Blog #6 - Brainstorming Persuasive Essay Topics

Now that we've finally made it to writing an essay about controversial topics, I think I would like to write about artifical sweeteners. Originally I wanted to write about this for my informative essay, but realized that it was too argumentative of a topic. Now that the whole point of the essay is to persuade the reader, I would like to discuss the dangers of artificial sweeteners and try to persuade the reader not to consume them. My stance on artificial sweeteners comes from something that happened when I was still in elementary school. My mother had been drinking a Diet Pepsi at work and had a seizure. After undergoing some tests they decided that it had been caused by an allergic reaction to the aspartame found in the soda. For a while she switched to only using Splenda (sucralose), until that caused her to experience migraines as well. Meanwhile, the artificial sweeteners triggered headaches for me too. Finally we threw out and stopped buying anything with an artificial sweetener in its ingredients. Now artificial sweeteners are like taboos in my home. Since then, I've done my own research about these fake sugars. I don't like anything I've read. They actually could be linked to many health problems and diseases. Also tests have shown that they actually make people want to eat more, causing more weight gain. With more thorough research I think I could write a really good essay on this topic. It's something I feel very strongly about and I'd really like to share what I know.

My backup topic is factory farming. This is also a topic that I am against. It is one of the contributing factors to my vegetarianism. I don't know a ton about it, but I've read some really graphic horror stories. From what I've read so far, I believe that factory farming is cruel, unsafe, unsanitary, and disgusting. I would definitely need to do some more research on this topic, but I think I would be able to sway the readers with what I have to say.

Either of my topics would work for this essay, but I think the first would be best. I already have such a strong opinion on it that I would be able to say more. The second topic is important to me as well, but the first affects so many people. I really want to share the information and help some people out.

Blog #5 - Informative Essay Topic

For my informative essay I think I want to write about the dangers of artificial sweeteners, such as Aspertame or Splenda. To me, this a very interesting topic. It's also one that people really need to know more about. I've read up on this topic a lot already, and am still amazed by all of the health problems linked to artificial sweeteners. The terms "sugar-free" and "zero-calorie" are everywhere and people think those terms make a food or drink healthy, but in reality it makes it very unhealthy. I think that if I write this paper well, it could help educate people. The problems with this topic are: 1. People might not want to believe what I have to say; and 2. It's something I feel very strongly about so I fear that I will unintentionally insert my own opinion.
For my essay I think I will start with what exactly an artifical sweetener is, and give some examples. I'll discuss the dangers of consuming these sweeteners, and also where they can be found (both in obvious places and also sneaky ones). I'd also like to discuss the companies that manufacture the sweeteners, and how everything is really kind of sketchy. For example, the makers of Aspertame fund a lot of medical associations, so they aren't allowed to say anything bad about the product, even though it could be making their patients sick.
I definitely need to do a lot of research to get some solid information on this topic, but in the end I think it will be easy for me to write about, and I'm excited to share the knowlege with people later.

Holy Guacamole! (Blog #4)

Your stomach is growling like a lion or a tiger. You know you need to eat, and soon. Unfortuately, it's too late for lunch, and too early for dinner. You need a snack! You could just head to the gas station and buy a candy bar or some other unhealthy prepackaged item, but where's the fun in that? If you're looking for something that is simultaneously healthy and delicious (plus quick and easy!), homemade guacamole is a good way to go.
The most important ingredient in guacamole is avacados. They mash up beautifully and are a lovely green color. You will need three of them that aren't too ripe, but not too hard either. But set these asside until the end. The other necessary ingredients are: half of any kind of onion, two Roma tomatoes, a teaspoon of minced garlic, three tablespoons of cilantro, the juice of one whole lime, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and salt to taste if desired.
You could dice up each ingredient by hand; however, that would take much longer. It is easiest to use a blender or a food processor. To avoid getting the processor all messy and sticky from the beginning, start off by dicing up the onion. If you first chop it into medium sized pieces, you can then throw it into the bowl of the processor. Next add in the cilantro. Pulse it until the pieces are somewhat evenly diced. Empty the mixture into a container. Next chop the tomatoes into similar sized pieces as the onion. Then add those into the bowl and pulse until they are diced as well. Empty them into the container. Now you can add in the minced garlic and the cayenne pepper. Then cut the lime into four pieces, to make squeezing out the juice easier. Stir until it's all combined. Right now it should resemble something like pico de gallo. The final step is to blend the avacados. The easiest way to open an avacado is to first cut it all the way around with a knife. Hold one half firmly without squishing it, then pull the halves apart. Scoop out the pit and then scoop the green fruit into the processor bowl. Do this for each avacado. Finally, blend the avacados until they are more of a paste. Add it to the "pico" and stir everything together until it's well combined. If you want to, add salt. Enjoy your snack with some tortilla chips or on a quesadilla and you're good to go!

Blog #3 - Pre-Writing for a Personal Essay

I'm still very young and nothing really "life-changing" has happened to me. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.. Perhaps it's a little of both. But there are some things that have helped define who I am.
One thing I could write about is how I came to be so passionate about food, nutrition, and healthy living. It's a big part of who I am now. I'm a vegetarian and I do my best to eat mostly healthy food (moderation, not perfection...plus desserts are pretty much my favorite thing ever). There are so many lies fed from the food industry to the world and I want to help spread the truth. I think nutrition is fascinating and I can't wait to start my path and become a certified health coach.
Another thing I could write about is how my dad moving across the country has impacted my life. When I was only in about second or third grade, my dad transferred from NIU to Penn State to be a grad-student and get some other degree.  That's a lot of miles and a whole time zone away from here, which is a lot for a little girl to take in. Ever since, I've only been able to see him during Christmas Break and for a week every summer. I think this situation helped me grow up a lot quicker. It also caused me to have some commitment and trust issues, which I'm just starting to get over. Fortunately my dad and I have always been on good terms and we still talk on a regular basis. But as I get older things get more awkward. Most of our conversations are about school and movies or books. At the end of the day, though, I love my dad and I've never been upset with him for living that far away from me. It's kind of nice not having to live a double life and switch houses every weekend, like a lot of other kids with divorced parents do. And I also have an awesome step-dad, so it's kind of like I get two dads, which is pretty cool.
The problem with both of these ideas is that they aren't really stories. So I'm not sure where I'd begin with either of them. I like them both equally so I'm not sure which to choose. I didn't realize how much I had to say about the second until I started writing. This might be silly, but I'm afraid if I choose the second, my dad will eventually read it and it will make him sad, and I don't want that. I also don't know if either of them would pass the "so what?" test. I'm very indecisive..

A Lovely Beach Day..

I am not a very relaxed person. I enjoy relaxing (obviously... who doesn't?), but I'm not very good at it. Especially when I'm out of my element like I was during my trip to Delaware.
Every summer I fly out to Washington D.C. to visit my dad. Usually we tour the city, eat at cool restaurants, and watch movies. But starting last summer we added another person to the week - my new step-mom. Fortunately she and her family were very welcoming of me and they invited me to their beach week at Bethany Beach, Delaware. They've gone the last 32 summers to stay in a beach house at their favorite beach. I accepted the invitation; however, as the vacation date approached, I got more nervous about it. I knew I would be lonely and homesick since I didn't know these people very well. But I boarded the plane anyway.
It was a long day of traveling but I was happy to see the ocean. There was a perfect sunset the first night, full of oranges and pinks and blues. I felt more at ease when I was by the water. When I was with my group, on the other hand, I felt anxious and lonely because they were so different from me. They talked differently, seemed a lot smarter than me, and they didn't quite understand my daily diet. I also missed my family and friends back home. I knew I had a long six days ahead of me.
The first beach day was so uncomfortably hot. It was also crowded because it was the Sunday after the fourth of July. I attempted to lay out on a blanket and get a tan, but the blanket was covered in sand. Since I was sweating so much, the sand stuck to me and made my skin feel gritty and gross. I wasn't exactly sad when we headed back to the house.
A second beach day went by, which was better but still not much fun. My dad, step-mom, and I decided to take a break from the water and go mini golfing. It ended up being a lot of fun, plus we got free ice cream. That night our whole group (twelve of us all together) went out for dinner. It was the first night I actually enjoyed myself. There was good conversation, delicious food, and a fun environment. I finally felt like things were looking up.
The fourth day was another beach day, and it was perfect. It was a sunny day but it wasn't too hot. We set up our umbrellas, chairs, and blankets, ate a picnic lunch, and tried to enjoy the day. I ended up falling asleep on one of the blankets, which was a first for me that week. When I woke up I decided to sit in a chair and just relax. I focused on the waves, the hot air, and the unusually cool breeze coming off the ocean. I tried not to think about anything on the trip that was bothering me or making me feel anxious. I just breathed. An hour later I realized I had fallen asleep again. I was amazed at myself for actually feeling content for once. We packed up and headed home, and got ready for another group dinner.
The rest of the week got better and better. After a day of shopping, a few more great meals, and a rainy day spent inside, I felt so much calmer. I now know that there really was no need to worry. I'm looking forward to joining them for beach week again next year.

Blog #1: Your Abilities as a Writer

Because we've been on summer break for the last two and a half months, I feel that I am a little rusty when it comes to writing. Hopefully it won't take long to get back on track. Besides that, when comparing my current writing abilities to those of a year ago, I feel confident that I've improved; however, there are many things I'd like to improve upon further. Firstly, I need to get a handle on my procrastination problems (yes, I've still got those...*sigh*). Getting on top of assignments right away is my biggest goal for this year. I'd also like to continue learning about the use of correct grammar, and I want to expand my vocabulary as well. For example, I need to discover some new substitues for the word "however." Another thing I have trouble with is knowing where to separate my ideas into paragraphs. I have a tendency to just write one huge paragraph that jumps all over the place, and that's an issue. One thing I feel better about, though, is the process of writing. Taking Honors III last year helped me out a lot in that. I learned that I need to start with a general idea of what I'm going to write about, form more ideas with a graphic organizer of some kind, and also revise, revise, and revise some more. And not just in English classes - all of my classes! That's something I've never quite grasped until now.
I'm really excited that I have the opportunity to take this class, as well as psych and speech. It makes me feel like I'm a step ahead for once. I think this is going to prepare me for college much better than regular English 4. I am still a bit sad that I didn't get to take AP...I had been looking forward to that since freshman year. But honestly I think this class will be great. It will definitely be a lot of work, but it will be worth it. I'm looking forward to learning about different types of essays, and also expanding my knowlege and writing skills.

Blog #10 - Final Gatsby Discussion (Prompt 2)

            For me, Baz Luhrmann’s movie version of The Great Gatsby did not disappoint. Despite critiques from many other fans, I thought it was a great movie. There are, however, some digs at the film that I’ll admit to agreeing with.

            Just like in the novel, the story is told to us by Nick Carraway; a WWII veteran who finds himself becoming friends with the mysterious Gatsby who lives next door. Toby McGuire’s portrayal of Carraway was good at times, but sometimes I felt he was too over-the-top. This version of Carraway was too wide-eyed and innocent. Novel-Nick was innocent and a little naïve as well; however, being as dramatic as McGuire was a little unnecessary. For example, in one of the early scenes of the novel, Nick visits his cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom, at their mansion in East egg. In the movie, when he first arrives and sees the house, he stands there with his eyes wide and mouth open like a little kid on Christmas. I don’t think Nick Carraway in the novel was quite this childlike. Despite this observation, however, Toby McGuire did a nice job of narrating the film. Most of the narration was directly from the book. This made it easy to follow and it didn’t stray too far from the original storyline.

            I felt that the portrayals of the other four main characters – Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, and Jordan – were very true to the book. Each of them was very similar to how I pictured them, and their personalities were just the same. Tom was big and strong, cocky, evil, and powerful. Daisy was beautiful, innocent, self-centered, and lovely. Gatsby was obsessive, hopeful, dreamy, and impressive. And Jordan was athletic, intimidating, and exciting. Another aspect of the movie that I found more than satisfactory was the costume design. The girls’ dresses were extravagant and sparkly, the men’s suits were perfectly tailored and just the right colors and styles, and the people in the Valley of Ashes were grimy and poor-looking.

            The plot of the movie matched up with the novel. Fortunately, it didn’t add in or take away too many things. What was different was the way the story was narrated. In the film, Nick Carraway is telling this story to a doctor. The doctor encourages him to write this story so it will calm him. This new twist on the narration of the story didn’t bother me too much; however, I felt that putting actual words on the screen was a little unnecessary. No matter what font the words are put in, it doesn’t make it any less tacky.

            Each situation in the story was like the novel; however, some seemed to be more dramatic and drawn out than others. One example is the first party scene at Gatsby’s. In the novel it was a big deal; it had its own chapter and a lot happened there. But in the movie, rather than using the scene to continue the storyline, it was just made into this big ordeal. One critic I saw called it “garish.” I felt that it was a little too much as well. Another thing was the music, which was used to set the mood in different scenes, as it is in all movies. Some of the music was fitting, like Lana Del Ray’s “Young and Beautiful,” which seemed to be Gatsby and Daisy’s theme. But others, like most of the rap, seemed out of place. They tried to modify the party scenes by throwing in today’s party music. This almost worked; sometimes I felt like I could almost understand and get into it. But other times it was really rather annoying.

            All together I loved the movie. I thought it was entertaining and it really brought the novel to life. There were things I wished they had done differently, but it wasn’t my interpretation, it was Luhrmann’s. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone.

Blog #9 - Why GMO's should be labeled

 What is a GMO?

o   Genetically Modified Organism

§  Also sometimes called transgenic organisms

o   The human use of biotechnology to manipulate an organism’s DNA

o   Involves taking genes from one species and putting it into an unrelated species

o   The intention is to quickly produce a larger quantity of better-tasting crops that grow in harsh conditions and feed a growing population

o   GMO’s “help” farmers

·         Different types of GMO’s

o   Herbicide tolerant – allows farmers to spray herbicides over the tops of plants

§  Example: Roundup Ready

o   Insect resistant – in-plant protection from insects, reduces the need for insecticides

§  Also protects beneficial insects, like ladybugs

§  Example: Bollgard

o   Abiotic stress tolerant – Example: DroughtGuard, which helps the plant when there isn’t much water available

o   Disease resistant – could potentially prevent things like Irish potato famine from happening

o   Modified product quality – what’s mostly being worked on right now are improved oils

§  Also rumored is an “Arctic Apple” that won’t brown as easily once it’s cut

·         Why people think GMO’s are good

o   Could present many health benefits

§  Longer shelf life for produce

§  Low-calorie beets and oils with lower saturated fat are currently in the works

§  Crops with higher nutritional content (for example, higher fiber or crops containing additional vitamins and minerals)

§  Safer to eat because of less pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides

§  “Edible vaccines” are currently being developed, which will be easier to ship and store

o   Will save farmers money

§  Less money spent on herbicides and pesticides

§  Could prevent crops from dying when hit with sudden frosts, drought, or diseases

§  Will improve harvests

o   Better for the environment

§  Less harmful pesticides/herbicides in groundwater, which in turn harms other plants and animals

§  Less chemicals used overall

o   Will better feed the world’s  rapidly expanding population

o   Nature has a way of improving itself over a long span of time; this is just a much faster way of doing it

·         Why people think GMO’s are bad

o   Could present new health risks

§  People with allergies might be inadvertently consuming something with DNA from the food they are allergic to

§  Bacteria found in our bodies could pick up antibiotic resistance genes found in many genetically modified crops

o   They could harm the environment

§  Could hurt the wildlife and/or harmless insects that live around fields

§  Theory of “superweeds” that become immune to weed killers and grow out of control, and also “superbugs” that become resistant to pesticides

§  Viruses could become resistant to the “edible vaccines”

o   It’s just unnatural

§  Nature takes millions of years to improve itself for a reason; why are we so impatient? It will perfect itself on its own, so we shouldn’t try to do it ourselves

§  “Playing God”

§  Bad for vegetarians and vegans

·         There could possibly be genes from an animal in what was formerly innocent produce

§   Could impact peoples’ religions

·         Something considered “kosher” might have pig genes in it

o   Might be more about profits than anything

§  Over-promoted without concern for potential health or environmental risks

§  Mostly being used in high-volume crops, like corn and soybeans

o   Not well regulated

§  The FDA is too lenient on what they allow, no one really knows the difference between “okay” and “not okay”

§  FDA says that genetically modified foods are “substantially equivalent” to foods that are not modified

§  FDA does not require consultation for new genetically modified foods

·         The bottom line, products containing GMO’s should be labeled

o   At least 30,000 different GMO’s exist on grocery store shelves, mostly because so many processed products contain soy

o   People should have the right to choose a side; if they think GMO’s are good, then they can eat them. If they don’t want to take the risk, they should be able to make that choice.

o   People should have the right to know exactly what they are eating

o   If something genetically modified makes someone sick, no one will be able to trace it back to what exactly caused it

o   The U.S. is the largest producer of GMO’s

o   30 other countries ban the use of genetically modified crops because they are not considered to be proven safe

o   A CBS news poll shows that 87% of the public wants GMO’s labeled

o   It also shows that 53% wouldn’t buy genetically modified food

Blog #8 - Oh, Edna...

Although Edna Pontillier isn't the best mother, wife, or person that ever lived in the fictional world of The Awakening, I personally think she's being judged a little too harshly. If people were to literally step into her shoes (probably rather uncomfortable Oxfords), they might understand her a bit differently.

Women during this time had so much pressure on their shoulders. According to "Cult of True Womanhood" by Barbara Welter, women were expected to be pious, pure, submissive, and domestic. It was understood that while the husbands worked and provided for their family, their wives would cook, clean, and care for their children. It was also an unwritten rule that men could pretty much do as they pleased; however, women were to obey every wish or command given by their husbands. These expectations might have been acceptable for the time, but they were  too stereotypical. Could every woman really live up to them? In this novel, Edna really cannot. Edna is a whole new breed of woman. She's care-free, a bit self-absorbed, and she doesn't really think before she acts. These qualities are what give her this desire to be an individual. She wants release from the chains that hold women back. She wants to fly away from what is acceptable. Her acts of rebellion may get her into trouble along the way, but I think it's really rather brave.

Despite Edna's bravery, she does have a habit of doing things without thinking them through. First she finds herself infatuated with Robert. Then when both he and her husband leave, she begins spending a lot of time with yet another man, Alcee Arobin, meanwhile continuing to completely forget that she has children. It's easy to understand why some people think Edna is a terrible person; however, I look at it a little differently. Edna's mother died while she was a child, resulting in her never having to see what a marriage is really like. Her older sister had to take over as the mother figure in their family, so Edna really never even knew what it was like to have a mother. Can we really blame her for not wanting to be a "mother-woman?" Can we blame her for not being prepared for her marriage with Leonce? She married him quickly without really knowing what she was getting into, and now she's trapped. If I were trapped in this not-so-loving marriage during a time when divorce just didn't happen, I would probably feel suffocated and hopeless. These feelings lead me to believe that Edna is depressed. Maybe these drastic and hasty decisions come from her search for happiness and freedom. She's really just setting herself up for failure. Each time her plan fails she just sinks down deeper.

Edna could probably be a better mother, a more obedient wife, and a more reliable person, but she is the way she is for many reasons. She wasn't taught how to be a mother or wife or good person. Is it really her fault? We really shouldn't judge her until all the facts are taken into account.

Blog #7 - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in 1807 in Maine. He was the second son out of eight children. As he grew up he loved to read and listening to foreign languages fascinated him. After graduating from college, he continued to study modern languages for three more years. He then became a language teacher. In 1831 he married his first wife and also published his first book. But only four years later, his wife died during a miscarriage. He grieved for a long time but continued to write inspiring poems. He eventually married again; he and his wife, Frances, had six children. In 1854 he quit teaching to completely focus on writing poetry. Sadly, only eighteen years after they had been married, Frances died after her dress caught fire from envelope-sealing wax. Longfellow didn't write anything for two more years, but finally started up again in 1863. He continued to publish books and poems, and was a very popular and celebrated poet by people all across the country. He died on March 24, 1882 at the age of seventy-five.
Walt Whitman was born in 1819 into a New York-based family of nine children. He loved reading, and when he was only twelve he learned to be a printer. After a fire destroyed the printing industry, he became a teacher. He only taught for five years; however, and in 1841 he became a journalist full-time. He founded two different newspapers and wrote unique poetry. Even Ralph Waldo Emerson was a fan. As the Civil War started and got worse, Whitman continued to write but also visited the wounded soldiers in hospitals. He moved to Washington, D.C. to care for his brother and other patients there. During most of his life he didn't have much money. Other writers sometimes sent him money, and he lived with his brother until his latest published work would give him enough money for a house. He moved into a simple house and kept writing during his final years of life. He died on March 26, 1892.
Both Whitman and Longfellow were popular poets around the same span of time. Longfellow wrote not only poems, but also books and essays. He also translated Dante's Divine Comedy. Whitman wrote mostly poems, but also spent much of his time writing for newspapers. People like Lincoln and Dickens admired Longfellow for his inspirational work during a struggling time. Emerson and many others liked Whitman's work. Whitman even said that Longfellow had done more for America than any other man.
Although they were alive and writing around the same time, Whitman and Longfellow were pretty different. They both were teachers and came from large families; however, that was about as much as they had in common. While Longfellow married twice, Whitman never did. Instead Whitman devoted his life to journalism and poetry. Longfellow wrote about inspiring things, but Whitman's poems were more like stories. But even though they were different, they both provided entertainment and maybe a little bit of hope during one of our country's most trying times.