ENGLISH 225: ACADEMIC ARGUMENTATION
CONTEMPORARY FOOD ISSUES
English 225 was unlike any other writing course I have ever taken. It not only exposed me to many forms of new media texts, but it also forced me to create them and try new modes of communication. My section focused on contemporary food issues, and throughout the course, we discussed a wide range of topics, such as eating and dieting trends, food economy, food ethics, the meaning of "organic," and more. For my argument of definition assignment, I looked at how the term "fat" functions in our society and why the word is important. I then re-mediated this subject into a video that raises awareness on the harms of using the word "fat" and what we can do to minimize the psychological damage the word causes. I used many different modes and features (words, images, video testimonials, background audio, and visual effects) to create tone and a message. And finally, I researched the effectiveness of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in delivering affordable, but nutritious food to children and young adults who participate in the program and ways in which the NSLP can be improved in order to have a more lasting effect on student health.