In “The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods”, Robin Mather effectively brings awareness to the American public of the harmful side effects of genetically modified (GM) foods. She shares that genetically modified foods are foods with an altered genetic make-up. This alteration has lead them to be banned in several countries. However, in the United States, GM foods are not strictly regulated and, therefore, not required to be labeled. Also, the pesticides used in genetically modified foods yield harmful side effects in animals and humans. On top of health hazards, the process of labeling these foods are not as costly as the Federal Drug Administration declares. Furthermore, Mathers discredits the FDA’s credibility by revealing the bovine
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She applies statistics such as “in 2010, as much as eighty-six percent of corn, up to ninety percent of soybeans and nearly ninety-three percent of cotton grown were GM varieties” (42) to logically convince her readers most of the foods they consume are genetically modified. Also, she uses testimonies like Doug Gurian-Sherman’s (a writer from the Union of Concerned Scientists) to provide hard evidence how genetically modified seeds are underexamined (45). Also, she presents two Purdue scientists, Professor Huber and Professor Johal, who claim in a paper written in 2009, “the widespread use of glyphosate… can significantly increase the severity of various plant diseases, impair plant defense to pathogens and disease and immobilize soil and plant nutrients” (45). These testimonies promote her claim that GM foods have safety issues. Likewise, she employs facts into her argument to support her claims. For example, she states, “The first GM crop carrying Bt genes, a potato, was approved in the United States in 1995” (42). Earlier she explains the Bt gene produces bacterial toxins, thus, it kills any insects that could harm it (42). Subsequently, she inserted a graph on page forty-five based on two USDA reports, depicting the increase of planted acres of GM crops in America over time (45). The diagram supports Mathers accusation that most of the food we eat in the United States is from …show more content…
She inserts emotional appeals into her argument to influence her audience to passionately accept the dangers associated with GM foods to convince them to rebel. Likewise, Mathers utilizes the handiness of logos to establish valid reasons to acknowledge her claim such as, GM foods being regulated and even banned in other countries. Even though she asserts rare statements that are flawed, her audience is likely to trust her claim due to the representation of hard evidences included in her writing to support her statements. Also, her logical tactic of inserting statistics, facts, testimonies and graphs are effective in building her credibility. Similarly, Mathers employs certain word choices to trigger emotional appeals to connect with her audience. On top of pathos, she inserts the use of ethos to fabricate her authority and credibility within her argument by revealing her previous works. Since she has been writing about GM foods for over twenty years, it increases her authority. In conclusion, Mathers successfully exploits the rhetorical elements in a way to persuade her audience to act against GMOs in an effort to require them to be regulated and labeled in the United
She applies statistics such as “in 2010, as much as eighty-six percent of corn, up to ninety percent of soybeans and nearly ninety-three percent of cotton grown were GM varieties” (42) to logically convince her readers most of the foods they consume are genetically modified. Also, she uses testimonies like Doug Gurian-Sherman’s (a writer from the Union of Concerned Scientists) to provide hard evidence how genetically modified seeds are underexamined (45). Also, she presents two Purdue scientists, Professor Huber and Professor Johal, who claim in a paper written in 2009, “the widespread use of glyphosate… can significantly increase the severity of various plant diseases, impair plant defense to pathogens and disease and immobilize soil and plant nutrients” (45). These testimonies promote her claim that GM foods have safety issues. Likewise, she employs facts into her argument to support her claims. For example, she states, “The first GM crop carrying Bt genes, a potato, was approved in the United States in 1995” (42). Earlier she explains the Bt gene produces bacterial toxins, thus, it kills any insects that could harm it (42). Subsequently, she inserted a graph on page forty-five based on two USDA reports, depicting the increase of planted acres of GM crops in America over time (45). The diagram supports Mathers accusation that most of the food we eat in the United States is from …show more content…
She inserts emotional appeals into her argument to influence her audience to passionately accept the dangers associated with GM foods to convince them to rebel. Likewise, Mathers utilizes the handiness of logos to establish valid reasons to acknowledge her claim such as, GM foods being regulated and even banned in other countries. Even though she asserts rare statements that are flawed, her audience is likely to trust her claim due to the representation of hard evidences included in her writing to support her statements. Also, her logical tactic of inserting statistics, facts, testimonies and graphs are effective in building her credibility. Similarly, Mathers employs certain word choices to trigger emotional appeals to connect with her audience. On top of pathos, she inserts the use of ethos to fabricate her authority and credibility within her argument by revealing her previous works. Since she has been writing about GM foods for over twenty years, it increases her authority. In conclusion, Mathers successfully exploits the rhetorical elements in a way to persuade her audience to act against GMOs in an effort to require them to be regulated and labeled in the United