Student Name:Luna Quezada

The Big Question:

Considering both points of view, does one sides argument outweigh the others?

Debate Preparation: You will participate in a collaborative

discussion, or debate. Next week each student must come to the discussion
prepared with written responses to each of the four questions below.
Use your Benefits & Concerns research
notes (Google doc) & SQWORL resources http://sqworl.com/vbe0ea to
help guide you.
Include CITATIONS (quoted text from
articles, websites, etc.) as evidence of your claims.
Use the argumentative sentence stems &
transitions (last page) to create strong claims.
Be prepared to argue both sides (Pro or
Con) of Genetically Modified Foods.

Color-Coding: Use the following color-codes for the argument writing

essentials:
Claims (a statement that can be argued and proven with
evidence)
Citations (quoted evidence from another source)
Statistics (facts with numbers based on data collection)

Commenting: Identify in your own writing when you appeal to each

persuasive technique. Instead of color-coding, use the COMMENT button.
Ethos (Credibility, Reputation, Citing from a university
study, etc.)
Logos (Using Logic, Facts, Statistics, Reason, etc.)
 Pathos (Appealing to Emotions, Imagination, Feelings, Fear,
etc.)

Answer each question in a detailed paragraph(s) using the directions on page 1:

1. Considering both points of view (Benefits & Concerns of GMOs), how

does each sides argument outweigh the others?

If I were arguing for the benefits of GMOs, a claim I would have is that GMOs are

beneficial because they can help feed the starving people around the world. For example,

Should the U.S Support stated Genetically engineering food could help feed the 800

million undernourished people in the world. This benefit fits right in with Vitamin A

Deficiency. The condition affects more than 140 million pre-school children in 118 nations,

and more than seven million pregnant women (The Golden Rice Project). This shows that

these GMO foods can give people around the world the nutrition they need. Golden Rice is a

modified rice that has a lot of Vitamin A, which can help all of the malnourished people. A

statistic to prove that this rice is needed to help is that 250,000 children go blind, just in

Africa, from lack of Vitamin A which is largely present in the Golden rice. Overall, there are

still risks with genetically modified foods, like the risk of allergic reactions to them. Their

are still many benefits, like the fact that it can help save the 140 million pre-school children

who suffer from VAD, and the 800 million starving people.

If I were arguing for the concerns of GMOs, a claim I would have is that GMOs are

a big concern because they can be harmful to the environment. For example, a piece of

evidence is They reduce bio-diversity, pollute water resources, and are unsustainable (10

Reasons To Avoid GMOs). This proves that it can be bad because it pollutes our water

and they are unsustainable, possibly making us need to use more pesticides or chemicals on
our food. According to the USDA, more than 93% of all the soy grown in 2012 was

genetically modified to be tolerant of herbicides, but it ended up in us using more

herbicides, causing harm. In the end, there are just as many concerns as benefits, and one

of the biggest is the harm to the environment, leading it to harm us.

In conclusion, I believe the benefits outweigh the concerns because they can be

harmful to people who have allergies to certain things being modified, but they are helpful

because they can help the undernourished and starving people in the world, which is more

important.

2. If you were the President of the United States with a struggling

economy, high obesity, and overpopulation, would you encourage more GMO production or
restrict it?

If I were President of the United States with overpopulation and obesity and not

enough healthy food, I would definitely encourage use of certain GMO products. I would do

this because some GM foods are even more nutritious than the non-modified food. For

example, Golden Rice has a lot of vitamin A compared to regular rice and, Vitamin A

deficiency (VAD) is considered to be one of the most harmful forms of malnutrition in the

developing world. . . affects more than 140 million pre-school children in 118 nations, and

more than seven million pregnant women (Golden Rice Project ). This shows that not having

enough food in an overpopulated country can be better with GMOs that can be even more

nutritious. Also, obesity could be helped with all of the nutritious food. In conclusion, I think

using GMOs are good for this country if used correctly because it can help both the obese

and the starving.

 3. Considering GMO foods you have researched, which do you believe is
most beneficial (helpful) to a civilization and why?

The most beneficial GMO to a civilization would probably be modified Tilapia. This is

because they use male tilapia because the women get affected when having their eggs and

the males have been modified to be better. For example, ...been genetically modified to

reduce the time it takes for the fish reach maturity, to make them larger, and to help them

survive with less food (10 Genetically Modified Animals You Can Buy). This proves that the

GM Tilapia would be good for a civilization. In conclusion, GM tilapia is a beneficial GMO

because they grow faster and bigger, making more food for those hungry.

4. Which GMO foods do you believe is most detrimental (harmful) to a

civilization and why?

A potential harmful GMO to a civilization could be GM corn. This is because GM corn

has been seen to be like pesticides, and can cause health issues. It has hurt animals tested

with it, but no tests follow those up. Professor Gilles-Eric Seralini, molecular endocrinologist

at the University of Caen and a member of two French government commissions evaluating

GM food said ...including inflammation disorders, and problems with livers and kidneys, two

major organs involved with detoxification. This proves that modified corn can be harmful

to our health and to the animals that may eat it. In conclusion, GM corn could be dangerous

because it has potential to harm us and animals.