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1. First continue with the essay
research on a “Thread”
Choose a particular chapter or chapters, or a particular thread of inquiry, such as the cattle industry, the poultry industry, the hidden costs of industrial farming, local vs. industrial organic farming, fast food, the ethics of eating animals, the meaning of food in our lives, etc. (topics thanks to Professor Mikolavich).Analyze this topic as Pollan presents it in The Omnivore’s Dilemma and draw upon two reputable outside sources (ideally from the library or library electronic databases) to further develop on this topic. This topic requires two outside sources in addition to The Omnivore's Dilemma. At least half of your essay should draw upon and analyze material from The Omnivore’s Dilemma, such as illustrations of how “the health of these animals is inextricably linked to our own by that web of relationships,” ecological connections and the food chain (81). Your overall analysis needs to be organized like a conventional, unified essay—with an introduction, thesis that ties together your major points, analysis of quotes from the texts, and a conclusion restating and tying up your thesis.
2. Then:
Attach a copy of your Works Cited here as well as at the end of your final essay. If you used any outside sources, also attach a copy of one page from each outside source here, labelled so that I can tell which one it is. Note that for Choice #2: Research on a Thread, you are required to have two outside sources, but not for the other ones. For all three essay topics, cite The Omnivore's Dilemma. You can scan or upload a picture of your pages.
3. Note on Essay:
In regards to your final essay, please write a "Note to Jeannie" that describes your process for writing the essay: What worked well for you? What didn't work so well? What would you do differently if you could? Please mention some specifics about your essay--your introduction, for example, or a sentence you liked in one of your paragraphs, or something you think is still choppy or messy from your conclusion and why (one paragraph double-spaced).
4. Finish the final editing sheet.
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Running head: THE UNETHICAL SIDE OF MEAT CONSUMPTION
The Unethical Side of Meat Consumption
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THE UNETHICAL SIDE OF MEAT CONSUMPTION
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I am not an avid reader, but that changed when I came across Michael Pollan's book, The
Omnivore’s Dilemma. At first, I could not help but be intrigued as Pollan’s arguments were
based on his firsthand experiences. It is something which made the book more believable. He
takes the reader on a food adventure, and his journey starts at Iowa. He depicts several things
about corn and more specifically, its history, the processing, and its future. After that, he shed
light on the cattle industry in the United States. Toward the middle of the book, Pollan narrates
his experiences in Polyface farm and from his experiences we have a glimpse of what sustainable
agriculture entails. He also goes ahead still using his experiences to bring out the difference
between sustainable farming and conventional farming. Lastly, in the third segment, Pollan
moves to California and still through his experiences, he highlights what it means to be ethically
and morally a vegetarian. Based on Pollan’s firsthand experiences and with his credibility as a
journalist, it is clear that there is an unethical side of meat consumption and evidence supporting
the existence of unethical measures in animal production.
First it unethical how even when people are aware of the unsuitability of certain foods,
e.g., corn, they still give them to the animals during production. In part 1, chapter two, George
Naylor, a farmer from Iowa, admits to Pollan that he does not use the ingenious farming methods
his grandfather used in growing corn. Instead, he states that he uses products, techniques, and
tools that can enable him to grow as much corn as possible (45- 46, 59). It includes the uses of
pesticides and other chemicals. Pollan explains that these chemical are absorbed by corns and
then this corn ingested by the animals. Since the corn contains chemicals, it makes it unsuitable.
It is in line which what Pollan found out in the concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO).
Pollan discovered that the organization only aim was to fatten the animals as fast as they could
by use of any means necessary and also most preferably using the cheapest way possible. Pollan
THE UNETHICAL SIDE OF MEAT CONSUMPTION
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found that they majorly prefer to use drugs, supplements, and corn as they help achieve the
results fast (76). These are unsuitable to the animals, and even though the individual is aware of
these repercussions, they do nothing which makes it unethical.
Secondly, in the production of the meat, people are more concerned with the quantity and
not the quality of the meat and willing to go to any length which is unethical. The standard and
indigenous cattle food is grass. However, George Naylor in part 1, chapter two states that it is not
convenient in rearing the cattle as it does not fatten the cattle which is what the American
population prefers. That why he feed corn to the cattle. Even though it affects the quality of the
cattle products, it quickly flattens the cow ensuring a higher quantity. He does not care about the
quality of the meat. It is in line with what Pollan found at the CAFO. In the feedlot in Kansas,
Pollan states that all the operation is concerned it the amount of cattle products th...