1. Today’s goals Introduce synthesis essay
Begin researching and discussing problems related to food and health

2. Class announcements Advertising Project Final Draft due Monday 3-26
Presented in EGL class
Make sure to include 5 main visual rhetoric strategies
You will be asked to explain your choices, strategies, and individual contribution to the group

3. Synthesis essay Very formal, closed form prose
Takes part in an academic conversation with the sources that are analyzed on the topic
Thesis must be clear, original, credible, and strong
1,000+ words
4 source minimum

4. Intro to Research Writing
What is the main goal of research writing?
What is a research question?
What is a synthesis question?
What kind of a thesis should we create in synthesis writing?

5. Research Writing Roles
Reporter of information
Reporter of the current best thinking on a problem
Conductor of original field research in response to an empirical question
Reviewer of a controversy
Advocate for a position in a controversy
Analyzer of a question who positions him/herself within a critical conversation
Which of these will be most important for our synthesis research writing?

6. Synthesis Essay Topics
Problems with technology
(Antisocial behavior, suicide and cyberbullies, technology effects on the middle class)
Problems involving health & food
(American obesity, fresh food, food processing considerations, negative health effects)
Problems involving education and the economy
(cost of a higher degree, rising college debt, how class affects education, student loan debt slowing spending)
Problems involving sleep & psychological disorders
(sleep effects on children, sleep and education, ADHD and sleep disorders)

7. Class discussion – Food and health
What are some of your favorite foods?
Are these foods “healthy?”
What are GMOs? Have you ever consumed GMOs?
Is consuming GMOs healthy or unhealthy?
What is a good desert? How do food deserts affect public health?

8. Food and health
GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisms: living organism whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated
Food Desert: urban area where it is difficult or impossible to acquire healthy, quality, or fresh food

9. Can you identify the common fruits (before genetic modification) shown above?
Source:

10. Shown above: modern watermelon, banana, and corn after genetic modification over millennia
This type of genetic modification has allowed us to significantly improve crop yields and nutrition over time. Many fruits and vegetables today would be unrecognizable to us without the genetic modification they underwent

11. Food and health- gmos GMOs also have potential harmful effects
Food allergies
Increased toxicity
Decreased nutritional value
Antibiotic resistance
Decreased biodiversity and increased crop vulnerability
Unknown long term effects
Source:
Many countries ban the production of GMOs, GMO imports, or require products to clearly identify when GMOs are being used. However, the US does not. Why?
Source: banned/

12. Food deserts are defined  as parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers.
Lack of fresh food availability in food deserts is thought to contribute to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer
Source: deserts

13. Group activity: synthesis essay analysis
In groups of 3-5 students
Read through the sample food synthesis essay on the class website and answer the questions below
What strategy does the introduction use to grab reader attention?
What is the thesis of the essay? Take this directly from the text if possible
How is this thesis original or unexpected? What does it tell you that you don’t already know?
What points does the essay use to support its thesis? (or what are the main points of the body paragraphs)
How many sources are used in the essay? How many quotes or how much paraphrase is used from each source?

14. Homework
Read A&B
Advertising Project
Final draft due 3-27