Non-Fiction Critical Analysis #3

In the article “How do Genetically Modified Foods Affect Your Health?” by Rachel Mount, Mount wants readers to know that although there is no clear evidence to show that genetically modified foods are bad for your health, people deserve the right to know whether they are eating food that has been genetically modified. In the article, Mount discusses research that has been done on the long-term effects of eating GMOs, and she informs readers about what goes into GMOs, how they are made, and how often we are eating them. Mount includes direct quotes from people who want GMOs to be labeled to show readers that they deserve the right to know what goes into the food they are eating. Mount includes facts, statistics and studies that all prove her point to readers. In this article, Mount wants readers to with her that GMOs should be labeled so people know what they are eating.

Mount convinces readers that GMOs should be labeled by providing facts and figures that show exactly how much genetic modification has influenced the food we eat. She informs readers that “More than 85 percent of the corn and soy grown in the United States comes from seeds whose DNA has been rejiggered(to increase yields). This makes readers stop and think about how much genetically modified food they have already eaten in their lifetime. A few lines later, Mount cites a study done where genetically modified foods were given to one group of mice and were not given to another. The results were scary- the mice consuming the GMOs lost the ability to reproduce and produced about half as many offsprings as the control group.  Mount is showing readers the dangerous side of GMOs. At the end of the article, Mount brings up  the already growing want for labels on GMOs. She states that “Nearly 50 other countries have mandated that GMOs be marked, and in an MSNBC online poll, 96 precent of more than 45,000 respondents said that they should be labeled.” Mount is using facts and figures to convince us that GMOs should be labeled.

I agree completely with Rachel Mount on the topic of genetically modified organisms. I, personally had no idea that I had been eating tons of GMOs before reading this article. Her article made me definitely support the labeling of any food that has been genetically modified in any way. Although they are not officially mandated as dangerous, I want to be able to decide what kind of food I am eating, where it comes form, and what has happened to it. Despite this, I wish she had included more opinions form others in the article, rather then sticking to her own bias. “How Do Genetically Modified Foods Affect Your Health?” is a convincing article that shows us why GMOs need to be labeled. 

"The Other Normals" Reading Response

“The Other Normals” by Ned Vinzzini tells the story of a teenage boy living in NYC who is ultimately unhappy with his life, until his parents send him off to camp and he discovers the World of the Other Normals. Peregrine, or Perry, Eckert has divorced parents, no friends, and  spends nearly all his free time playing a role playing game called Creatures and Caverns. Perry constantly wishes that the world was one big Creatures and Caverns game, and also that he would go through puberty quicker. This all changes when Perry arrives at Camp Washiska Lake and meets the mysterious Mortin Enaw, who transports Prerry to the World of the Other Normals- an alternate universe where Perry can, for once, be the hero. Soon Perry is on a giant mission with new friends to save the World of the Other Normals and also maybe grow up a bit along the way. The author of “The Other Normals” wants readers to know that sometimes it’s the mistakes that we make that really help us to grow up and learn.

            The first time in the story we see this lesson come up is when Perry gets himself into a lot of trouble in the World of the Other Normals, but when he comes back to Earth, he feels more grown up and like a man. When Perry firsts arrives in The World of the Other Normals, he meets Ada Ember who is he becomes friends with. After arriving, Perry soon finds out he’s not supposed to be there and gets both him and Ada stuck in jail. Perry is convinced he has screwed up majorly and there isn’t a way out, until he realizes that he can pick the lock on Ada’s handcuffs and they can escape. Perry and Ada manage to get out of the cell and fight their way back to where Perry had arrived. Perry learns that he can protect both himself and Ada from his experience in jail. After he travels back to Earth, he realizes something.  He feels more grown up and he begins to make friends at his camp.

            “The Other Normals” by Ned Vinzinni is a story all about growing up and finding who you are. Perry Eckret has a lot of trouble doing these things, and struggles with family issues, social situations, and fitting in. Despite this, Perry manages to find his way in the end by learning from his mistakes. Vinzinni wants readers to know that when growing up, making mistakes isn’t always a bad thing and can make you stronger or more mature. 

Revised Literary Essay

            The book “The Visibles” by Sara Shepard tells the story of a girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 90’s. The story follows Summer Davis, an average teenage girl who readers watch grow up throughout the book. Summer’s main problem at the beginning of the story, when she is in high school, is that her mother left her father, brother, and her without any notice or reason. As Summer struggles to deal with this, other issues begin coming up with her family. Her dad slowly becomes depressed, making her helpless and worried. Summer’s grandmother dies, causing her to visit unknown and disliked relatives. Summer’s brother even becomes aloof and lonesome in these troubling times. Throughout the book, Summer faces many challenges regarding relationships with her family members. She learns to deal with these struggles while also maintaining her own life. “The Visibles” by Sara Shepard teaches us that although our relationships with family can be difficult, they teach us and help us to grow as people.

            
         The first example of Summer struggling with family problems comes up at the very beginning of the story when she is grappling with the fact that her mother left and wants to get divorced from her father. Summer cannot accept this fact until her dad invites over her childhood friend, Claire, to talk with her. Claire was also having problems with her parents, and with Claire’s help, Summer begins to get over her mother’s absence. When learning of Summer’s stubbornness to accept, Claire says to Summer “’God, Summer. I’m so sorry. But we can talk about this together. About…the stuff that’s happening to both of us. We need each other.’” Claire saying these things helps Summer grow from the experience of losing her mother rather than remain hurt and sad because of it. Her friendship with Claire brings Summer to become a better and more accepting person.

           
           Another way Summer grows as a result of family issues is when Summer’s grandmother dies, and Summer is forced to see relatives she’s never met. She visits her dad’s old home and town and sees her great aunt, cousins, and uncle. While Summer is there, she learns of secrets her father kept from her when she was little, about her mother and his past girlfriends.  These lies hurt Summer a lot. “”He has been keeping something from me,’ I finally said. ‘Other secrets. He keeps secrets from everyone.’” Summer is so upset by these things, that she doesn’t keep anything from her family members. Later in the story, she tells her whole family them about a scholarship she got in Ireland, rather than going to Ireland and leaving without telling them, which she was considering doing because she was angry. Summer remembered her father’s secret keeping and decided to tell everyone, which brought them closer together.

            “The Visibles” by Sara Shepard tells the story of one girl’s life from teen years to adulthood. Throughout the story, Summer continuously runs into problems involving her family. These problems sometimes lead to good, things, however, and end up making Summer a better person as well as shaping her life. Many times when people feel annoyed or tired of their family, they begin to forget how much their family has done for them.  “The Visibles” shows readers that although having family can be tough, you should never take it for granted because your family ultimately changes you as a person and has a good impact on your life.