Complete all required readings and viewings in this week’s Study Plan before beginning this assignment.
Initial Post

Review the readings and videos for this week along with the information in the interactive module. 

First – Select one of the following topics to research for your initial post:

    Super foods: select one of those mentioned in the New Scientist article by Williams, C. A blueberry a day.
    GMO food crops: Genetically Modified Crops are a controversial topic for some countries and certain groups. Visit the Department of Agriculture web site: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45179/43668_err162.pdf 
    Dietary supplements, such as vitamins, protein powders or probiotics: (Select one of these to examine) You can find information on each of these supplements in the Excelsior College Library Resource Guide for module 5– https://libguides.excelsior.edu/NS110
    Organic foods: You can find information about the meaning of this term Organic in this week’s readings and in the Excelsior College Library Resource Guide for module 5– https://libguides.excelsior.edu/NS110 
    Lab-grown Meats and Meat Substitutes: The latest technology development is intended to give us meat substitutes that look and taste just like meat such as the Impossible Burger or the Beyond Burger. Now there are labs growing muscle tissues from animals, shrimp, and fish to replace farm-raised animals. You can find information about these products in this week’s readings and in the Excelsior College Library Resource Guide for module 5– https://libguides.excelsior.edu/NS110

Next- Research your selected topic using the module resources and by locating at least 2 other reliable, objective sources from the EC library or Google Scholar only. First, check the Excelsior College Library Resource Guide for Links to an external site.moduleLinks to an external site. 5Links to an external site.

Finally – Create your initial post responding to the following prompts: 

    Explain your selected topic what it is and why it is important to you
    Discuss the positive aspects of this issue, how is it good for us? What are the aspects of this topic that would benefit society the most? 
    Discuss the negative aspects of this topic. Is it hyped by the media, is the public information available about it scientifically accurate?  Do the food items in this topic actually provide the benefits it claims to provide?
    What is the most important aspect that you want everyone to know about your topic? 

Provide references using proper APA (Links to an external site.) style formatting. You may use additional sources and materials as long as they are relevant to the discussion and cited properly. For assistance with APA style formatting, visit the Library (Links to an external site.) or the Excelsior OWL (Links to an external site.).
Response to Others

Once you have posted your own discussion response,you are required to comment on the posts of at least two of your classmates. You can agree or disagree with their posts, but you mustexplain whyyou have chosen to do so.Also, be sure to read the feedback on your own major postings and reply to it throughout the module.

Your initial post is due by Thursday at 11:59 PMEST. Your responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST.
Discussion Guidelines

Always be sure that your posts are respectful, polite, and considerate. Please see the Excelsior policy Guidelines forOnlineInteraction” (Links to an external site.) if you have any questions or concerns.

Remember, when you use a quotation or paraphrase from a source, you must include the correct citation and reference. Using APA style references and in-text citations is VERY important for this course and all your college courses. TheExcelsior Library Citation Tip Sheets and Resources (Links to an external site.)will be a helpful guide.You may also wish to use a citation generator you just insert the information, and it creates the citation in the format you indicate (MLAor APA, for example). Here are 3 citation generators to choose from:

    Citation Machine (Links to an external site.)
    Bibme (Links to an external site.)
    EasyBib (Links to an external site.)

Consult the Discussion Posting Guidefor information about writing your discussion posts. It is recommended that you write your post in a document first. Check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. When you are ready to make your initial post, click on “Reply.” Then copy/paste the text into the message field, and click Post Reply.

This is a post first discussion forum. You must submit your initial post before you can view other students posts. To respond to a peer, click Reply beneath her or his post and continue as with an initial post.
Evaluation

This discussion will be graded using the discussion board rubric. Please review this rubric prior to beginning your work to ensure your participation meets the criteria in place for this discussion. All discussions combined are worth 30 % of your final course grade.

References
   

Questions?

Do you have questions on the topics, content or activities? Click “Reply” to post in the discussion forum below. Please keep in mind that this is an area to which all learners in the course have access. If you have a more personal question (for example, grades or grading), please contact your instructor.

It is an argumentative essay. Use theoretical Knowledge!!! Use the readings and authors from the attachments

The assignment criteria indicate that we expect “a clear and original argument, which is clearly signposted at the start, and well-developed (i.e. there should be an informed answer building from the research and evidence conducted, addressing the actual question as posed).”

To successfully pass this assessment, you need to have:

– Developed a clear and original argument, which is clearly signposted at the start, and well-developed (i.e. there should be an informed answer building from the research and evidence conducted, addressing the actual question as posed). Original here doesn’t mean that you have argued something never previously suggested – it means you went beyond any sources or materials cited in the case study, and demonstrated your own ‘voice’ or ‘take’ as the answer. There needs to be clear evidence that you have conducted some additional and independent research around the case itself. You need to demonstrate that you recognise broader questions and wider implications stemming from the case. ( Comprehension)

– Demonstrated serious analytical depth, i.e., not just listing theories and models but also showing how they apply to the case and what insights you derive from them. In addition, you need to have clarified why the models and theories you have chosen are relevant. In discussing academic theories and models we do expect you to go beyond the lectures and essential readings ( Analysis)

– Shown critical reflection by considering assumptions and implications of various positions, not just one view. Ideally, you can locate a debate in the literature and showing how different ideas, concepts and/ or viewpoints are contested. You should also acknowledge the limitations of your own position and that of others and explicitly consider consequences. ( Critical Evaluation)

– Presented a well-structured and written assignment, with a clear flow of argument. You should also have appropriately cited and referenced all the material used in your assignment ( Academic Writing)