unknowingly consuming controversial GMO's.  
• Discuss the causes of the problem:  Some of the primary causes of the GMO labeling argument is corporate greed, consumer's lack of education of the topic, inaction towards it as a result of that education gap, and perhaps most troublesome; the bias community of leaders representing the FDA and USDA that all have previous ties or bias to the GE corporations that approve these foods for safe commercial use.  
• Offer practical solutions to the problem:  A very simple and practical solution that any one can accomplish is making a voice.  By simply writing state congressmen, educating yourself and others on GMO foods and avoiding them, or even complaining straight to the corporations themselves are all valid options for getting GMO's on the food label.  The companies are living in  a world without laws governing their actions.  It is the consumers job to bring back order to these lawless corporations of greed.  
• Include a working main point sentence:  Having a mandatory regulation of labeling GE foods is absolutely crucial to the consumer world as it provides a balance of consumer choice and corporate responsibility, based on consumer choice, to provide safe and healthy foods to the nation.  
• Include two new sources that you haven't previously used:

-  Bitman, M.  (2011, February 15).  Why aren't G.M.O. foods labeled.  The New York Times.      

        Retrieved from  http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/why-arent-g-m-o-foods-labeled/

-  Maisto, M.  (2011, December 1).  With GMO labeling still missing, look for the opposition.  Forbes.  

        Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/michellemaisto/2011/12/01/with-gmo-labels-still-missing-look-for-the-opposite/

• Since this podcast will eventually become part of your multimodal project, you should be specific regarding why the topic of your podcast is well-suited to an “oral” presentation and how it will complement your Webtext:  This particular topic s well suited for an oral presentation via podcast because there can be a level of passion and voice put into it that will help  grab the audience.  As I am obviously pro food labeling I can demonstrate the purpose of this action and portray a level of urgency.  I believe hearing a real voice on this subject will give the audience a real feeling of action rather than just reading words on the topic asking them to do something. As I have mentioned earlier in this response this topic of labeling GMO's is very well suited to the argument I have raised pertaining to the consumer right to choice.  

B:  

   Upon my consult with instructors I have gained a few bits of research and source knowledge that has already proved to be useful.  I did not consider using news articles of reputable newspapers such as The New York Times, or Forbes magazine.  This has opened up a whole new world of information and opinion that I can use to help facilitate my main ideas through out my Webtext.  Additionally, I was also shown how to place caption under my photos which I will now use as a way to relate my photos to the text.  Lastly, source citation and references were also discussed as I had not placed the into my Webtext at that point.  the use of this information will allow me to tweet my Webtext, and add additional information, so that the reader and smoothly traverse through my site and acquire useful and well placed information.  

   From my peer review, which was very helpful, I will work to refine my introduction so that is grabs the reader a little better.  I also need to add some subtitles so that the ideas have a clear start and finish point allowing for better transition of thought as the reader flows through my site.  Also, I will work to add in a bit of opposition through out my text.  I do not want to lose my credibility because I left out the opinion of those who appose my topic.  

Rhetorical Analysis

Part A:
  Currently I do not have any real issues aside from the previously mentioned issue with research.  One question that I have is the difficulty I am having bringing the idea of research and its apparent lack of availability to me as a consumer into my argument.  I am not sure how to demonstrate that and still allow some sort of credibility from is as I have only been researching this topic for a short amount of time. 

Part B:   

1.  http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/09/music_festivals_summer_2012.html

2.  In this photo the first thing I noticed was the energy portrayed through the colored lights in the back ground.  Bright greens, yellows, reds, and oranges were used which are all enhanced by the brightness of the bulbs used.  These colors represent high levels of energy (especially the yellows, reds, and oranges.)  Additionally the colors of the lights are enhanced even further as the dominant back drop color is black, or dark grey.  All of the band members, except the back up singer on the far right, is wearing black, the equipment is black and dark grey, and the stage surrounding are black. This help make those bright energy colors stand out.  Lastly, the words written on the top of the stage are white which really stand out among the black scheme and the colored lights.  The words are in such contrast that they make a lasting impression on the viewer of the picture.

3.  The photo is of a band playing on a stage.  From the music equipement and the apparent energy of the band member who has jumped in the air as the photo was snapped, I can draw that this must be a rock band, or some type of high energy music show.  In the back ground is a drummer with a drum set, a bass guitar player, and a back up singer singing into her microphone.  All of these individual images inside the image help me conclude I am looking at a band playing rock music on stage.  That being said, the context of this photo is just that; a band playing at a french music festival.  The caption at the bottom of the page gives you a specific time and event, but the photo itself is simply understood to show the same idea, however a bit more general as is doesn't give a location or type of event.  I do not believe this photo is made to stand for a point other than demonstrating the high energy performances that can be viewed at this festival.  However, I could maybe conclude that this photo was taken during a festival that was for a particular cause.  usually music of this nature can sometimes be associated with anti-government movements and rebelliousness.


Part C:

Podcast Summary: 
  The first half of the podcast was about the three persuasive appelas; ethos, logos, pathos, and their important role in public communication.  A brief history was also given explaining the connection between modern day communications skills and one large contributor to the development of that skill, Aristotle.  A point was made that his works are a difficult read resulting in a loss of good information on rhetoric, but the three previously mentioned appeals still remains one of his most well known contributions to modern day rhetoric.  
  The second portion of this podcast was about the studies of mind jet and the use of visual images rather than plain bullet point power points.  This research is founded on the lateral thinking the brain does and it expresses the use of visual images aid in the connection a presentation can make with the audience.  A few statistics were given to help support this point such as topics individuals were thinking aside from the actual presentation they were at.    Overall the main idea was increasing visual stimuli when presenting to an audience of people.
  The last portion of the podcast was a T & A section.  A question was asked pertaining to ability to deliver effectively without mistakes even when the presentation was well prepared and thought out.  The speakers response was that practice was paramount to a successful speech.  gaining objectivity about the energy, delivery, and overall feel of your presentation is important to learning how well prepared you are.   To do this the speaker suggested practicing in front of trusted friends, colleagues, a video camera, or even a pet.

Rhetorical Analysis (B): 
   The context of this prompt is to demonstrate awareness regarding drunk driving and its effects.  The photos shown are of Jacqueline Saburido, a victim of a drunk driving accident.  Most times when drunk driving is discussed it pertains to innocent victims being killed, but in the girls case her point to make is that sometimes the end result is in a life time of torment and disfigurement.  Jacqueline has derived these opinions and warning from her own personal experience in a 1999 car accident in which she was trapped in the burning car resulting in severe burns to a  majority of her body.  The audience of this prompt is geared towards individuals who drink and drive.  However, I feel like the impression this girl has to offer can be far reaching and can impact any driver on the road as we all can stand to take away a message from this situation. Personally I feel as if this graphic depiction of the before and after of the accident is a very clear cut way to get the main point across.  It is shocking and grotesque, but very much important and relevant to the safety of the road.  It has a simplistic layout, but portrays a very powerful message through slight text and dominant imagery of what this girl has gone through since the accident.
  

 

Google Scholar Annotated Bib.

Harlander, S. (2002). The Evolution of Modern Agriculture and Its Future with

     Biotechnology. Journal of American College of Nutrition, 21. Retrieved from

     http://www.jacn.org/content/21/suppl_3/161S.full?sid=4e37172c-2f76-45b9-8e1a-1c4ce7b69330

Summary: This article demonstrates a few different view points; from the view of American consumers in contrast to European consumers (or what the author believes the opinion to be) and from the agricultural stand point of creating functional foods. This article displays graphs explaining the growth of biotechnology in the commercial food market and skims over the legality behind the regulations of GE foods. According to this article there is no law binding any food to be labeled in the U.S. which is quite contrast to our European counterparts who require such labels on all food. The author also touches on specific modifications to food such as irradiation treatment which creates mutations inside the DNA allowing for a certain levels of improved seed variety. However, Harlander discusses that there are no food or environmental safety checks in place for these foods as of yet. Additionally, Harlander continues on the say that the acceptance of GMO production and the benefits to them are widely accepted among the scientific community with no apparent health complications tied to the GE foods in question.


Assess: Upon further research of this author; Susan Harlander turned out to be an experience scientist who specialized in biotechnology in food. She currently works for a company called BIOrational Consultants, but has worked for other companies such as General Mills and Pillsbury. From this I was a bit concerned that she would be very bias to her scientific community, but through out this article she remained very black and white in her discussion. Harlander has written an article that remains without opinion giving basic facts in the debate of GE foods. I found this article to be particularly informative in that she gives multiple view points to help educate rather than sway her audience. I still take this information with a grain of salt, but more because the article is a bit older, rather the authors input.


Reflect: I believe I may not use this article because of that time gap, but it has certainly lead me into a direction to review current laws and policies of safety and environmental checks in the GE industry. This article will be a good reference to reflect on how things have changed in the last decade.






Istvan, S., Emese, K., Beata, K., Andrea, L. (2008). Functional food. Product development,

     marketing and consumer acceptance—A review. Appetite, 51 (3), 456-467.


Summary: This article is a review of the market with respect to functional foods, or foods enhanced with some kind of technology for a certain health benefit. The most common example of a functional food is fortified beverages with vitamins and minerals added. This particular market has been a growing part of the conventional food market and has reached several of the foods groups consumed on a daily basis. The authors review that the market is in favor of such foods as it helps with sustainability purposes and overall good health promotion. However, they also conclude that the production of these functional foods are risky in that a large amount of research must go into their production to fully understand the physiological effects the foods will have on the consumers. lastly, this article explains the pattern of consumer acceptance based on the way in which the particular enhancements are marketed. The example used was the increased awareness of vitamins, minerals, fiber and how their wide acceptance as fortification in food is connected to the market amplifying their need in a diet to promote healthy living.


Assess: Off the top I believe this article has kept the opinions of the authors from permeating the results of their review. It seems as if the article has taken many different perspectives and placed them in a logical order allowing for the reader to follow and understand the progression of events that is now the functional food market. I also like that there is a healthy amount of good and bad placed on the purpose and development of functional foods. This give the reader a sense that the authors are not out for one sire or another, but more to educate and let the reader make their own choice. The currency of this article is a bit older than I would prefer, but 2008 is a good representation of the growth being observed in our conventional food market.


Reflect: I understand that this article in not primarily about GE food labeling, but I do believe that functional foods are a very close and encompassing topic that should be understood along side GE foods. The market of functional foods sways the public opinion a great deal as it gives way to the acceptance of other technology put into our food supply. This article is a good lead into my topic and I would like to apply some of this information to my web text

"GMO; Healthy for Who?" Revised

Many consumers are unaware of the genetically modified foods they ingest, the health risks that accompany them, and ways to avoid such foods in their daily meal plans.  It is the large food corporations that manipulate state legislation to adhere to their wanted standards rather than the consumer when it comes to these GMO foods.  

The leading example of corporate manipulation is the large controversy over labeling foods that contain GMO products.  Currently there are no states that require such labeling, but that is not for lack of effort as demonstrated by the on going battle in California for the passing of Proposition 37.

It is my greatest hope; not only as a consumer, but also as a developing health professional to propose a change in the way the manufactures and distributers of our food supply control us consumers.  I firmly believe that there is a given right to free selection regarding the foods in which consumers have to choose from.  In that inherent right is the obligation of food production to be focused on the greater health of the very consumers in which it nourishes. 

Through this hope; my web text will display the harms, ethical oversights, and importance of factual food labeling to the consumer regarding GMO foods.  I will accomplish this with science based research and today's major food corporation policies that demonstrate a clear disregard for consumer health.  

The primary audience I hope to reach is as many consumers as possible.  Realistically, however, my goal for this web text is to give the consumers of Purdue Calumet University a place to voice their options and concerns allowing for a professional forum to make those voices be heard.  Perhaps even possibly make a significant change in the way local NW Indiana consumers view the foods they are eating.  

Website Source

Bryne, P.  (2010, September) .  Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods.

   www.ext.colostate.edu. Retrieved from  

   http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html#top


Summary:  The primary purpose for this web article is to display current labeling requirements by the FDA regarding genetically engineered foods (GE foods) and the pros/cons of the proposed idea for required labeling of all GE foods.

Assess:  This web article gives information on what the current requirements are on GE food labeling.  The author, P,Bryne, gives solid references that allow the reader to traverse to the FDA website that explains the regulations he has displayed in his web article.  The web page itself is set up for ease of information and allows any reader to understand what the FDA mandates on consumer food labels with respect to GE content.  The author also demonstrates, with little bias, the pros and cons of labeling GE foods for both the consumer and the food manufacturer.  Furthermore, the currency of this article is shown on the bottom left of the web page and reflects that it was last updated Aug 3, 2012 which demonstrated the author has kept up with current changes since his publication date of September, 2010.  Lastly, the author clearly marks his credentials at the bottom of the website demonstrating his expertise on this particular topic.  This openness by the author creates an authoritative overview regarding the GE food labeling proposition and give a certain credibility to his article.

Reflect:  This web article, as well as the website it is attached too, will provide me expert based information that I will gladly apply to my research for GE food labeling.  It gives cut and dry information that will be easily summarized and applied to better my web text.  With it's current content and hyper links leading me to oficial government based websites I will find a plethora of information to use.


Lisa J, Bunin,  Ph.D.  (2012, July) .  What's in a Label?  www.centerforfoodsafety.org. Retrieved

   from http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/organic-fact-sheet-2.pdf


Summary:  The idea behind this web article is to demonstrate the way in which food manufacturers use words such as "all natural" or "natural" on a food label to draw the consumer in for a sale.  These words are misleading to consumers because the "all natural" ingredients that are said to be used to create the products are in fact not regulated by the USDA, or the FDA.  In short there is no way to know wether the food labeled "100% natural" is truly made with all natural ingredients.  The author of this article, Lisa J, Bunin, Ph.D, is trying to show consumers that the policies of marketing used by major food producers are aimed at money making rather honest healthy products.  This in turn makes it more difficult for the consumer to purchased wholesome organic food when they think they are purchasing wholesome "natural" food.

Assess:  The first thing to catch my attention about this article was the current date in which is was published.  Aside from that, I was a bit concerned over the ".org" portion of this web article.  Mainly because I understand that this website displays a biased motive aimed at making food corporations to look negative in the public eye.  Through out this article I did find a heavy bias tone playing against the policies used by food producers, however, because of that bias I am hesitant to take this information to heart (completely any ways).  Additionally, in this article the author seem to use her Ph.D status and affiliation with the Center for Food Safety organization to propel her argument rather cited facts and sources that I can continue researching on my own.  Its almost as if the author has created a trap for the reader in which you either believe what she says, or you believe what she says.  Branching out to the broader website the article was found in, I noticed clearly displays "take action" buttons and "hot topic" side bars that excite the reader into taking a stand again the evil corporations that are taking over the food supply.  Now, this is not to say that there was not some legitimate information given by this article (or the website for that matter),  but more that this article needs to be taken with a grain of salt and some more cross referencing to verify the "facts" that were given may be needed.

Reflect:  The information I have gathered from this web article may be one I use as a cross reference from another credible source, but I will most likely not use this article as a stand alone source for my web text.  I find the bias motive and lack of citing, or sources to be to much to over look.

Topic Definition Statement

"GMO labeling: necessary or redundant?"

Many consumers are unaware of the genetically modified foods they ingest, the health risks that accompany them, and ways to avoid such foods in their daily meal plans.  It is the large corporations that manipulate state legislation to adhere to their wanted standards rather than the consumer when it comes to these GMO foods.  The leading example of this is the large controversy over labeling foods that contain GMO products.  Currently there are no states that require such labeling, but that is not for lack of effort as demonstrated by the on going battle in California for the passing of Proposition 37.

My web text will display the harms, ethical oversights, and importance of factual food labeling to the consumer regarding GMO foods.  I will accomplish this with science based research and today's major food corporation policies that demonstrate a clear disregard for consumer health.

Key question: Should foods containing GMO products be labeled for the consumers?

Sub-question: Are the policies currently in place by food manufacturers geared towards the health of the consumer?  How can the consumer influence leading food manufacturers?

"Using A Topic To Generate Questions"

As mentioned with in my overview, my connection to my selected topic of GMO's is a personal one.  It is a personal quest to maintain my body in as healthy of a state as I am able.  On another level I want to educate everyone that I can on oh how to do the very same for themselves.  It is important to me that we begin to evolve in a healthier way so that our race can provide sustainable life rather than destroy the fragile ecosystems around us.  

Initial Topic Question: What is genetically modifying our food system doing to us?

1. Why is our food system being genetically modified?
2. How is our food system being genetically modified?
3. What known affects do GMOs have on human health?
4. Is genetic modifications to food negatively affecting the natural functions of surrounding ecosystems?
5. What common foods are being genetically modified?
6. How do you avoid GMO foods?