"How Do Genetically Modified Foods Affect Your Health?" Critical Analysis

“How Do Genetically Modified Foods Your Health?”

Critical Analysis

By Lucas Peterka 804

In “How Do Genetically Modified Foods Affect Your Health?”, by Rachel Mount, Mount wants to inform readers about the impacts GMO’s may have on your health and how so little research has been done on the topic. One example gives of health impacts is when she states, “As genes are transferred between plants, allergenic proteins will pop up in unexpected places.  Mount also gives an example of an experiment done to gauge the damage GMO’s inflict. In this study, multiple generations of hamsters were fed GMO’s. By the third generation, they were losing the ability to produce offspring. MOunt also states that “studies link GM foods to altered metabolism, inflammation, kidney and liver malfunction, and reduced fertility.

Mount’s purpose with this text is to make her readers cautious about GMO’s. One technique she uses to express this is foreshadowing. She tells of studies that predict changes in bodily functions that have only been tested on animals. She never once said that humans would experience those same side effects, but she’s hinting that it will. Mount also makes the FDA and companies that develop GMO’s seem secretive and untrustworthy. She hints that these groups don’t care about your health when she says “Because GM foods are not required to be labeled as such, it’s impossible for consumers to tell them apart from regular foods.” Writing this after she mentions multiple health concerns is meant inspire distrust towards groups in support of GMO’s in her readers.

Rachel Mount did have some compelling evidence that persuaded me to support the labeling of the GMO’s, but she did not offer enough evidence to make GMO’s unsafe to me.

"Seeker" Blog Post

Seeker Blog Post

By Lucas Peterka 804

In the book “Seeker”, by Arwen Elys Dayton, the three Dreads are metaphors for the three main characters, Quinn, Shinobu, and John. In Dayton’s fantasy novel, we find characters tricked into doing terrible things by elder members of an elite agency called ‘Seekers’. Because of the horrible events that occur, we find our main characters running away from the location where it all occurred. However, mirror images of those characters exist in that very same place.

The first Dread, or the ‘Old Dread’, is most similar to Shinobu. They share many of the same personality traits. Both are both calm and calculating, but can be aggressive when needed. Both are always entwined with “each” Quinn. They also hate and despise their respective John, but must hide these feelings until their own Quinns acknowledge his flaws. Both Shinobu and the Old Dread also share some physical ailments. Both are weak, although for different reasons, throughout the bulk of the plot.

The second Dread, or ‘Young Dread’, is most like Quinn. They’re personalities are very similar. Both are very skilled fighters and can perform well in physical situations. They are both very cold and can maintain intense focus. They are also both very naive at the beginning of the book, both believing the Seekers’ actions just and fair. Both, by the end of the book, are hardened and more exposed to world ever than before. They are also both ready to do whatever it takes to take down their personal Johns.

The third Dread, or the ‘Middle Dread’, is the Dread version of John. Both are very driven to do what they believe to be right, even if it means working with the wrong people. Both are also oblivious to the fact that their missions are changing their selves, and for the worse. Both are also despised by their Shinobus and Quinns, yet they are oblivious to that fact. And most importantly, both are pursuing the same item in their quests for domination.

The similarities between the Dreads and main characters is uncanny, their too alike for it to be a coincident. The two mirror images shows us what would have happened if Quinn, Shinobu, and John had stayed behind to become Seekers. Although the characters are extremely similar, the two storylines are not.       

"Gone" Book Respone REVISED

“Gone” Book Response REVISED

By Lucas Peterka

Michael Grant’s “Gone” is a loss of innocence story set around a character, Sam Temple, who has had the harshness of the world revealed to him in an apocalyptic situation. Sam is a teenage boy faced with the responsibility of leading his peers against known and unknown enemies. Grant focuses on the courage and maturity that can be found in any child; the courage and maturity that usually goes unnoticed by the rest of society. In the traumatic plot Grant has put before his teenage characters, we find their actions, thoughts, and feelings becoming more and more adult as the plot develops. Grant not only wants us to see the plot growing more complex and mature, but also see the children maturing along with it.

           In the beginning of the book, we see Sam’s courage start to develop. After the adults disappear, a fire starts in a building in the town square. Sam, seeing the danger it poses, takes charge of his peers. Many of the older kids get to the abandoned fire station to retrieve hoses while Sam himself dives into the burning building to save a trapped child. With this small, little scene, we can see Grant introducing courage, determination, and leadership in these kids that will develop throughout the story. Sam taking charge shows us that inborn leadership that needed only the right situation to spark its development. The kids running to the station to retrieve the hoses for the building shows us the determination in those kids to save their town. But most importantly was Sam’s courage, jumping into that burning building to save a girl he didn’t know. Here, we see the plot already maturing, and along with it, our teenage characters.

           We even find this courage and leadership in other characters. Caine, for example, even as the book’s “bad guy” has shown incredible abilities to lead and manipulate with his words. When Caine and his followers came down from Coates Academy, a school for “troubled kids”, to Perdido Beach, Sam and his peer’s town. Soon after Caine enters town, he gathers the entire town, and with one speech, practically takes over. Grant uses Caine and this scene to express a differen way to use the new maturing skills of leadership. Because Sam uses his leadership skills to lead fairly, he shows us Caine leading with the wit of his tongue. Grant shows us how maturing can lead to darker paths. With this scene, Grant shows us that with these attributes, the children can be both honorable and manipulative.

           With this book, Grant hoped to make us that certain traits are found in all ages and sizes. And just like in adults, they can be used for, simply put, good and evil. Because maturity, courage, leadership, and determination are in everybody, even the “bad ones”. These traits give people power and how they use it is up to them. But in “Gone” people not only use this power however they want, it’s the kids who are using it. And to Michael Grant it is important that everybody realizes that everyone has an equal chance to become dangerous or protective, truthful or manipulative, good or bad. In Michael Grant’s “Gone” he shows us that maturity can mean very different things and can be used in very different ways.

http://booknasticsinc.blogspot.com/2014/10/gone-book-pesponse.html

"Should Laws Push for Organ Donation?" Critical Analysis

“Should Laws Push for Organ Donation?”

Critical Analysis

By Lucas Peterka 804

This article focuses on the pros and cons of laws that push for organ donation, but offers all perspectives from all different authors. One author, Arthur Caplan, is in support of “presumed consent”, meaning all adults are assumed donors, unless they opt out. The reason for this is the increase in organs that would occur with presumed consent, which are desperately needed by thousands of people across America. Mary Ann Baily, however, says that presumed consent is unnecessary because it would take away the family’s right to chooses whether or not the donor’s organs can be taken after they have passed away. Kieran Healy also agrees that overriding the family’s right to choose is unethical. Spain is often used as a successful example, “But in Spain the next-of-kin still has veto power.” according to Kieran Healy.

The author who gathered all of these perspectives, wanted their reader to feel educated enough to develop their own opinion on the issue. We can see this is the mission with the variety of opinions that are offered. The opinions range from radically in support to radically against presumed consent. Each author providing different facts that would give any reader enough information to think about the issue with their own thoughts, without an enormous amount of opinion influencing their decisions about the topic. Another thing the author does is include subheadings before every author’s written part to inform the readers about what they will be talking about. Some offer blatant opinions like “This Is a Very Bad Idea” and “The Ethical Good of the ‘Yes’ Option”. Others are almost incredibly interesting hooks like “Why Revive Old Fears?” and “Setting Up Safeguards”. The reason the author does this is to not only interest us, but to also inform us of the topics and facts that will be discussed in the section.

Although this article contained a lot of opinion, it contained a lot of DIFFERENT opinions that offered a lot of different facts. This strategy allowed me, and other readers, to develop our own opinions based on the variety of facts offered.

"More Than This" Blog Post

“More Than This”

By Lucas Peterka

While reading Patrick Ness’s “More Than This”, I found the main character, Seth, was constantly represented. But the other two characters, Regine and Tomasz, were almost absent. However, Regine’s personality was highly opinionated and she was always sharing her ideas with Seth, so the reader would notice her more. Tomasz’s opinions were regularly left out of the book and Ness did this for a reason.

At the end of Ness’s book, Tomasz ends up as the server of justice. The reason this is important is because that was an unexpected and surprising outcome. Ness repeatedly left out, and made sure the reader noticed, Tomasz’s opinion. Ness purposely makes Tommy almost a background character that doesn’t have as much substance as either Seth or Regine. This is deceptive, however, for Tomasz is actually just shy and dismissed by the older characters, and we see this when he kills the Driver. That role was probably the most important in the book, and was expected to be reserved for our “hero” (Seth). So it could not be given away lightly to some secondary character with no personality. With one act, Ness reveals the depth in his character and exposes some of the wrong actions performed by the other characters.

When Tomasz kills the Driver, Ness tells us all about his personality, and how the other characters oppressed his opinions. By excluding this opinion, Ness intended to surprise his readers and made the most important character hide in the shadows.

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" Blog Post

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”

By Lucas Peterka

               In “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”, Reardan High School is an allegory for the American education system. We know Alexie’s book contains this allegory because of Alexie’s mission, to make the American public realize the restrictive effects racism still has on millions of people. This tells us right away that Alexie intends for the issue to feel widespread, giving us the major metaphor, Reardan as the entire education system.

               Junior is used to represent the low-income, minority students attending most public schools. Discriminated against and oppressed by their peers and teachers. We can deduce this by the repetitive message that occurs throughout the book, the fact that most Indians won’t receive an adequate education. I stressed throughout the book that teachers and even the students themselves are the reasons for this. And if you recall from earlier, these are the exact oppressors who restrict Junior, and in turn, all low-income minorities.

              Alexie, however, is careful to express the idea that adults are the bulk of the problem, making the white kids befriend Junior. Alexie does this to represent the school and government leaders who work with the education system in his allegory. We know this from Junior’s rez teacher, Mr. P, who admits to destroying kids’ lives. He tells Junior of the role teachers and the government played in the destruction of Indian hope. This scene is a hint from Alexie, who is trying to get the reader to realize his allegory.

             Although it may not be the most obvious allegory, Alexie’s book still contains one. There were many hints Alexie sets throughout his book to guide us readers, however, letting us navigate the many metaphors that make up his allegory.

Should Access to YA Books Be Limited? Argument Essay

Should Access to Young Adult Books Be Limited?

By Lucas Peterka

                Young Adult literature has become a highly debated topic due to the dark themes appearing in their contents. Arguments have broken out across the world about whether or not these themes should be available to all readers. Are some to young and naïve to handle these topics that plague millions in the real world? Many believe the average YA reader not able to grasp these issues. But YA literature should be accessible to all who want to read it because children have the level of maturity necessary to comprehend and interpret the darker ideas introduced in YA fiction. And while many read to understand, large numbers of children, teens, and young adults read YA fiction to find comfort in the similarities they share with the characters.

                Many teens who have been “damaged” by traumas that appear in YA fiction, read about the same topics and find inspiration in those books. We can see this inspiration affecting readers in Sherman Alexie’s article “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood”. “After the ceremony many of the graduates shook my hand, hugged me, took pictures with me, and asked me questions about my book and my life.” Sherman Alexie is the author of YA book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” and routinely speaks to graduating seniors at different high schools across the nation. The seniors in this particular Seattle high school have been affected by the many dark themes featured in Alexie’s book. These graduates, as we see in the quote, have been deeply touched by Alexie’s YA book. The warmth and admiration can only be explained by a positive, lasting, impression. This welcome shows us that YA fiction and authors have been received warmly by the teen YA reader community. Alexie’s book has helped many “damaged” readers with dark themes existing in their own lives. Counter arguers, however, say the dark content of these books is giving the teen audience “bad” ideas. But the content of YA literature is not negatively affecting the ideas of teens, for Alexie states “kids… have sent me autobiographical letters… as dark and terrifying, and redemptive as anything I’ve ever read.” We can see from the quote, that the dark themes many complain about, are embedded in the lives of readers, sometimes even more severe than depicted in literature. How can you prevent ideas from forming in the minds of teens, due to YA fiction, when their lives constantly influence their ideas worse than a YA book could?

                Authors of YA fiction realize how important YA novels are to many teens. Either from personal, traumatic experience or from working with teen readers. According to Husna Haq’s “Should Young Adult Books Have Age Ratings?” Patrick Ness, YA author of “A Monster Calls”, told BBC Breakfast “Children are great self-censors. They know what they can read and they know what they want to read, and if you don’t give it to them, they’ll find it somehow.” Ness, having worked with the readers of his YA novel, sees the important role YA fiction serves in a teen’s life. Teens know the ideas they want to read about and what they don’t. If it’s something they do want they will read it. Bans may be proposed, maybe passed, but because of its importance, YA novels will still be read by teens because of the critical role it plays in their lives. Supporters of the limits, however, find the author opinion void because they don’t understand teens like the way parents and teachers do, the main population of “pro-banners”. That claim though, is bogged down by the fact a very important group of people is left out of their argument. Teens. Sherman Alexie, having been a teen reader of YA fiction, stated in his article “As a child, I read because books- violent and not, blasphemous and not, terrifying and not- were the most loving and trustworthy things in my life.” Sherman Alexie, his “dark” books being an autobiographical story, grew up in conditions that were not ideal. We can see from his quote were incredibly important to him as a young teen reader. In a world where nothing was for sure and monsters attacked every minute of the day, Alexie found peace within the pages of YA literature. “They taught me how to battle the real monsters in my life.” Alexie says in his article. Alexie shows us that while YA fiction may have affected him, and many others with similar stories, it was for the better. Helping Alexie overcome the monstrous obstacles standing in his way. “And now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing every day and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s too late for that. I write to give them weapons.”

                YA books help the more privileged teens realize the realities that plague their less fortunate peers and may even help them fight off monsters in their own life. Some supporters of the banning, however, claim that by exposing teens to YA fiction, trauma and immature ideas are introduced. One especially gruesome excerpt from Andrew Smith’s “The Marbury Lens” is used by Meghan Cox Gurdon in her article “Darkness Too Visible” to represent all YA novels. “Covered with impaled heads and other black-rot body parts: hands, hearts, feet, ears, penises.” Many argue that all YA books contain gruesome enough material to make the less exposed to the world to go “crying to their mommy”. This argument, while being true in some cases, is not true for so many more instances and is not representative of all YA literature. We can see this argument being disproved in Alexie’s article, when he writes about a conversation he had with a millionaire’s child. “He quietly spoke to me of his agony. What kind of pain could a millionaire’s child be suffering?… ‘I  want to be a writer.’ He said ‘But my father won’t let me. He wants me to be a soldier… ‘I want to be myself, just like in your book.’” While some YA books may contain some disgusting details, so many more inspire teens to stand up for themselves. YA books help them realize relationships between themselves and the world around them. That teen, seeing a poverty-stricken boy rise up and claim what he wanted and deserved, inspired him to search himself and find what he really wanted to do. A YA book, changed his life.

              The themes in YA books can be dark at times, sometimes even incredibly gruesome and disgusting. But most times, the scenarios YA books depict are reality for millions of people. When you compare the gain of knowledge and hope YA books provide, to the delusion that YA books inspire horrible ideas in the malleable minds of teens, we can see which one is more logical. The teen and young adult readers have a right and need to learn about all the monsters that roam the earth, and draw inspiration from those who conquer them. The contents of YA books provide the best lessons, lessons from life, to all who read them. And for those who don’t, well… They’re missing out.