Cover Letter Draft

Dear Portfolio Reader,

It is my honor to take WRT102 in Lucenko’s class this semester. I have learned a lot of writing skills from her class. In this effective class, I have learn to how to analyze texts by identifying rhetorical strategies, the audience, the author’s purpose and the evidence which supports the author’s claim, how to compare two articles, and how to conduct research by properly citing sources and providing credible evidence. Both my  analysis skill and writing skill have made great progress.

In my rhetorical analysis essay. I learned the knowledge about rhetorical situation and realized that  interpreting an article is to know not only the main idea of the article, but also the writer’s method. For example, in order to closely examine Sagan’s essay, I not only summarized and paraphrased the content to point out his main idea, but also provided an interpretation of the text and explaining how the author use pathos,logos, and ethos to built his persuasive argument, and why he uses these particular strategies to persuade the audience.

In my comparative analysis. I learned how to explore and discuss the similarities and difference between two articles by analyzing their themes and method. For example. I compared “Man Discovers a New Life-Form at a African Trunk Stop” and “Saving Ethiopia’s Church Forests”. First of all, I indicated out they had similar approaches on topic but different use of appeals. Then I used point by point structure to analyze each article by providing ample textual evidence and my critical interpretation.

In my researched paper, I learned how to develop an convinced paper by providing credible and supporting evidence. First, I defined key issue for my argument, and then I provided some background information. Next I used various evidence such expert quote , statistic, and examples which I researched from news, journal article and magazine for supporting my thesis. Then, I considered the opposing position and refute it. Finally, I concluded my idea and provide possible solution.

By taking this class, I see my potential to write. Before taking this class, I was afraid of wring due to my poor writing skill and weak language. Writing more than 5 page essay was nightmare to me. However, this class helped me develop my ability to read, think and write critically. Through this semester, I have gained not only confidence to write, but also pleasure to enjoy. I am very proud of  myself  because I have conducted college level analysis and writing.

Sincerely,

YingShi

Update on Research Paper

I am still working on my researched argument . I am trying to add more evidence to prove my claim. Now, there are a lot of information I have found on my hand. I am considering which one is stronger for my paper. The challenge for me is that some sources may be too old and I am worried about their efficiency. So, I try to think of more counterarguments. If I can overcome the strongest one, my argument can be more convictive . It is also a way to provide more evidence. The most importantly, I really need to pay attention to my citation. The assignment sheet and peer review worksheet help me edit my paper better. By using them, I realize the weakness of my paper and I have to make the effort to improve it. First of all, I need to rethink my introduction. As the response I have received indicated, the introduction had better to be more interesting to encourage readers to continue reading. My plan is to add an anecdote which is close to audience’s life to catch their attention, as well as throw some questions to lead them to think and want to read more. Then, I provide background information to inform the audience. In addition, I need to explain some terms more clearly by provide more detailed information. The evidence is very important part in my revision. I need to be very carefully. I still think my paper is not easy, but I believe that I can do it, and I will finish it well finally. I will spend my weekend to work on it.

My challenge

My topic is about genetically modified foods.I think it is very hard and challenging for me. First of all, there are many different opinions about its safety but less conclusive data.   The most researches which prove that GM foods have potential danger to human health base on animal experiments such as feeding rat by  GM potatoes. The data I have found was collected ten years ago.  And scientific analysis  looks very complicated. In fact, there have not been found any actual cases that indicate GM foods cause untoward reaction on human;however, there are not powerful tests can prove GM foods are safe. Finding powerful researches and putting  them together well  into my paper are my  difficulties.  I need more time to find , to think and to organize…

Resource Annotation

Verma, Charu. Surabhi Nanda, R.K. Singh, R.B. Singh and Sanjay Mishra.  “A Review on Impacts of Genetically Modified Food on Human Health.” The Open Nutraceuticals Journal  4 (2011): 3-11. Web. 8 April 2014.

 

Summary：The review article is about the benefits and risks of  genetically modified food, especially  the  impact on human health. Also, it introduces the application of   genetically modified foods  like rice,photos by analyzing  their nutritional values and issues in detail. It provides several  researches about GMFs safety, which show they cause liver damage and   toxic reaction .

 

Using: I plan to use its relate knowledge about impact of genetically modified food  on  human health as my examples to prove my claim  that  GMFs are really dangerous to human . Also, I can use information about GMFs  as  my background in my essay. The researches about  genetically modified also help me to explore the risk behind the external benefits, which can raise the audience more attention about the human healthy.

Research Proposal

 

Introduction:

Genetically modified foods(GM foods) are produced by using the methods of genetic engineering. They are one of today’s most controversial biotechnology topic. Also, they are commonly has became popular on today’s marketplace In the USA, they take a large number especially in grains and legumes. For example, there are 93 percent of soybeans and 70 percent of corn grown in the United States. That means we are probably eating GM foods regularly. Even though they are cheaper, pest and drought resistant, and more nutritive. However, they also raise the concern about the potential environmental hazards and safety of the GM foods. Are they helpful or harmful? Should we really need to eat GM foods? My paper is to explore the the advantages and disadvantages of the GM foods, also discuss the impact human health and the environment.

Rationale:

In dairy life, genetically engineered foods are found anywhere. However, I find that many GM foods are not labeled. In other words, I do not know what I am eating because labeling is prohibited. Are genetically engineered foods really safe and can I eat them without any concern? These questions exist in my brain again and again. I believe that there are many people like me stay unknown. I want to find the answers for my question, also to inform the people about the hazards of consuming GM foods.

Research Plan:

I already know that GM foods saturate our diet today, such as soybeans, rice, and sweet potato corn so on. Compare to the traditional foods, the GM foods improve nutrition, quality and taste. GM foods have stronger resistance to disease, cold,drought. Also, they may feed growing world population and tend to solve world hunger. However, the fact shows that their affects on health tend to be risky and exist highly unpredictable danger. The most common reaction to GM foods is food allergy. There are potentially large risks to the environment and human health. I still need to learn that what other kind of health problems they cause, how they effect the biodiveisity and the functioning of ecosystem . Also, I need to know how the government treat or regulate the GM foods and if there are possible designed programs can help mitigate risks.

 

Implications:

Even though genetic engineering or transgenic technology gets great achievements in many application such as food production, they have negative effects on human health which the public can not ignore.  In fact, today, consumers eat these GM foods without knowing the potential health risks. In other words, the more of these foods we eat, the greater the potential harm to our health. . Acknowledging the potential hazards of the GM foods keeps us from harm and help us make the correct choice. In addition, it remind us to proceed them with caution.

 

Sources:

Whitman, Deborah B. 2000. “Genetically modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?” （http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php）

Verma, Charu etc. “A Review on Impacts of Genetically Modified Food on Human Health”  The Open Nutraceuticals Journal, 2011, 4, 3-11

 

Pro/Con Exercise

My topic is about genetically modified foods (GM foods).

My tentative question :  Are GM foods  harmful or helpful.

My tentative thesis is GM foods exist potential harm such as healthy issues and environmental concerns, so we have to proceed them with huge caution.

 

Claims support my argument:

 1. GM foods cause uninteded harm to the environment (Give facts to show some GM crops can cause high mortality rates in non-target organisms)

2.  GM foods rise food allergies. ( Give facts and statistics to show GM foods provoke increased allergies)

3.  GM foods increase toxicity ( State studies about toxicity to prove some GM foods are toxic to human)

4.  GM foods decrease nutritional  value ( Use studies  to show the impact of nutrition)

 

Counterclaims that challenge my argument:

 1.GM foods can protect the environment  by less demand for pesticide use.(Use expert opinion to show  that GM foods may reduce effectiveness of pesticides )

2. GM foods help solve  the problem of world hunger.(Use reason to show that GM foods won’t end the world hunger.

3. GM crops will not create any risk to human health .( Use facts to indicate out what human health risks GM foods cause )

4. GM foods are more nutritious. ( Use facts to show the concerns about nutrition such as the  alteration of certain  nutrients )

Research topics

1.Does UFO exist in the world?

When I was young, I heard many stories about UFOs from the reports and movies. In fact, since ancient times,there have been many rumors about UFOs and confused people.Human beings are always curious to know if there is any life beyond planet earth, or earth is the only planet holding life in the entire galaxy. As such, the existence of UFOs has always been a debatable subject.I want to use scientific knowledge to analyze this phenomenon which has often been associated with extraterrestrial life. Some people still firmly believe it exists today because UFO sightings gradually increase.In my research,I want to explore the history of UFOs, and analyze the reason why people believe the UFOs exist, and why UFOs are pseudoscience. What I already know is that the majority of UFO observations are misidentified conventional objects or natural phenomena—most commonly aircraft, balloons, noctilucent clouds , nacreous clouds , or astronomical objects such as meteors or bright planets with a small percentage even being hoaxes. My audience is supposed to be lack of scienctifc knowledge and trust pseudoscience blindly
2.Clone human beings.

Cloning a person who 100 percent looks like myself sounds cool.What will happen if I meet myself? Will it bring any trouble ?I have been cruious to know the answers for them. When Dolly the cloned sheep was born back in 1997, the possibility of cloning human beings became an imminent ethical concern for some and an attainable goal to others. It may prompt dozens of  questions, some of which may begin with “can cloning really do this?” or”should we clone human beings”. Some scientists disagree with cloning human beings due to ethical implications. However, human cloning also contributes to future medicine. My research is going to explore how  human cloning works and what their advantages and disadvantages are.

 

3.Does Rubik’s Cube effect intelligence?

Rubik’s Cube is becoming the most popular toy at any ages.It was also  my favorite toy in my childhood. It is a  colorful puzzle, consisting of small blocks rotating on a central axis.Each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers and  each of one of six solid colours. Someone has said that the little cube can change the big world. Therefore, it is not a simple toy. What I already know is that the Rubik’s Cube has long been touted by scientists as a phenomenal brain-training game.  It’s primary effect on the brain is developing and improving Spatial Intelligence.  I want to know if people who play Rubik’s Cube are really smarter than who do not play ,and explore how Rubik’s Cube effects intelligence.

Monster and Marvels

 

 

Monster and Marvels explores the portrayal of Asians in U.S.Comic Book, and also illustrates the United States’ racial and cultural perceptions of Asians .It is very interesting and causes us to think deeply about stereotypes.

I am interested in The Brain.In the 1800s, The Chinese  were portrayed as conspirators.Their high intelligence could not be trusted. In the 60s, Japan’s “economic miracle” increased the competition with the U.S. In addition, Asian immigrants came to USA for education and technology and gestated Asian” whiz kids“.Therefore,intellectual Asians were thought as suspect and  “sexless, heartless, friendless, a self-hating prodigy”. Their amazing achievements were viewed as inscrutable phenomenon , and nobody thought hard work behind them. Aside the academic achievements in the areas of math and science, Asians could not do else. Stereotype! This stereotype still exists today. Most Americans still believe that Asians are good at math and science, and lack of physical activities. The evident contrast is associated with different educations and cultural backgrounds, but not everyone acts the same way. Today, we can see more Asian faces in athletics, and also they get great achievements.They are not people who “have hyperintelligent  mind without a body”. Due to the pressure of this stereotype, I will feel ashamed if I get a bad grade in math or science test.When I can not answer the math question, people around me usually watch me disbelievingly, like I am supposed to know the answer.

Stereotyping drags people to become narrow-minded, and the ideas they adopt are wrong and unfair. Therefore, stereotyping could lead to some problems, such as prejudice and discrimination in our life. Therefore,We are far away from the reality and misunderstand the truth. Even though it is hard to eliminate stereotypes,we should be aware of it and try to use objective point of view to think rather than limit our thinking about a group of people.

to be continued…

I am going to choose Sagan’s ” Why We Need to Understand Science” and  Beeland’s “Saving Ethiopia’s”Church Forests”. I choose these two articles because they all mention the significance of youth in science and emphasize scientific outreach is necessary. In addition,

Comparative Analysis

The articles “Man discovers a new life-form at a South African truck stop” by Rob Dunn and “Saving Ethiopia’s Church Forests” by T. Delene Beeland are both about science and nature. However, they have different purposes.“Man discovers a new life-form at a South African truck stop”enlightens the audience that they should pay attention to surroundings and also encourages them to discover new things by telling  how the man finds a new species and names it. In“Saving Ethiopia’s Church Forests”, the author introduces the situation church forest facing currently and provides solutions to protect it . Her purpose is to inform and educate the audience that protecting forests is important.

In “Man discovers a new life-form at a South African truck stop”,Dunn mainly employs the modes of narration and description. Throughout the article, he narrates the story of Oliver Zompro and Piotr Naskrecki . He details their  process of finding Mantaphasmatodes . These two stories also are examples which support Dunn’s claim. In addition, this narration type of discourse gives the audience the sense of witnessing these events and helps them realize that discoveries are interesting and not very far away from their live. In addition, in later article, he mentions another person, Mike Picker, who had seen Mantophasmatodes but had not realized that they were unnamed species. The author uses this comparison to emphasize Zompro’s finding and informs the audience that discoveries are anywhere once you pay attention to surroundings. The author also uses pathos in the article. The stories of Oliver Zompro and Piotr Naskrecki touch the audience because they insist on exploring and enjoy discovering.

Similarly, “Saving Ethiopia’s Church Forests”uses the modes of narration and description, but it also incorporates the modes of problem-solution and exposition . For most public audience, they might not know much about church forests, so the author provides a lot of background information at the beginning of the article. Next, she narrates Lowman’s research in detail by chronological order. By visiting and examining the forest, Lowman finds the problem which is the forest facing the biggest threats because the church members use them for livelihood. Depend on later research, she gives solutions to protect the forest, which are enhancing productivity,building fences, the more important thing is to educate children because they are future. In addition, author uses a lot of statistics to indicate out the distribution of the forests in order to emphasize that we need to protect them even if they are reducing to the small amount. In order to make the article persuasive, she strengthens his credibility by employing quotation from other researchers relate to church forests.