Student Name: Kelsa Ropersmith

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 make

food production faster and more practical so there is more food to be provided to the less

fortunate and third-world countries. For example, a piece of evidence is ..agriculture

damages the environment more than any other human activity. Genetically engineered crops

will ease that negative impact (The Arguments Pro and Con..). This shows that engineers can

insert genes into crops that not only benefit the environment, but ensure fast production,

for example, a drought resistant gene being inserted into corn so more will survive in heat.

Another example is that while over 20,000 children die from hunger all across the

world,there has not been a single human death, or even major illness to anyone consuming a

GMO. Overall, GMOs can be beneficial in helping to feed people suffering from hunger in

poverty-ridden countries.

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

negatively impact the environment by over populating and contaminating other crops. For

example, a piece of evidence is Transfer of pesticide-resistant genes to related weeds may

produce "super weeds" those immune to commonly used control methods (The Arguments

Pro and Con..). This proves that GMOs can cause unwanted immunities and side effects that

scientists failed to test for, which confirms how unsafe this new technology is. Another

example is that while GMOs have been modified in some cases to be pest resistant, these
crops may harm species that are not their target, such as monarch butterflies, when

milkweed populations on farms declined dramatically between 1999 and 2009. In the end,

our fragile environment is not ready for GMO populations to impact its delicate balance in

the ways it already has. We should test further if we want to release more GMOs into the

world.

In conclusion, I believe that the positive and negative impacts of GMOs are weighed

equally, and I am neutral. I believe this because while GMOs can produce rapidly faster than

common crops, they also pose a great threat to the delicate balance of our environment.

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 high obesity in many states, I would

encourage GMOs for the American people. This is because many GM foods are more

nutritious and are better for your health. For example, a piece of evidence is ..pesticide

resistance reduces the need for the farmer to mix and apply dangerous chemicals (The

Arguments Pro and Con..). This shows that because of these modified crops, our foods can

be healthier because they have not been exposed to pest repellent chemicals. Another fact

is that golden rice, a GMO, has higher levels of Vitamin C, that can reduce risk of going

blind. In conclusion, GMOs can help promote healthy lives and foods.

3. Considering GMO foods you have researched, which do you believe is

most beneficial (helpful) to a civilization and why?
 The most beneficial (helpful) GMO to a civilization would be drought resistant crops.

This is because these plants can resist extreme temperatures, especially in hot countries

and nations. For example, a piece of evidence is GM seeds will help poor farmers grow more

food for themselves and more profitable crops for the marketplace (The Arguments Pro

and Con..). This proves that GMOs can produce faster than regular crops and ensure food

all year round, in all situations, even in the 93 degrees F average in Africa. In conclusion,

drought resistant GMOs help people in poverty to get the food they need, when they need

it.

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

civilization and why?

The most detrimental (harmful) GMO to a civilization would be insect-repellent

crops. This is because they can not only harm unintended insects, but they can spread

unwanted immunities into human immune system. For example, a piece of evidence is

When you eat them, these antibiotic markers persist in your body and can make actual

antibiotic medications less effective(Pros & Cons of GMO Foods). This proves that GMOs

have side effects on the environment that can impact us humans, and that even the more

than 30,000 licensed pesticide applicators may be safer than these GMOs at this point.. In

conclusion, insect repellent crops arent to be trusted, and although they may accomplish

their feat on one hand, many insects and humans can be negatively affected.