Student Name:

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

more nutritious and better for your health and that people should eat them more than

natural foods.. For example, a piece of evidence is For example, engineers are able to create

rice that has vitamin A and iron. The modified rice is more nutritious (Should the U.S.

Support...) The impact is that Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is considered to be one of the

most harmful forms of malnutrition in the developing world. It can cause blindness, limit

growth, and weaken the body's immune system, thereby increasing morbidity and mortality

(Golden Rice Project). This shows that the golden rice can feed starving people in Africa

who strongly needed it. A statistic to prove that they really need golden rice is that 250,000

Africans go blind each year from lacking Vitamin A (Ted Talk). Although it helps feed over

100 starving people, it could turn into a deadly toxin if people get too much of it. But

scientist are trying to make golden rice not turn into a toxin when people eat a lot of it.

Overall, one benefit of GMOs is that they have more nutrition for people who are starving,

making them a better life and more happy.

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

GMO labeling lacks some ingredients and confuses people and that they shouldn't buy it

unless the label is correct. For example, a piece of evidence is It allows food manufacturers

to disclose the presence of GMOs in text on the package, or print a code that when scanned
with a smartphone provides the information (Issue Overview: GMOs and engineered food ).

There are foods that arent safe enough to eat: Very little testing has been done on GM

foods (GMO - Negative Impacts). This proves that buying GMOs is a gamble. A statistics to

support this claim is that 70% of the foods in stores are GMOs with ingredients we do not

know. President Obama passes a law stating that all GMOs needs to have labels. Yet,

companies still dont label the foods correctly or put secret codes smart-phones can only

read. A lot of people has allergies and could get a reaction from the GMO. To prevent that,

people must label GMOs correctly. In the end, one concern of GMO is that their labeling is

unclear leaving us to confusion and makes us feel unsafe .

In conclusion, I believe the concern outweigh the benefit just by a little because

their are more reasons to concern about GMOs than benefit them. GMOs are very beneficial

but yet, GMOs are very unknown, this also means that there isnt enough testing. Because of

this, people shouldnt eat GMO unless the labels are telling the truth. From this, I am still on

the concern side even if there are good reasons for benefits.

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 Barack Obama, I will restrict GMOs.

This is because the GMOs will give people poor hygiene. Because of this, people do not want

to GMOs. For example, BT toxin, designed to kill pests that eat crops, caused allergies and

other responses (Genetically Modified Foods). This shows that it causes allergic reactions

and that it is really bad for you. In conclusion, I would restrict people from eating GMO

from its danger if Im President of USA.

 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 golden rice. This is

because it contains Vitamin A making it more nutritious and healthier for the people who

really need it. To support my claim, a piece of evidence is Providing those children with

vitamin A could prevent about a third of all under-five deaths, which amounts to up to 2.7

million children that could be saved from dying unnecessarily (Golden Rice Project ). This

proves that without it, millions of nourished and hungry people will die. In conclusion, golden

rice is the most helpful GMO to a civilization.

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 GM salmon plant with

pollen. This is because they both spread very harmful things like viruses and killer

chemicals. For example, a piece of evidence for the GM salmon is that Farmed salmon are

more likely to get infected with lethal fish virus, including infectious salmon anemia virus

(ISA), salmon alphaviruses, and piscine reovirus, than wild salmon (PERIOD 5 Banned GMOs

in other countries ). For the pollen plant, BT toxin, designed to kill pests that eat crops,

caused allergies and other responses (Genetically Modified Foods). This proves that they

will lead to a lot of deaths. If this continues, animals populations including humans will fo

extinct. In conclusion, GM salmon and pollen plant are the most detrimental GMOs.