7th Grade Health
Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are widely criticized for their supposed
shortcomings by some groups while being praised as a life saver by other groups.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is charged with deciding what to do about
GMO. The FDA has come to you to find the answer to two questions:
Are GMO safe?
Should foods containing GMO be labeled to let consumers know they are consuming
GMO?
To accomplish this you must research to find unbiased, scientific answers. You have
been provided with a list of on-line resources. Some are opinions, some are factual
and some are trying scare tactics.
Your objective is to answer the two questions listed above and to give a reliable
argument to back your decisions.
1. To start, you must define what a GMO is:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Use more paper, if you feel the need.
2. Next you must visit at least 5 of the websites and for each list the following (You
may also find websites of your own choice):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Site URL
Who is responsible for this site?
Do they provide facts or opinions?
Describe how you can tell that they are giving facts or opinions?
Do you feel the site is pro-GMO, anti-GMO or neutral?
What reasons led to your answer for question 5?
3. Lastly, answer each question (from above) and write a well written argument to
defend the position you have taken on each question.
Use the point scale and rubric below to help you with your work.
Come see me with any questions. Try your best…I know you will do great!
Checklist:
Definition of GMO: ___________ 10 Points
Answer to website questions (minimum 5) Write the name of website here: 35
Points
1.
2.
3.
4.
5._____________________________________________________________________________________________
6.
7.
8.
Argument question 1: __________ 28 Points
Argument question 2:___________ 28 Points
For arguments, use the rubric below
4CATEGORY Above Standards
Attention
Grabber
The introductory
paragraph has a strong
hook or attention grabber
that is appropriate for the
audience. This could be a
strong statement, a
relevant quotation,
statistic, or question
addressed to the reader.
32Meets Standar Approaching
ds
Standards
1Below Standa
rds
The introductory
paragraph has a
hook or attention
grabber, but it is
weak, rambling or
inappropriate for the
audience.
The introductory
paragraph is not
interesting AND is
not relevant to the
topic.
The author has an
interesting
introductory
paragraph but the
connection to the
topic is not clear.
Position
Statement
The position statement
provides a clear, strong
statement of the author’s
position on the topic.
The position
statement provides
a clear statement of
the author's position
on the topic.
A position
statement is
present, but does
not make the
author's position
clear.
There is no
position statement.
Support for Includes 3 or more pieces Includes 3 or more Includes 2 pieces of Includes 1 or fewer
of evidence (facts,
pieces of evidence evidence (facts,
pieces of evidence
Position
statistics, examples, reallife experiences) that
support the position
statement. The writer
anticipates the reader\'s
concerns, biases or
arguments and has
provided at least 1
counter-argument.
(facts, statistics,
examples, real-life
experiences) that
support the position
statement.
statistics, examples, (facts, statistics,
real-life
examples, real-life
experiences) that
experiences).
support the position
statement.
Evidence
and
Examples
All of the evidence and
examples are specific,
relevant and explanations
are given that show how
each piece of evidence
supports the author's
position.
Most of the
evidence and
examples are
specific, relevant
and explanations
are given that show
how each piece of
evidence supports
the author's
position.
At least one of the
pieces of evidence
and examples is
relevant and has an
explanation that
shows how that
piece of evidence
supports the
author's position.
Evidence and
examples are NOT
relevant AND/OR
are not explained.
Accuracy
All supportive facts and
statistics are reported
accurately.
Almost all
supportive facts and
statistics are
reported accurately.
Most supportive
facts and statistics
are reported
accurately.
Most supportive
facts and statistics
were inaccurately
reported.
Closing
paragraph
The conclusion is strong
and leaves the reader
solidly understanding the
writer\'s position.
Effective restatement of
the position statement
begins the closing
paragraph.
The conclusion is
recognizable. The
author\'s position is
restated within the
first two sentences
of the closing
paragraph.
The author\'s
There is no
position is restated conclusion - the
within the closing
paper just ends.
paragraph, but not
near the beginning.
Sources
All sources used for
quotes, statistics and
facts are credible and
cited correctly.
All sources used for
quotes, statistics
and facts are
credible and most
are cited correctly.
Most sources used
for quotes, statistics
and facts are
credible and cited
correctly.
Many sources are
suspect (not
credible) AND/OR
are not cited
correctly.
Websites (Feel free to find your own):
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/us-usa-gmo-labelingidUSBRE93O18S20130425?feedType=RSS&amp
http://www.monsanto.com/Pages/default.aspx
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324493704578431551166938318.html
Why genetically engineered food is dangerous: New report by genetic engineers
http://earthopensource.org/index.php/news/60-why-genetically-engineered-food-isdangerous-new-report-by-genetic-engineers
19 Studies Link GMOs to Organ Disruption —
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/posts/?p=1340
GMOs Failing Worldwide
http://www.foei.org/en/media/archive/2011/cracks-widen-in-biotech-industry-myths
Can biotechnology help fight world hunger?
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/washington2.php
Doctors Warn – Avoid Genetically Modified Food
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/25/doctors-warn-avoidgenetically-modified-food.aspx
Austrian Government Study Confirms Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Threaten
Human Fertility and Health
http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/11/22/austrian-government-study-confirmsgenetically-modified-gm-crops-threaten-human-fertility-and-health/
GMOs failing across America – Farmer to Farmer film reveals disastrous failure
http://www.naturalnews.com/z033264_farmers_GMOs.html
Syngenta corporation faces criminal charges for covering up livestock deaths from GM
corn
http://www.naturalnews.com/036315_Syngenta_GM_corn_livestock_deaths.html
Guide for the confused
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_1860.cfm
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-win-a-gmo-debate-top-10-facts-why-gm-foodis-bad.html
http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/eight-reasons-gmos-are-bad-for-you.html
http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/mehmet-oz-md/genetically-modified-foods-good-or-bad
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/good-vs-bad-geneticallymodified-foods-3108.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-foods/how-to-avoidgmos?qh=YTozOntpOjA7czozOiJnbW8iO2k6MTtzOjQ6Imdtb3MiO2k6MjtzOjU6Imdt
b3MnIjt9
http://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2012/12/07/what-you-need-to-knowabout-gm-foods-is-half-the-story/
http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/gmo_foods.htm
http://www.saynotogmos.org/
http://www.prisonplanet.com/analysis-finds-monsanto%e2%80%99s-gm-cornnutritionally-dead-highly-toxic-2.html