Tran opens by arguing that the way food is produced, processed, and distributed must change for humanity to have a sustainable future. This establishes the essay’s purpose: to address harmful current food-system practices and advocate for a better alternative. By presenting the problem first, she gives readers a reason to consider her solution.
The problem has many connected dimensions, including hunger, health, land use, water, energy, emissions, climate, economics, and cultural values. Naming these concerns signals that the issue is broad rather than limited to food production alone.
All flashcards
Writer control when integrating sources
The writer selects, introduces, and explains source material so it supports the writer’s own reasoning.
Direct quotation
A source’s exact words, reproduced with quotation marks or appropriate block-quote formatting.
Synthesis
Connecting information from multiple sources to support a point or develop a broader understanding.
Fair counterargument
A serious, accurate presentation of a position that challenges or qualifies the writer’s claim.
Source credibility
The degree to which a source is relevant, reliable, and sufficiently current for the topic.
Quiz questions
How does paraphrasing differ from directly quoting a source?Answer: It restates the source’s idea in the writer’s own words and credits the source.
What makes synthesis different from listing sources one by one?Answer: It connects ideas from multiple sources to develop or support a point.
How does Tran respond to the claim that livestock can use land unsuitable for crops?Answer: She notes that the claim does not address destruction of natural carbon sinks to expand farmland.
How do headings help readers follow a complex research essay?Answer: They divide the essay into sections and signal each section’s focus.
Which groups does Tran identify as needing to coordinate food-system change?Answer: Governments, the private sector, and civil society.
Based on Writing Guide with Handbook by Michelle Bachelor Robinson, Maria Jerskey, featuring Toby Fulwiler (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.