The book's structure & rhetorical strategies/style.
How is the book organized? Which primary rhetorical mode does it employ, and does that mode serve that author's purpose? How would you define the author's style? Which rhetorical choices does the author use often, are they effective? Address the author's point of view (1st, 2nd, 3rd person) as well.
The style of this book was a little different from what I am used to reading. I am used to reading a book with one set story and a few basic characters that travel through the story with you. With this book it is almost like each chapter is a whole different story just because with every chapter she is in a different location around the world. This made is a little difficult to read and get into but a few chapters into the book you can understand the writing style more.
The author mainly uses description in this book. She is very detailed about everywhere she travels and what specifically is happening in the area of land. I think that this made the book a lot more interesting to read because you could fully imagine the areas she was visiting.
She strongly believes that the world is in extreme danger because of what we have been doing to it. We have been over using its resources which is now causing it to slowly disappear.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Honors Blog #3
The author's credibility and background.
Do you think the author had the authority or experience to speak about this issue? What are the author's credentials? What might bias the author's argument?
Alanna Mitchell is an award winning journalist and author from Canada. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Reuters Foundation named Mitchell the best environmental journalist in the world in 2000 after an international competition. With that being said I do believe that she has the authority to write a book about the environment and its issues. She also has another book called Sea Sick which explains how the ocean is going through chemical changes at the hand of man and why that matters.
Mitchell has a degree in Latin literature and English literature from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. She also has a bachelor of applied arts in journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto.
Do you think the author had the authority or experience to speak about this issue? What are the author's credentials? What might bias the author's argument?
Alanna Mitchell is an award winning journalist and author from Canada. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Reuters Foundation named Mitchell the best environmental journalist in the world in 2000 after an international competition. With that being said I do believe that she has the authority to write a book about the environment and its issues. She also has another book called Sea Sick which explains how the ocean is going through chemical changes at the hand of man and why that matters.
Mitchell has a degree in Latin literature and English literature from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. She also has a bachelor of applied arts in journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
5 Questions About Agriculture
1. What are modern problems that famers face today?
2. What are the main tools used in Agriculture?
3. Do the chemical components of the soil affect the growth of certain plants?
4. Are there any guidelines to Animal Agriculture?
5. Are large farms bad for the environment?
2. What are the main tools used in Agriculture?
3. Do the chemical components of the soil affect the growth of certain plants?
4. Are there any guidelines to Animal Agriculture?
5. Are large farms bad for the environment?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Honors Reading Assignment #2
Thesis/Purpose
Identify the author's purpose and thesis, and add your own reactions.
"His Royal Highness Prince Philip, former honorary chairman of the World Wildlife Fund, once said that from above Madagascar looks like a giant animal bleeding into the sea."
Chapter 1: Dancing at the Dead Sea
by Alanna Mitchell, p.53
I personally believe that through this book, Alanna Mitchell wants us to get a better understanding of the world we live in. She wants us to realize that what we see as being neccissary for us may actually be harming the world. I personally never really think about what I am doing and how it could be affecting everything else. Even though I am only about half way through the book it is, so far, making me want to really consider nature a very importand part of my life. It is said that "Less than 10 percent of the forest [in Madagascar] is left. This is causing different species to become homeless and eventually they will become extinct. In the Madagarcar forest the trees are vanishing at the rate of 200,000 hectares a year.
Identify the author's purpose and thesis, and add your own reactions.
"His Royal Highness Prince Philip, former honorary chairman of the World Wildlife Fund, once said that from above Madagascar looks like a giant animal bleeding into the sea."
Chapter 1: Dancing at the Dead Sea
by Alanna Mitchell, p.53
I personally believe that through this book, Alanna Mitchell wants us to get a better understanding of the world we live in. She wants us to realize that what we see as being neccissary for us may actually be harming the world. I personally never really think about what I am doing and how it could be affecting everything else. Even though I am only about half way through the book it is, so far, making me want to really consider nature a very importand part of my life. It is said that "Less than 10 percent of the forest [in Madagascar] is left. This is causing different species to become homeless and eventually they will become extinct. In the Madagarcar forest the trees are vanishing at the rate of 200,000 hectares a year.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Honors Reading Assignment #1
The author's persona, tone, and intended audience.
Which persona does the author adopt? How does the author manipulate tone to serve his/her purpose? Who is the intended audience for this book? How does the author tailor his/her argument to suit the intended audience?
"My fascination comes from traveling around the globe with Darwin, but also from soaking up the clues he left about the social value sand practices of his time and tracking how these have changed"
Chapter 1: Dancing at the Dead Sea
by Alanna Mitchell, p. 20
The book I am reading is: Dancing at the Dead Sea. The author in this case is Alanna Mitchell and she is the narrator throughout the whole book. She talks about the places that she has traveled to and what the environment is like in that area. In the first quarter of the book she talks a lot about Darwin's On the Origin of Species. The author's tone is constant throughout this part of the book. She speaks very strongly and wants you to fully understand what she is talking about. You can really tell that she is very passionate about this topic which makes the story easier to read. The intended audience could really be anyone, not just someone interested in Darwin and nature. I have never really been interested in nature or anything of the sorts but I still find this book very interesting and easy to read so far.
Which persona does the author adopt? How does the author manipulate tone to serve his/her purpose? Who is the intended audience for this book? How does the author tailor his/her argument to suit the intended audience?
"My fascination comes from traveling around the globe with Darwin, but also from soaking up the clues he left about the social value sand practices of his time and tracking how these have changed"
Chapter 1: Dancing at the Dead Sea
by Alanna Mitchell, p. 20
The book I am reading is: Dancing at the Dead Sea. The author in this case is Alanna Mitchell and she is the narrator throughout the whole book. She talks about the places that she has traveled to and what the environment is like in that area. In the first quarter of the book she talks a lot about Darwin's On the Origin of Species. The author's tone is constant throughout this part of the book. She speaks very strongly and wants you to fully understand what she is talking about. You can really tell that she is very passionate about this topic which makes the story easier to read. The intended audience could really be anyone, not just someone interested in Darwin and nature. I have never really been interested in nature or anything of the sorts but I still find this book very interesting and easy to read so far.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Photosynthesis review questions
1. Plants need water in order to survive. Because the plants hadn't been watered in two weeks and water is one of the reactants of photosynthesis, it is needed to create the products of glucose and oxygen. Glucose, being the food for the plant was not being produced so the plant had no food.
2. The stomates allow CO2 to be taken into the plant or O2 to be released. Because they were closed, this could not happen. This affects the Calvin Cycle because the plant could not release the O2.
2. The stomates allow CO2 to be taken into the plant or O2 to be released. Because they were closed, this could not happen. This affects the Calvin Cycle because the plant could not release the O2.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Collecting, saving, and storing seeds
I strongly think that keeping a storage unit for the seeds is a good idea. You never know what could happen to the world and, G-d forbid, if anything bad enough happened to wipe our the world's source of produce and other plants you would want to have a back up plan to bring back everything.
A well known botanist and agronomist once said, "This genetic resource stands between us and catastrophic starvation on a scale we can not imagine."
It is also a good idea to keep a unit for the seeds so we don't continue to lose diversity in our products. Cray Fowler mentioned that in our future our coldest cold will be warmer than our hottest hot. This means that if we have an apple, for example, that is more heat resistant we might not have it in the future because it didn't produce a big enough apple and then eventually we will run out of apples. This could happen to any kind of plant or produce that we currently have. In other words it takes too long for nature to adapt for how fast climate and everything changes today.
All in all, it can't hurt to hold on to the seeds of today and the past so why not do it. It can only help us in the future incase of any crisis we may have.
A well known botanist and agronomist once said, "This genetic resource stands between us and catastrophic starvation on a scale we can not imagine."
It is also a good idea to keep a unit for the seeds so we don't continue to lose diversity in our products. Cray Fowler mentioned that in our future our coldest cold will be warmer than our hottest hot. This means that if we have an apple, for example, that is more heat resistant we might not have it in the future because it didn't produce a big enough apple and then eventually we will run out of apples. This could happen to any kind of plant or produce that we currently have. In other words it takes too long for nature to adapt for how fast climate and everything changes today.
All in all, it can't hurt to hold on to the seeds of today and the past so why not do it. It can only help us in the future incase of any crisis we may have.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Your Garden Plot
Lima Beans- Phaseolus limensis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rolv2q1ij8Y
1. Vegetable
2. In Southern California the best time to grow lima beans is from March to August.
3. 6-8 days to germination.
4. 75 days to harvest.
5. Spacing: Row/Plant 2.5 ft - 4in. 1.5 inches deep.
6. Medium-rich, well-drained, deep sandy loam. pH RANGE: 6.5 - 7.5
MOISTURE/WATERING: Average
7. Lima beans need a sunny, warm spot with very well drained soil as lima beans prefer a dry soil and a long, warm growing season.
8. Since beans fix nitrogen in the soil, they are great "helper plants in the garden. They are particularly good with the following vegetables: carrots, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, peas, potatoes, radishes, strawberries, swiss chard.
9. Raw lima beans contain a cyanide compound and should not be eaten raw. Only those varieties with the lowest cyanide levels are legally allowed to be sold in the United States. Cooking deactivates the cyanide compound.
Watermelon- Citrullus Lanatus
http://sweetcornorganicnursery.com/store/pages/Watermelon.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdUz6qcVg7k
1. Fruit
2. Watermelon like to grow in full sun.
3. 3-12 days
4. 75 days
5. 24-36 inches
6. There needs to be adequate organic matter to hold moisture and nutrients. And at the same time, the soil needs to be loose enough for good aeration and drainage, which will help promote strong root development.
7. Provide adequate water. Watermelons have earned the name. If they are stressed, they stop growing and do not set fruit. Overwatering fruiting plants causes them to collapse from lack of oxygen. Check the soil moisture regularly and reapply as necessary before the melons start to wilt or go into stress. Allow the top 1" to 2" of soil to dry between watering.
8. Corn, Pumpkin
9. Every part of the watermelon, including the seeds and the rind is edible.
Garlic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v2ssDJLafY
1. Bulb
2. full sun
3. 10-14 days
4. 120+
5. Garlic grows best on friable (crumbly) loamy soils that are fertile and high in organic matter. Gardeners who can grow onions can grow garlic since the culture is similar. Garlic does well with high amounts of fertilizer. As a general recommendation, apply three pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet. Follow soil test recommendations for your particular garden soil. The soil must be kept evenly moist as dry soil will cause irregularly shaped bulbs. Heavy clay soils will also create misshaped bulbs and make harvesting difficult. Add organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost to the soil on a yearly basis to keep it friable.
6. moist soil
7. full sunlight
8. Fruit trees (all), Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Potatoes, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi, Carrots
9. Garlic is believed to ward off heart disease, cancer, colds, and flu. The consumption of garlic lowers blood cholesterol levels. and reduces the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
Total square footage needed- 4-5 because of the watermelon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rolv2q1ij8Y
1. Vegetable
2. In Southern California the best time to grow lima beans is from March to August.
3. 6-8 days to germination.
4. 75 days to harvest.
5. Spacing: Row/Plant 2.5 ft - 4in. 1.5 inches deep.
6. Medium-rich, well-drained, deep sandy loam. pH RANGE: 6.5 - 7.5
MOISTURE/WATERING: Average
7. Lima beans need a sunny, warm spot with very well drained soil as lima beans prefer a dry soil and a long, warm growing season.
8. Since beans fix nitrogen in the soil, they are great "helper plants in the garden. They are particularly good with the following vegetables: carrots, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, peas, potatoes, radishes, strawberries, swiss chard.
9. Raw lima beans contain a cyanide compound and should not be eaten raw. Only those varieties with the lowest cyanide levels are legally allowed to be sold in the United States. Cooking deactivates the cyanide compound.
Watermelon- Citrullus Lanatus
http://sweetcornorganicnursery.com/store/pages/Watermelon.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdUz6qcVg7k
1. Fruit
2. Watermelon like to grow in full sun.
3. 3-12 days
4. 75 days
5. 24-36 inches
6. There needs to be adequate organic matter to hold moisture and nutrients. And at the same time, the soil needs to be loose enough for good aeration and drainage, which will help promote strong root development.
7. Provide adequate water. Watermelons have earned the name. If they are stressed, they stop growing and do not set fruit. Overwatering fruiting plants causes them to collapse from lack of oxygen. Check the soil moisture regularly and reapply as necessary before the melons start to wilt or go into stress. Allow the top 1" to 2" of soil to dry between watering.
8. Corn, Pumpkin
9. Every part of the watermelon, including the seeds and the rind is edible.
Garlic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v2ssDJLafY
1. Bulb
2. full sun
3. 10-14 days
4. 120+
5. Garlic grows best on friable (crumbly) loamy soils that are fertile and high in organic matter. Gardeners who can grow onions can grow garlic since the culture is similar. Garlic does well with high amounts of fertilizer. As a general recommendation, apply three pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet. Follow soil test recommendations for your particular garden soil. The soil must be kept evenly moist as dry soil will cause irregularly shaped bulbs. Heavy clay soils will also create misshaped bulbs and make harvesting difficult. Add organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost to the soil on a yearly basis to keep it friable.
6. moist soil
7. full sunlight
8. Fruit trees (all), Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Potatoes, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi, Carrots
9. Garlic is believed to ward off heart disease, cancer, colds, and flu. The consumption of garlic lowers blood cholesterol levels. and reduces the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
Total square footage needed- 4-5 because of the watermelon.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Seed Packets
Sweet Pea Perfume Delight- Lathyrus Odoratus
1. Flower
2. Annual blooms. Spring/Summer full sun
3. 10-15 days to emerge. Soak seed in water for 12-24 hours or nick with sandpaper before planting.
4. Thin when 3" tall, thin to 6" apart.
5. 2" between each seed. 1" seed depth
6. Do not use garden soil. Use a good quality potting mix. Potting mix recipes are formulated to perform in the conditions present in a small container, where using garden soil can result in problems like compaction and poor drainage. Always pre-moisten your potting mix before filling your container.
7. Sweet peas require a lot of water. Be sure to water germinating seeds, seedlings, and actively growing mature vines regularly. Keep them moist at all times.
8. Grow sweet peas with other cut flower plants or in cottage gardens with heirloom flowers and herbs.
9. Sweet peas have been cultivated since the 17th century and a vast number of cultivars are commercially available.
Lima Beans- Phaseolus limensis
1. Vegetable
2. In Southern California the best time to grow lima beans is from March to August.
3. 6-8 days to germination.
4. 75 days to harvest.
5. Spacing: Row/Plant 2.5 ft - 4in. 1.5 inches deep.
6. Medium-rich, well-drained, deep sandy loam. pH RANGE: 6.5 - 7.5
MOISTURE/WATERING: Average
7. Lima beans need a sunny, warm spot with very well drained soil as lima beans prefer a dry soil and a long, warm growing season.
8. Since beans fix nitrogen in the soil, they are great "helper plants in the garden. They are particularly good with the following vegetables: carrots, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, peas, potatoes, radishes, strawberries, swiss chard.
9. Raw lima beans contain a cyanide compound and should not be eaten raw. Only those varieties with the lowest cyanide levels are legally allowed to be sold in the United States. Cooking deactivates the cyanide compound.
Dipper Gourd- Lagenaria
1. Vegetable
2. Late fall.
3. sprouts in 10-15 days
4. Matures in 110 days. Harvest in lat fall after plant has died back. Dry in a cool place with good air circulation. Black spots and mold are normal while drying. After a few months, when the seeds rattle inside, your gourd is completely dry.
5. Seed space- 24" Seed depth- 1"
6. Ideally, gourds should be planted in mounds of nutrient rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8-6.2. Space mounds about 4 feet apart with 3-4 seeds to a mound. Mulch around plants to control weeds. Gourds will deplete the soil of nutrients and should not be planted in the same place in consecutive years.
7. Gourds are not drought tolerant. Soil should be kept consistently moist (not wet) and plants should be watered at least once a week during dry periods.
8. Some plants to use with gourds: radishes, catnip, broccoli, tansy, dill, marigolds
9. Lagenaria, or hard-shelled gourds, have been cultivated since prehistoric times for use as storage, drinking vessels, and utensils. Dipper Gourds grow about fifteen inches long-- much longer if trellised. Easy to grow like squash. Great for craft projects.
1. Flower
2. Annual blooms. Spring/Summer full sun
3. 10-15 days to emerge. Soak seed in water for 12-24 hours or nick with sandpaper before planting.
4. Thin when 3" tall, thin to 6" apart.
5. 2" between each seed. 1" seed depth
6. Do not use garden soil. Use a good quality potting mix. Potting mix recipes are formulated to perform in the conditions present in a small container, where using garden soil can result in problems like compaction and poor drainage. Always pre-moisten your potting mix before filling your container.
7. Sweet peas require a lot of water. Be sure to water germinating seeds, seedlings, and actively growing mature vines regularly. Keep them moist at all times.
8. Grow sweet peas with other cut flower plants or in cottage gardens with heirloom flowers and herbs.
9. Sweet peas have been cultivated since the 17th century and a vast number of cultivars are commercially available.
Lima Beans- Phaseolus limensis
1. Vegetable
2. In Southern California the best time to grow lima beans is from March to August.
3. 6-8 days to germination.
4. 75 days to harvest.
5. Spacing: Row/Plant 2.5 ft - 4in. 1.5 inches deep.
6. Medium-rich, well-drained, deep sandy loam. pH RANGE: 6.5 - 7.5
MOISTURE/WATERING: Average
7. Lima beans need a sunny, warm spot with very well drained soil as lima beans prefer a dry soil and a long, warm growing season.
8. Since beans fix nitrogen in the soil, they are great "helper plants in the garden. They are particularly good with the following vegetables: carrots, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, peas, potatoes, radishes, strawberries, swiss chard.
9. Raw lima beans contain a cyanide compound and should not be eaten raw. Only those varieties with the lowest cyanide levels are legally allowed to be sold in the United States. Cooking deactivates the cyanide compound.
Dipper Gourd- Lagenaria
1. Vegetable
2. Late fall.
3. sprouts in 10-15 days
4. Matures in 110 days. Harvest in lat fall after plant has died back. Dry in a cool place with good air circulation. Black spots and mold are normal while drying. After a few months, when the seeds rattle inside, your gourd is completely dry.
5. Seed space- 24" Seed depth- 1"
6. Ideally, gourds should be planted in mounds of nutrient rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8-6.2. Space mounds about 4 feet apart with 3-4 seeds to a mound. Mulch around plants to control weeds. Gourds will deplete the soil of nutrients and should not be planted in the same place in consecutive years.
7. Gourds are not drought tolerant. Soil should be kept consistently moist (not wet) and plants should be watered at least once a week during dry periods.
8. Some plants to use with gourds: radishes, catnip, broccoli, tansy, dill, marigolds
9. Lagenaria, or hard-shelled gourds, have been cultivated since prehistoric times for use as storage, drinking vessels, and utensils. Dipper Gourds grow about fifteen inches long-- much longer if trellised. Easy to grow like squash. Great for craft projects.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Carbon Fixation in Elodea- Lab
1. Why does the phenol red change color when we blow bubbles into the tube? Phenol red is an indicator in this experiment. What did it indicate?
The phenol red changes color because when we blow through the straw we are adding CO2 to it causing it to change a yellowish color. It indicated the carbon dioxide that plants need to go through photosynthesis.
2. How long did it take to observe a color change in the phenol red? What does the color change indicate in terms of the Elodea plant?
The phenol red turned yellow after only a couple seconds of me blowing into it with a straw. The color change indicates that there is enough carbon dioxide in the phenol red for the plant to go through photosynthesis.
3. If carbon fixation occurs during the light independent stage of photosynthesis, why did the procedure call for placement of the test tubes under the grow light?
It called for us to place the test tubes under the grow light for the other stages of photosynthesis. We covered one of the tubes with foil to prevent any light for entering to see how that would effect the process.
4. Did you see a change in color of the phenol red test tube with no elodea added? Why or why not?
No, because there was no plant to take in the carbon dioxide in the phenol red.
5. Does carbon fixation occur in humans? Can you think of any other organisms that fix carbon?
No, I believe that carbon fixation only occurs in plants.
6. How does a plant use carbon? What is meant by the term carbon fixation?
Plants can reduce the carbon from carbon dioxide to the carbon in the organic compounds which they depend on. This is called carbon fixation. These organisms may be called primary producers or autotrophs.
7. Identify and explain the control in this experiment. What is the purpose in having a control?
When doing any kind of experiment you want to have a control to compare the results of the final product. The control in this specific lab was the tube with no Elodea plant in it so we could observe what exactly the plant does with the phenol red.
The phenol red changes color because when we blow through the straw we are adding CO2 to it causing it to change a yellowish color. It indicated the carbon dioxide that plants need to go through photosynthesis.
2. How long did it take to observe a color change in the phenol red? What does the color change indicate in terms of the Elodea plant?
The phenol red turned yellow after only a couple seconds of me blowing into it with a straw. The color change indicates that there is enough carbon dioxide in the phenol red for the plant to go through photosynthesis.
3. If carbon fixation occurs during the light independent stage of photosynthesis, why did the procedure call for placement of the test tubes under the grow light?
It called for us to place the test tubes under the grow light for the other stages of photosynthesis. We covered one of the tubes with foil to prevent any light for entering to see how that would effect the process.
4. Did you see a change in color of the phenol red test tube with no elodea added? Why or why not?
No, because there was no plant to take in the carbon dioxide in the phenol red.
5. Does carbon fixation occur in humans? Can you think of any other organisms that fix carbon?
No, I believe that carbon fixation only occurs in plants.
6. How does a plant use carbon? What is meant by the term carbon fixation?
Plants can reduce the carbon from carbon dioxide to the carbon in the organic compounds which they depend on. This is called carbon fixation. These organisms may be called primary producers or autotrophs.
7. Identify and explain the control in this experiment. What is the purpose in having a control?
When doing any kind of experiment you want to have a control to compare the results of the final product. The control in this specific lab was the tube with no Elodea plant in it so we could observe what exactly the plant does with the phenol red.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Giant African Snail
Native to East African, but introduced to East Asia and the Indian Ocean
Islands. It is a species that thrives in humid tropics but has been
introduced to agricultural areas, coastland, natural forests, riparian
zones, urban areas, and wetlands.
It was introduced in China by 1931, but has continued into the United
States by 1966 as use as a pet or by accident.
It eats. A lot. It's a pest and it's easily reproducible. Therefore, it
impacts farmers, people, forests, and crops.
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