Opposing views on any topic.

[uni]

Hi

So I have an essay. I am thinking about doing following topics:-

 

*Genetically modified food and food safety

*Human Cloning

*Information technology in school.

 

 

I having a lot of difficulty in finding 2 distinct sources[ either from a book or journal] one which favors the topic, and speaks against the issue. But all im able to find are reports and analysis of what other people are saying, not what the author is trying to say himself.

 

Reason its so difficult is that im not allowed to just use some random internet blog as source, it has to be qualitative, with proper

references, atleast 5-10 pages article,like a chapter from book.

 

anyone know where i can find good quality primary sources that have a distinct, for or against, view point to them?

 

Thank you.

[Blahah]

Are you at school or university? Do you have access to online journals?

 

I'll get you started on the GM debate...

 

Here is one paper generally concluding that the safety testing methods for GM foods are adequate:

Kuiper et al. (2001) Assessment of the food safety issues related to genetically modified foods

 

Here is one which claims they are fundamentally flawed:

Schubert (2002) A Different Perspective on GM Food

 

I'll post more tomorrow, it's getting a bit late tonight.

Edited February 21, 2011 by Blahah

[uni]

oh thank you so much for helping me. I really appreciate it, but its not really what my professor wants for me.

 

-Yes, Im a university student.

-The sources have to be like a whole book or journal dedicated to that view about the issue. We just have to take choose 1 chapter from the book or journal.

 

I've tried the following sources, but maybe im just not good at identifying what view that source is taking up?

 

*http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

*=online-access:%22Y%22"]http://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Search/Results?lookfor=genetically+modified&type=AllFields&filter[]=online-access:%22Y%22

*http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/advancedsearch/advanced_search.jhtml;hwwilsonid=TTMBQYXDHBW2JQA3DINCFF4ADUNGIIV0?prod=GSAB

*http://www.scopus.com/home.url

 

 

And the 2nd link u posted doesn't work.

 

The closest ive to finding a good for or against viewpoint is from government reports, but I dont want them. Ive been like on to this thing for a week now and still nothing

So u dont know how much relief it would give me if u can help me find the right sources.

 

Other topics im consdering are:

 

-food irradiation

-food safety

-GMO food labeling

 

 

I am now researching for them and I hope u can research them as well. Id be so thankful to you.

[Blahah]

The second link works fine for me, what happens when you click it?

 

Are you sure it has to be a whole journal dedicated to a particular stance on the issue, or just a journal article? You won't find any reputable journal which only publishes papers taking one side of a discussion. Books are a bit easier to find taking one side of an argument, but then you need to be able to get hold of the books.

 

If you can choose one topic I can help you research it, it's a bit vague to look at 6 different ones. I suggest either GM food safety, or human cloning, as it will be easier to find people taking sides on those things.

[uni]

Meson, Im sorry about saying the 2nd link was broken. It's not broken. But both links direct me to the same article.

 

Yes, basically thats what Im looking for. An article from a journal or chapter from a book. but they should be like 6-10 pages, atleast.

My professor emphasizes on 'qualitative articles with in text refrences, bibliography etc and not some random internet blog ".

 

 

I will follow your suggestion. Let's do a research on GMO Food safety, for now. I really hope i am able to find opposing views on the topic.

 

Once again, thank you so much for your help.

 

P.S I was also wondering if we can do the work on chat, if its convenient for you?

Edited February 21, 2011 by uni

[Blahah]

Whoops sorry, I had accidentally put the same URL in both links. I have now updated the first link to the correct article. Try it again.

 

Both of those articles are qualitative and have plenty of references, they should absolutely satisfy your lecturer's requirements.

 

Yes I am happy to continue in chat, but it will have to be tomorrow evening (between GMT 6 and 10) as I have some work of my own to do this evening. Of course, you'll have to write your own essay, but I am happy to show you some general research methods and get you started.

 

Here is another paper which suggests current safety precautions are not sufficient:

Goodman et al. (2008) Allergenicity assessment of genetically modified crops - what makes sense?

 

And here is a very recent review (still in press) which gives the results of individual safety trials:

Domingo & Bordonaba (2011) A literature review on the safety assessment of genetically modified plants

 

My name is Blahah by the way, Meson is a user rank!

[uni]

oh thank you so much. Sorry for being mistaken about your name.

 

I checked the first link again. Exactly what I am looking for.

But the 2nd one is too short.

I like the goodman etal article.

 

Just so we are clear, I like the following ones u have posted:-

 

 

1.Kuiper et al. (2001) Assessment of the food safety issues related to genetically modified foods

In favor of GMO.

2.Goodman et al. (2008) Allergenicity assessment of genetically modified crops - what makes sense?

Against GMO.

So to finalize things, i need to be certain about my " topic ". What do you think would be a better topic question for my essay given the 2 sources, should it be:-

*Are the safety measures in GMO food testing really credible?

OR

*Is GMO food safe for consumers health?

Peronally, I think it should be the first one. But I just need to be sure. Since we kind of changed the direction when finding sources.

 

Yes, I can wrtie my essay but I will appreciate the beginning help u can give too. I just face a lot of problems in finding good sources.

 

But thanks to your help, I am almost done in finalizing the sources.

 

Thank you so so soo much for your help and time.

[Blahah]

Are you only supposed to used two sources? Or do you use many sources supporting each side? Because we can certainly find more sources.

 

I agree the first title is closer to the mark, but rather than credible (which means believable), you could say reliable or adequate.

 

e.g. Are Current Methods of Testing Genetically Modified Foods Adequate?

[uni]

Hi again.

Sorry for the late reply. Had trouble with my laptop.

 

Well, we are required 1 source for 1 view.

However, I just had a more concentrative go through over the 2 selected sources, and I dont think they are very primary

For example, the first one; Kuiper et al. (2001) Assessment of the food safety issues related to genetically modified foods

only seems to be talking about safety methods and procedures, how they r conducted etc.

Doesn't really says that current methods of GMO testing are safe/adequate or not.

 

And Ive realized that 2nd article is a bit short and only talksa about allergies in food.

Is it okay if more articles can be searched. Im not saying that these sources dont have a specifi, for or against view, its just that its not very visible.

I'd like something that is more closer.

 

Thank you.

 

 

[Blahah]

OK, how about this one (saying GM foods are possibly unsafe and current methods inadequate to ensure food safety):

Dona & Arvanitoyannis (2009) Health Risks of Genetically Modified Foods

 

And here's an extensive review of GM crops, section 3 is about food. It concludes that there is no proven risk:

Lemaux (2008) Genetically Engineered Plants and Foods: A Scientist's Analysis of the Issues

 

These two papers seems to directly disagree about a few things.

 

 

I'll be in the chat room from about 8-10pm GMT today and can help you then if you still need it and aren't happy with the references you have so far. But in advance you should be repeatedly searching citation databases until you find some good references (that's what I'd be doing).

 

Start by searching Google Scholar. Just try different combinations of relevant keywords and trawl through the results.

 

Then try Web of Science.

 

If you really can't find any decent sources for and against this particular issue then you'll have to choose a different question.

[uni]

Hi again. Well, I figure i dont have lot of time. So Im just gonna go with the same topic and after a concentrative go through at the article :

 

Dona & Arvanitoyannis (2009) Health Risks of Genetically Modified Foods, I really came to like it

 

This article dismisses research assesment of GMO food as not so adequate.

 

I dont , however, like the 2nd article u posted. It seems to be just answering question. Anyways, I am just looking for one that says GMO food testing is adquate.

I hope I am able to find a good one with your help.

I am sorry I cannot be in chat today as i have to go fix my laptop.

 

Thank you for everything.

 

On another note, I am considering changing my topic to GMO FOOD LABELLING. Already found a good article that says gmo food should be labelled, but cant find one that says gmo food should not be labelled.

 

--------------------------------------

 

UPDATE: Hey I finally found my sources. I am very pleased. I changed my topic and question, but if ound my sources. Thank you for guiding me.

 

I will come to chat someday to gain some helpful hints about starting with my essay.

Edited February 24, 2011 by uni