I
found writing the Argumentative Research Essay to be challenging and engaging
at the same time. At the conference, it was surprising for me to find out how
different our approaches to composing our papers were. Writing the second draft
of A.R.E. was difficult because I had to follow all the instructions for the
assignment and organize the final shape of my paper. However, it was relatively
easy to write everything down once I had my outline done. I still need to
revise the essay a little bit, I have to extend the conclusion and mention a
source in the beginning of a long paragraph. Also, I will do more editing once
I finish revising it.
I
appeal to ethos in my essay by
identifying the issue of labeling GMOs in the United States, which is a concern
of the present. I demonstrate that I am knowledgeable of the issue by offering
a lot of content on GMOs and Proposition 37 in California in my introduction. I
write about what GMOs represent, how they are produced, what are the GM
products available on the market and some of their side effects. I also show
that I understand the complexity of the issue by mentioning
counterarguments.
I
appeal to pathos by stating that not
knowing what is in our food is not fair to us and that we have the right to
know what we feed our families. Being concerned with what I eat is a common
ground between me and my audience. I do not use sarcasm throughout my essay,
nor irony.
I
appeal to logos by offering support
for my claims backed up by serious research. I undermine all the
counterarguments by explaining why they are not true. For example, the argument
that grocery store products` prices will go up if labeling of GMOs will be
required is not true because there is no evidence for that, changing what a label
says can`t raise the price of the product and in Europe there were no such
increases after mandatory labeling of GMOs was introduced.
For
revising, I would emphasize more on pathos
by giving more illustrations of the issue I`m talking about. I would focus more
on the uncertainty of the effects of GM foods on our health.
I
now understand more about critical thinking because I came to question the
information I was reading about while I was doing research for my topic, which
led me to the main inquiry question. I believe critical thinking is linked to independent
inquiry because it involves the process of deciding if a claim is true, not
completely true or false, thus it makes me question facts or arguments. I also
realized that the writing process is a long one, which involves multiple steps
and that I can improve my writing on any occasion I am willing to spend time on
it. Also, providing and receiving feedback has to be a part of the writing
process because it helps us make sure we are on the right track.
