For class this week we had to read Good, Clean, Fair: The Rhetoric of Slow Food Movement and lift out three different quotes that we felt were important to the article.  Then we were to connect this quote to our Collaborative Research Project.  The quotes that follow are the ones that I found most important and that related to the research project that we are conducting.

Quote One:
One of the most urgent challenges came from the spread of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that were increasingly being used in industrial agriculture. Since the early 1980s, genetically modified crops had gradually increased their market share, often at the expense of local species (Slow Food Revolution  97). Of concern to environmentalists and Slow Food was the lack of any long-term studies into the effects these genetically modified crops would have on the environment (97).  The patenting of GMOs by large agribusiness firms likewise threatened the livelihood of farmers, who would then be compelled to buy seeds and crops at high prives from a small number of suppliers (Pollan 31).
How it relates:
Within our project we are going to interview farmers from within the area.  These people have been involved in the farming industry for a lot of years.  I think that as a group we could take this quote and make it into an interview question about whether the farmers use GMOs when planting and raising their crop.

Quote Two:
Slow Food typically describe this regional and cultural specificity using the concept of territory, which refers not only to specific geographic locations but also to “the combination of natural factors (soil, water, slop, height above sea level, vegetation, microclimate) and human ones (tradition and practice of cultivation) that gives a unique character to each small agricultural locality and the food grown, raised, made, and cooked there” (Petrini, Slow Food: The Case  8).
How it relates:
This quote could also be twisted into an interview question.  We could ask what crops yield a good amount of crop per acre within our geographic location.  What factors make these good growing crops?  What makes for a poor harvest season? etc.

Quote Three:
Slow Food thus sees itself exploring new means of intervening in the food industry and organizing in defense of good, clean, and fair food.
How it relates:
This quote ties the article together.  Within our project we could see how the farmers view the Slow Food Movement.  We could ask their opinions of how crops and animals could be grown more environmentally friendly.

After watching Food Inc., we were told as a class that we were to complete a collaborative research project in a group of no more then three people.  Myself, Ashley, and Christie decided that we would work together to complete the project.  After forming the group a difficult decision had to be made.  We had to come up with a topic.  As a group we decided that our primary question to research was "How accurate is McDonald's advertising healthy food match their menu?"  Once we decided on that we came up with 5 more questions to research in order to better our conclusion.  These questions included:

1. How accurate is McDonald's advertising healthy foods match the menu?
2. How did corn become one of the most used crops?
3. How to tell if food is really organic from the label?
4. Where does Kevin's law stand today?
5. How are other fast food companies trying to push healthier foods?

We also had to collaborate to come up with questions to ask during our Oral History interview.  As a group we decided that we would interview my dad, if he agrees to it.  Our decision was made because my father has grown up on a small family farm.  He has raised both crops and livestock during his life.  It seemed like a perfect fit.  We came up with a set of 10 possible questions to ask my dad.  They included:

1. How old were you when you started working on the farm?
2. How important is it to know where your food comes from?
3. Do you believe McDonald’s is actually growing “farm fresh” food?
4. How has working on a farm impacted your eating habits?
5. Do you eat at McDonald’s?
6. What do you usually order when you eat at McDonald’s?
7. Do you think the meat at McDonald’s is really all white meat?
8. Do you think other fast food companies will start choosing a healthier menu?
9. What do you feed the animals on your farm?
10. Is your farm organic?

The above questions are just a rough draft.  As the interview takes place some questions may be eliminated and more questions could be added.  It all depends on how the interview starts out.

While reading "Collaborative Writing in Composition Studies" by Sheryl Fontaine and Susan Hunter I learned about all the different types of collaborations that could be used while writing.  These collaborations included a conversation, a dialogue, and a tool for solving problems.  The conversation is used as a way to take what others say and use what you hear to influence your writing.  This could be done in a classroom setting of any type.  A dialogue can be used in a way to take a conversation and move it in another direction.  This change in direction can be done by adding a new piece of information into the dialogue.  The final type of collaboration in writing is using collaboration as a tool for solving problems.  This could be done in a research type paper or other type of class problem.

As an education major and liberal studies major I have collaborated in a lot of different situations.  Most of my education classes influence their students to work together to complete different tasks.  For example, in my TLC class we were given a propensity to define.  We had to collaborate on the meaning of the propensity and provide examples of how this propensity is shown within the classrooms we observe.  

I work at a Hallmark store when I am not at school.  While at work there is always some task that my store manager and myself try to collaborate on.  It could be a simple task like where to display a product on the floor or it could be a harder task like how can we improve displays to make them more attractive to the customers.  For example, one day my manager brought up a box, tape, and a sample product to me and said "how can we make this box look like a locker?"  We collaborated and made the ordinary brown box into a locker that had brackets hidden to display the magnetic locker accessories.

Within Writing, Research, and Technology we are currently collaborating on our collaborative research project.  Ashley, Christie, and myself are collaborating through the use of a Google Doc to come up with questions to ask during our Oral History interview.  I believe that throughout the duration of this project conversation and dialogue are going to be important aspects to use in order to complete the assignment successfully.



Collaboration has become a huge impact on my educational career and I feel that it will continue to be an influence in my life after college.

"Turns of Thought" by Donna Qualley discussed her visions of being a reflective and a reflexive researcher.  She used personal experience within her classroom and background knowledge by Donald Murray's essay entitled "The Listening Eye: Reflections on the Writing Conference".  

As stated on page 11 Qualley says, "When we reflect, we fix our thoughts on a subject" we go back and make changes or think about what has previously happened.  When we self-reflect we go back and look at how our own mind reactions independently from others.  Reflective research is when the researcher goes out and finds the information that they are looking for, reads it, then goes back to reflect on how they feel about the information that they have gathered.

Reflexive Research "does not originate in the self but always occurs in response to a person's critical engagement in the 'other'" (Qualley 11).  This type of research is bidirectional and concludes a contrastive response.  When a reflexive researcher gathers their information they read it, relate it to the other, and contrast it to themselves.  The other can include different cultures, believes, standards, ways of living, etc.  

Qualitative research is based around the why and how.  This means it is a study of how humans behave and why people act that way.  This type of research is done through observations and studies while direct interaction with the individuals.  These interactions could be done one-on-one or through a group setting.  When conducting qualitative research there are a number of tools, or resources, that could be used to better the study.  Video cameras, voice recorders, or written data are just a couple of the resources that could be used.

Narrative inquiry relates to qualitative research in that it is the study of human behavior.  This concept came to be by emerging under the qualitative research spectrum.  It is concerned with how people create meaning from events that have happened.  Narrative inquiry isn't supposed to be just a storytelling process but it should be more focused on how people take events and make meanings or understandings about them.

Both of these concepts will be used within the collaborative research project in a number of different ways.  One way is that we are going to be conducting a study of human behavior.  We are going to be conducting interviews using qualitative research using video cameras or audio recorders.  The main purpose of these interviews is to get a narrative inquiry about the meaning of the events in the interviewees life.

When I was younger a majority of the food that was consumed in my household were bought at the grocery store.  As the years have passed my family has strayed away from the supermarket when purchasing meat, fruits, and vegetables.  During the summer there is nothing better then eating local sweet corn with a good "free roaming" hamburger.  

While reading the Pollan article I understood the economics that go into the farming and agricultural industries.  I have been exposed to these industries since I was younger but never really thought of the economic impact.  My dad raises pigs for slaughter and my sister raises a pig for 4-H.  Until they started raising the animals I never thought about the cost of feed, the cost of equipment needed, and the cost of vet care for the animals, if they need it.  After reading his article I really thought about all of those costs and I wonder if my dad and my sister actually make a positive profit off of the animals.

While reading the Berry article the one thing that I found interesting was his list of how to be a responsible eater.  On that list it says "Learn the origins of the food you buy, and buy food that is produced closest to your home."  My family does this with the meat we buy, as stated above.  We also do this with fruits and vegetables by purchasing them from a local farm.  I feel better knowing where exactly my food is coming from.
Overall both of these articles allowed me to connect the information into my real world.  I enjoyed both of them.

On Tuesday and Thursday of last week we watched Food Inc. in class.  If you haven't watched this documentary you really should.  It is one of those documentaries that is very eye opening and shows a strong point of view on a specific group of people.  Growing up I have been exposed to the farming and agriculture industry so I could relate to some of the topics that were covered during the duration of the movie.  This blog isn't about my review of the movie though, it is about three discussion questions that I have to answer for class this coming Tuesday.

Question 9. Do you think healthy eating should be a right, a responsibility, or a privilege?
I feel that eating healthy foods shouldn't be a privilege it should be available to anyone, poor or rich.  I honestly feel that eating healthy is already a right in some ways.  The country provides healthy organic food to its citizens through the organic food section in the grocery store and the whole food stores that are throughout the country.  As much as some don't believe the government is trying to provide the correct information on their labeling to show the citizens exactly what is in the different products.  Eating healthy is a person's responsibility.  They need to take the responsibility to buy the healthy foods over the junk foods.  Parents need to make sure they are feeding their kids more fruits and vegetables and not the sugary foods.

Question 15. What do you think about Oprah being sued for saying she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue eating hamburgers, as described in the film?  What do you think about a law that prevents you from saying something negative about a particular food item?
Oprah, just like everyone else, has the freedom of speech.  In the movie it shows how she is unsure if she wants to eat hamburgers because of the Mad Cow outbreak.  Everyone at that time probably had the same thoughts as her but because they aren't on television their opinion was nationally known.  The idea of suing her over that incident is completely ridiculous.  If their was a law that prevented citizens from talking negative about a food item I would think that the government was ridiculous.  There is more important things in our country that should be taken care of like poverty, not the negative feelings over food items.

Question 16. Author Michael Pollan points out in the film that "to eat well in this country costs more than to eat badly.  It will take more money and some people simply don't have it.  And that's one of the reasons that we need changes in policy level so that the carrots are a better deal than the chips."  If healthy, environmentally sustainable food were to cost less than other food, do you think people would eat more of it?  Why do you think that?
I think it depends on the family whether or not they would eat the less expensive healthy foods.  If a family has children that are involved in sports every night out of the week it is easier for them to just go through the drive thru line then it is to cook meals.  Usually sports are over late, especially for younger children, and cooking a meal after that would take away from the time available to help complete their homework.  It would also make bed time later, in the view of these parents.  If a family already eats healthy I think it would just improve their healthy eating.  They would continue to eat the healthy foods and maybe shy away from the drive thru lines altogether.