Class Sources
Berry, Wendell. "The Pleasures of Eating." What Are People For? San Francisco [Calif.: North Point, 1990. 1-4. Print.
“The Pleasures of Eating” from What are People for? By Wendell Berry
“The Pleasures of Eating” focused on how unaware consumers are to where the food they eat comes from. People never think of what happens behind-the-scenes to the animals that are prepared and processed for purchase. People believe only what they see and that is what is already in the grocery store or farmer’s market. They believe the food traveled from a farm to the store shelf, not a factory that processes more meat in one day than we should even be able to because the quality is no longer as important as the quantity. The way the food industry is run is almost like a chain with a link missing. The missing link is the one that informs the public of the unknown details in the food industry, the secrets of where the food comes from.
In addition to the facts provided, the readers are also supplied a list of helpful hints to ensure that we are consciously aware of what is in the food we consume, and we are eating healthier. The list includes everything from growing your own food items, to becoming aware of the money spent on unnecessary additions to food. Only then can we enjoy “The Pleasures of Eating.”
Brown, Cynthia Stokes. "Conducting the Interview." Like It Was: a Complete Guide to Writing Oral History. New York: Teachers & Writers Collaborative, 1988. 31-49. Print.
In the chapter “Conducting the Interview” from Cythnia Stokes Brown’s book, Like it Was, she discusses the elements necessary for conducting an interview. I learned a lot about interview procedures and the proper way to conduct an interview. I decided to pull a few meaningful quotes and provide some commentary on each one.
The key to a good interview is the people involved: “…a person who wants to tell his or her story (and this includes just about everybody) [narrator] and a genuine interest on your part [the interviewer] in what is being told” (32). After all, if there is not personal, there is no interesting piece, and if there is no ear there is no accurate detail. The narrator must be willing to share personal information with the interviewer and the interviewer must be interested and willing to listen to what the narrator shares. It is almost like a never-ending cycle. The narrator shares and the interviewer listens and the cycle repeats throughout the course of the interview.
Additionally, when you interview a person about activities or events from their lives, “you are making what happened to him come back to life again” (34). Whether the circumstance was pleasant or difficult, the narrator will be forced to relive past experiences in order to share them with the interviewer. The momentous events of one’s life can help shape the person they become. The interview process may be a difficult one for the narrator, so it is important for the interviewer to approach with caution and patience.
Another important detail about the interview process is that “interviewers should refrain from indicating their opinions and expectations” (36). Instead of attacking the narrator with personal views and opinions, what you believe is right or wrong, sit back and listen to what the narrator has to say. After all, the narrator is being interviewed not the interviewer. If the interviewer constantly interjects personal opinion, the narrator will get defensive or shut down completely. Neither choice is a good one. Instead, show interest in what the narrator is sharing and keep personal opinion out of the interview.
Interviews are excellent tools to learn and record a person’s oral history.
Clandinin, D. Jean., and F. Michael. Connelly. "What Do Narrative Inquirers Do?" Narrative Inquiry: Experience and Story in Qualitative Research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000. 48-62. Print.
In the article, "Narrative Inquiry," D. Jean Clandinin and F. Michael Connelly seek to discuss "the topic of what narrative inquirers do (49)." They are "not setting out to define narrative (49)." Basically they are trying to show what the job requires not what narrative means. They discuss the "...four directions in any inquiry: inward and outward, backward and forward (50)" and present two different stories showing the use of narrative inquiry space.
I could not help comparing the first story about Michael, Ming Fang He, and Long Him to the work of my Twitterive assignment. They discussed in detail, how memories can shape who we are, returning back to the inward, outward, backward, and forward. Michael understood that “…time and place shaped their (Ming Fang He and Long Him) lives and the stories they tell of them (53).” I thought about my place, French Creek Bible Conference and considered how the stories and memories I have encountered over time have helped shaped me into who I am today. Reflecting on those stories and memories has shown me how much I have grown. I believe I am looking backward, forward, inward, and outward on my past experiences and memories at French Creek Bible Conference.
Additionally, my Twitterive is an ongoing project just like narrative. “As narrative inquirers, we share our writing on a work-in-progress basis with response communities (60).” In order to complete a successful Twitterive, we must continue to revise the project. Our response communities would be equivalent to the peers and professor in Writing, Research and Technology. They read our pieces, or listen as we present the projects, and are able to provide useful feedback in order for the author to revise and edit the Twitterive. “As narrative inquirers we work within the space not only with our participants but also with ourselves (61).”The audience for the Twitterive assignment is primarily the student completing the assignment, but a large part of the audience is our classmates and professor.
Clandinin, D. Jean. "Locating Narrative Inquiry Historically." Handbook of Narrative Inquiry: Mapping a Methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2007. 3-30. Print.
In my honest opinion, the article “Situating the Narrative” by DJ Clandinin, was long, wordy, boring and kind of flew right over my head, unless that was just me losing my focus! I will, however, try to come up with some insightful thoughts related to the article. The four themes in the turn toward narrative inquiry are the parts that stood out to me the most. Here we go.
“…as an individual, discipline, or group of researchers moves toward a narrative inquiry approach to research, there are four turns in their thinking and action that occur. By turn, we mean a change in direction from one way of thinking or being toward another (7).”
“We recognize that there are indeed multiple ways of knowing and studying the world and the interactions of people (7).”
“We use the term turn strategically because we want to emphasize the movement from one way of thinking to another and highlight the fact that each change can occur rapidly or slowly, depending on the experience of the researchers and their experiences when doing research (7).”
“The four include the following: 1. A change in the relationship between the person conducting the research and the person participating as the subject(the relationship between the researcher and the researched). 2. A move from the use of number toward the use of words as data, 3. A change from a focus on the general and universal toward the local and specific, and finally, 4. A widening in acceptance of alternative epistemologies or ways of knowing (7).”
Basically, what I interpreted these quotes to mean is that research for narrative involves a lot of change, which seems to be a common thread between each turn. First of all, the researcher must be willing to work together with the person being researched, even if it means changing his ways to be more understanding of the subject of the research. The relationship between the researcher and the researched will be more agreeable if the researcher can adapt his thinking to that of the researched.
Second, the researcher needs to speak about the research in terms that people, including the researched, will understand. If the information is all number data, it will be harder to understand. I know that is the case for me. I would prefer to try to interpret the information in word format rather than the number data, which would most likely be way over my head.
Third, the researcher needs to be specific when it comes to the subject being researched. Too often, the research is too broad to focus on. Breaking down the topic will make the research that much easier to interpret and understand as well as much easier to present.
Finally, everybody has different worldviews, which means that everyone learns and understands things differently. While doing research about a subject, it is important to understand the subject and their individual ways of knowing and learning.
Fontaine, Sheryl I., and Susan Hunter. "You Think/I Think; Therefore, We Are: How Do I Need to Think about Knowledge and Language If I Am to Write Collaboratively?" Collaborative Writing in Composition Studies. Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. 1-36. Print.
Basically the point of Sheryl Fontaine and Susan Hunter’s chapter, “You Think/I think; Therefore We Are,” from Collaborative Writing in Composition Studies, is that writers share ideas and thoughts, whether intended or unintended. In fact, Fontaine and Hunter say, “The words you think, write, and speak are partly your own and partly someone else’s…” (11). In other words, a large part of writing is about the collaboration, which is basically a fancy term for teamwork, working together. It is very difficult to come up with a totally unique idea or word or thought because somewhere someone has had that same thought or idea before. Whether you are thinking you are original or not, chances are the idea has been thought of before. Young children, especially, are the best examples of collaboration. Babies and young children rely on the behavior of others to teach them new things. They follow our examples as they grow and mature, and each of us as teachers went through the exact same thing.
Pollan, Michael. "The Farm." The Omnivore's Dilemma: a Natural History of Four Meals. New York: Penguin, 2006. 32-56. Print.
In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollen discusses the major food decisions that Americans face every day: what to eat? In a nation obsessed with eating healthy but actually eating more unhealthy, it is difficult to determine which foods are the wisest choice to consume. We have too many choices. Is that food item healthy or unhealthy? Should I be eating this? “The Omnivore’s Dilemma is about three principle food chains that sustain us today: the industrial, the organic, and the hunter-gatherer. Different as they are, all three food chains are systems for doing more or less the same thing: linking us, through what we eat, to the fertility of the earth and the energy of the sun” (7). Each chain is somehow connected to the others. The industrial chain is all about the production of corn, a huge staple in the production of our food (8). The organic chain deals with the naturally prepared (no use of chemicals or pesticides), locally grown food products (8). Finally, the hunter-gatherer chain deals with the food products that are hunted and prepared and served by your own two hands (8-9). “How and what we eat determines to a great extent the use we make of the world—and what we make of it” (11).
Qualley, Donna J. "Teaching Composition as Reflexive Inquiry." Turns of Thought: Teaching Composition as Reflexive Inquiry. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 1997. 1-30. Print.
The excerpt from Turns of Thought focused on reflexivity. Basically, the author, Donna Qualley, was trying to get the reader to look back at his or her writing in order to examine and understand the complex thought process involved (3). I see reflexivity in writing as a way of thinking critically about what both sides would say and taking into account the feelings of the opposite side as well. Qualley discusses how writing should be a balance of emotions and information and fact (5). When we write, we need to be aware of how we think through things because so much of what we write comes from within. In fact, Qualley says, “When students engage with texts—their own and others—I want them to become critically aware of the presence of their own minds at work” (4).
Schlosser, Eric. "The Dark Side of the All-American Meal." Introduction. Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 1-8. Print.
The fast food industry is spreading like a worldwide forest fire. In fact, in his book, Fast Food Nation¸ Eric Schlosser says, “In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in 2000, they spent more than $110 billion” (2). Restaurant chains are taking over, which is a problem for not only the world, but more specifically, Americans because we love to eat. “On any given day in the United States, about one-quarter of the adult population visits a fast food restaurant” (3). People today are always in a hurry and rarely stop even for a leisurely sit-down meal with family. The restaurants are easily accessible on almost every corner. It is a shame that Americans are susceptible to the lies of the food industry and are caught up in the quick-hamburger hype. America needs to be aware and watch out because the food that tastes so good is the same food that is gradually killing us.
Schneider, Stephen. "Good, Clean, Fair: The Rhetoric of the Slow Food Movement." College English 70.4 (2008): 384-402. Writing, Research, and Technology. Web. 1 Apr 2011.
To be perfectly honest, I was confused with the majority of “Good, Clean, Fair: A Rhetoric of the Slow Food Movement.” I will not pretend that I fully understood what was going on, especially the parts with all the names and companies merging together, but I will try to pull a few quotes and provide a response. Basically the author, Stephen Schneider, was discussing the Slow Food Industry and how they are striving to make the world a healthier place through the use of organic and locally grown food. The Slow Food Industry grew into an internationally known organization. In fact, “Slow food now boasts approximately 80,000 members worldwide” (4).
One quote worth quoting is, “food is the primary defining factor of human identity” (5). Basically, you are what you eat. If Americans are eating food that is bad for them it does reflect unhealthy choices. Instead, we need to be careful and watch the food we put into our mouths in order to properly care for our bodies and make good, clean, and fair choices.
Finally, Carlo Petrini said that, “food is far more than a simple product to be consumed. It is happiness, identity, culture, pleasure, conviviality, nutrition, local economy, and survival” (5). I thought this quote was similar to the previous quote about food defining identity. The consumer should take the food he or she eats seriously because it is a large part of who he or she is. Food is not only what we eat, it, in essence, defines us.
I believe that is the main reason Slow Food is so keen on good food choices.
"What Is Oral History?" History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web. Web. 09 Mar. 2011. <http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/oral/what.html>.
While I was reading “What is Oral History,” I immediately thought of my grandparents. Every Christmas I go to Virginia with my family to spend time with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We all stay together and share wonderful family times. One thing the article mentioned about oral history is that it includes “…informal conversations about ‘the old days’ among family members” (1). This line describes my family perfectly. When we get together, we sit around the living room or the dining room and listen as my grandparents share a lot of special memories and stories from their younger years. I love the oral history that they share and pass on to each family member. Hearing the stories is very comforting and special; it makes me feel closer to them with this unseen connection. I love when my grandpa shares stories about being in the Navy and all of his trips around the world. I love when my grandma shares stories about her teaching and tutoring years and raising my mother. I love when they share together the story of how they met, fell in love, and got married. Too me, the stories they share form more than a memory or a history, they form a legacy.
“The Pleasures of Eating” from What are People for? By Wendell Berry
“The Pleasures of Eating” focused on how unaware consumers are to where the food they eat comes from. People never think of what happens behind-the-scenes to the animals that are prepared and processed for purchase. People believe only what they see and that is what is already in the grocery store or farmer’s market. They believe the food traveled from a farm to the store shelf, not a factory that processes more meat in one day than we should even be able to because the quality is no longer as important as the quantity. The way the food industry is run is almost like a chain with a link missing. The missing link is the one that informs the public of the unknown details in the food industry, the secrets of where the food comes from.
In addition to the facts provided, the readers are also supplied a list of helpful hints to ensure that we are consciously aware of what is in the food we consume, and we are eating healthier. The list includes everything from growing your own food items, to becoming aware of the money spent on unnecessary additions to food. Only then can we enjoy “The Pleasures of Eating.”
Brown, Cynthia Stokes. "Conducting the Interview." Like It Was: a Complete Guide to Writing Oral History. New York: Teachers & Writers Collaborative, 1988. 31-49. Print.
In the chapter “Conducting the Interview” from Cythnia Stokes Brown’s book, Like it Was, she discusses the elements necessary for conducting an interview. I learned a lot about interview procedures and the proper way to conduct an interview. I decided to pull a few meaningful quotes and provide some commentary on each one.
The key to a good interview is the people involved: “…a person who wants to tell his or her story (and this includes just about everybody) [narrator] and a genuine interest on your part [the interviewer] in what is being told” (32). After all, if there is not personal, there is no interesting piece, and if there is no ear there is no accurate detail. The narrator must be willing to share personal information with the interviewer and the interviewer must be interested and willing to listen to what the narrator shares. It is almost like a never-ending cycle. The narrator shares and the interviewer listens and the cycle repeats throughout the course of the interview.
Additionally, when you interview a person about activities or events from their lives, “you are making what happened to him come back to life again” (34). Whether the circumstance was pleasant or difficult, the narrator will be forced to relive past experiences in order to share them with the interviewer. The momentous events of one’s life can help shape the person they become. The interview process may be a difficult one for the narrator, so it is important for the interviewer to approach with caution and patience.
Another important detail about the interview process is that “interviewers should refrain from indicating their opinions and expectations” (36). Instead of attacking the narrator with personal views and opinions, what you believe is right or wrong, sit back and listen to what the narrator has to say. After all, the narrator is being interviewed not the interviewer. If the interviewer constantly interjects personal opinion, the narrator will get defensive or shut down completely. Neither choice is a good one. Instead, show interest in what the narrator is sharing and keep personal opinion out of the interview.
Interviews are excellent tools to learn and record a person’s oral history.
Clandinin, D. Jean., and F. Michael. Connelly. "What Do Narrative Inquirers Do?" Narrative Inquiry: Experience and Story in Qualitative Research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000. 48-62. Print.
In the article, "Narrative Inquiry," D. Jean Clandinin and F. Michael Connelly seek to discuss "the topic of what narrative inquirers do (49)." They are "not setting out to define narrative (49)." Basically they are trying to show what the job requires not what narrative means. They discuss the "...four directions in any inquiry: inward and outward, backward and forward (50)" and present two different stories showing the use of narrative inquiry space.
I could not help comparing the first story about Michael, Ming Fang He, and Long Him to the work of my Twitterive assignment. They discussed in detail, how memories can shape who we are, returning back to the inward, outward, backward, and forward. Michael understood that “…time and place shaped their (Ming Fang He and Long Him) lives and the stories they tell of them (53).” I thought about my place, French Creek Bible Conference and considered how the stories and memories I have encountered over time have helped shaped me into who I am today. Reflecting on those stories and memories has shown me how much I have grown. I believe I am looking backward, forward, inward, and outward on my past experiences and memories at French Creek Bible Conference.
Additionally, my Twitterive is an ongoing project just like narrative. “As narrative inquirers, we share our writing on a work-in-progress basis with response communities (60).” In order to complete a successful Twitterive, we must continue to revise the project. Our response communities would be equivalent to the peers and professor in Writing, Research and Technology. They read our pieces, or listen as we present the projects, and are able to provide useful feedback in order for the author to revise and edit the Twitterive. “As narrative inquirers we work within the space not only with our participants but also with ourselves (61).”The audience for the Twitterive assignment is primarily the student completing the assignment, but a large part of the audience is our classmates and professor.
Clandinin, D. Jean. "Locating Narrative Inquiry Historically." Handbook of Narrative Inquiry: Mapping a Methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2007. 3-30. Print.
In my honest opinion, the article “Situating the Narrative” by DJ Clandinin, was long, wordy, boring and kind of flew right over my head, unless that was just me losing my focus! I will, however, try to come up with some insightful thoughts related to the article. The four themes in the turn toward narrative inquiry are the parts that stood out to me the most. Here we go.
“…as an individual, discipline, or group of researchers moves toward a narrative inquiry approach to research, there are four turns in their thinking and action that occur. By turn, we mean a change in direction from one way of thinking or being toward another (7).”
“We recognize that there are indeed multiple ways of knowing and studying the world and the interactions of people (7).”
“We use the term turn strategically because we want to emphasize the movement from one way of thinking to another and highlight the fact that each change can occur rapidly or slowly, depending on the experience of the researchers and their experiences when doing research (7).”
“The four include the following: 1. A change in the relationship between the person conducting the research and the person participating as the subject(the relationship between the researcher and the researched). 2. A move from the use of number toward the use of words as data, 3. A change from a focus on the general and universal toward the local and specific, and finally, 4. A widening in acceptance of alternative epistemologies or ways of knowing (7).”
Basically, what I interpreted these quotes to mean is that research for narrative involves a lot of change, which seems to be a common thread between each turn. First of all, the researcher must be willing to work together with the person being researched, even if it means changing his ways to be more understanding of the subject of the research. The relationship between the researcher and the researched will be more agreeable if the researcher can adapt his thinking to that of the researched.
Second, the researcher needs to speak about the research in terms that people, including the researched, will understand. If the information is all number data, it will be harder to understand. I know that is the case for me. I would prefer to try to interpret the information in word format rather than the number data, which would most likely be way over my head.
Third, the researcher needs to be specific when it comes to the subject being researched. Too often, the research is too broad to focus on. Breaking down the topic will make the research that much easier to interpret and understand as well as much easier to present.
Finally, everybody has different worldviews, which means that everyone learns and understands things differently. While doing research about a subject, it is important to understand the subject and their individual ways of knowing and learning.
Fontaine, Sheryl I., and Susan Hunter. "You Think/I Think; Therefore, We Are: How Do I Need to Think about Knowledge and Language If I Am to Write Collaboratively?" Collaborative Writing in Composition Studies. Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. 1-36. Print.
Basically the point of Sheryl Fontaine and Susan Hunter’s chapter, “You Think/I think; Therefore We Are,” from Collaborative Writing in Composition Studies, is that writers share ideas and thoughts, whether intended or unintended. In fact, Fontaine and Hunter say, “The words you think, write, and speak are partly your own and partly someone else’s…” (11). In other words, a large part of writing is about the collaboration, which is basically a fancy term for teamwork, working together. It is very difficult to come up with a totally unique idea or word or thought because somewhere someone has had that same thought or idea before. Whether you are thinking you are original or not, chances are the idea has been thought of before. Young children, especially, are the best examples of collaboration. Babies and young children rely on the behavior of others to teach them new things. They follow our examples as they grow and mature, and each of us as teachers went through the exact same thing.
Pollan, Michael. "The Farm." The Omnivore's Dilemma: a Natural History of Four Meals. New York: Penguin, 2006. 32-56. Print.
In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollen discusses the major food decisions that Americans face every day: what to eat? In a nation obsessed with eating healthy but actually eating more unhealthy, it is difficult to determine which foods are the wisest choice to consume. We have too many choices. Is that food item healthy or unhealthy? Should I be eating this? “The Omnivore’s Dilemma is about three principle food chains that sustain us today: the industrial, the organic, and the hunter-gatherer. Different as they are, all three food chains are systems for doing more or less the same thing: linking us, through what we eat, to the fertility of the earth and the energy of the sun” (7). Each chain is somehow connected to the others. The industrial chain is all about the production of corn, a huge staple in the production of our food (8). The organic chain deals with the naturally prepared (no use of chemicals or pesticides), locally grown food products (8). Finally, the hunter-gatherer chain deals with the food products that are hunted and prepared and served by your own two hands (8-9). “How and what we eat determines to a great extent the use we make of the world—and what we make of it” (11).
Qualley, Donna J. "Teaching Composition as Reflexive Inquiry." Turns of Thought: Teaching Composition as Reflexive Inquiry. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 1997. 1-30. Print.
The excerpt from Turns of Thought focused on reflexivity. Basically, the author, Donna Qualley, was trying to get the reader to look back at his or her writing in order to examine and understand the complex thought process involved (3). I see reflexivity in writing as a way of thinking critically about what both sides would say and taking into account the feelings of the opposite side as well. Qualley discusses how writing should be a balance of emotions and information and fact (5). When we write, we need to be aware of how we think through things because so much of what we write comes from within. In fact, Qualley says, “When students engage with texts—their own and others—I want them to become critically aware of the presence of their own minds at work” (4).
Schlosser, Eric. "The Dark Side of the All-American Meal." Introduction. Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 1-8. Print.
The fast food industry is spreading like a worldwide forest fire. In fact, in his book, Fast Food Nation¸ Eric Schlosser says, “In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in 2000, they spent more than $110 billion” (2). Restaurant chains are taking over, which is a problem for not only the world, but more specifically, Americans because we love to eat. “On any given day in the United States, about one-quarter of the adult population visits a fast food restaurant” (3). People today are always in a hurry and rarely stop even for a leisurely sit-down meal with family. The restaurants are easily accessible on almost every corner. It is a shame that Americans are susceptible to the lies of the food industry and are caught up in the quick-hamburger hype. America needs to be aware and watch out because the food that tastes so good is the same food that is gradually killing us.
Schneider, Stephen. "Good, Clean, Fair: The Rhetoric of the Slow Food Movement." College English 70.4 (2008): 384-402. Writing, Research, and Technology. Web. 1 Apr 2011.
To be perfectly honest, I was confused with the majority of “Good, Clean, Fair: A Rhetoric of the Slow Food Movement.” I will not pretend that I fully understood what was going on, especially the parts with all the names and companies merging together, but I will try to pull a few quotes and provide a response. Basically the author, Stephen Schneider, was discussing the Slow Food Industry and how they are striving to make the world a healthier place through the use of organic and locally grown food. The Slow Food Industry grew into an internationally known organization. In fact, “Slow food now boasts approximately 80,000 members worldwide” (4).
One quote worth quoting is, “food is the primary defining factor of human identity” (5). Basically, you are what you eat. If Americans are eating food that is bad for them it does reflect unhealthy choices. Instead, we need to be careful and watch the food we put into our mouths in order to properly care for our bodies and make good, clean, and fair choices.
Finally, Carlo Petrini said that, “food is far more than a simple product to be consumed. It is happiness, identity, culture, pleasure, conviviality, nutrition, local economy, and survival” (5). I thought this quote was similar to the previous quote about food defining identity. The consumer should take the food he or she eats seriously because it is a large part of who he or she is. Food is not only what we eat, it, in essence, defines us.
I believe that is the main reason Slow Food is so keen on good food choices.
"What Is Oral History?" History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web. Web. 09 Mar. 2011. <http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/oral/what.html>.
While I was reading “What is Oral History,” I immediately thought of my grandparents. Every Christmas I go to Virginia with my family to spend time with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We all stay together and share wonderful family times. One thing the article mentioned about oral history is that it includes “…informal conversations about ‘the old days’ among family members” (1). This line describes my family perfectly. When we get together, we sit around the living room or the dining room and listen as my grandparents share a lot of special memories and stories from their younger years. I love the oral history that they share and pass on to each family member. Hearing the stories is very comforting and special; it makes me feel closer to them with this unseen connection. I love when my grandpa shares stories about being in the Navy and all of his trips around the world. I love when my grandma shares stories about her teaching and tutoring years and raising my mother. I love when they share together the story of how they met, fell in love, and got married. Too me, the stories they share form more than a memory or a history, they form a legacy.
Personal Sources
Conis, Elena. "Crystalline Fructose - Is Crystalline Fructose a Better Choice of Sweetener? - Page 2 - Los Angeles Times." Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 02 Feb. 2009. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/02/health/he-nutrition2/2.
In Elena Conis’ article, “Is crystalline fructose a better choice of sweetener?” she assesses the pros and cons of using crystalline fructose over high fructose corn syrup. Chemically, the two sweeteners differ. On the other hand, the nutritional elements of both sweeteners are very similar (3). In regards to the calories, Crystalline Fructose actually has a smaller percentage of caloric intake then high fructose corn syrup, which is a good alternative for those that keep track of the amount of calories they consume per day. Crystalline fructose is sweeter then high fructose corn syrup which means the companies that manufacture it can utilize less amounts of crystalline fructose than high fructose corn syrup. Finally, in the case of diabetes and obesity, the fructose in both high fructose corn syrup and crystalline fructose may play a role, rather than one or the other. More studies need to be conducted in order to determine which sweetener is the better choice in the long run. Although one choice might be a tiny bit healthier, neither choice is a particularly good one because it is a high amount of sugar.
Facebook Discussion Board. (2010 August). "No consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage." [Msg 29]. Message posted to http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=50540568485&topic=13876
Coca-Cola claims that “No consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking VitaminWater was a healthy beverage.” When posed as a question on VitaminWater’s Facebook page discussion board, the public erupted into a debate over Coca-Cola advertising VitaminWater as a healthy beverage when in fact it is full of sugar like a can of Coke. Once again, the people on this board turned their opinions to whether it is healthy or unhealthy. However, the underlying issue is whether Coca-Cola should have advertised as a healthy beverage when people are unaware of the amount of Crystalline Fructose in the product. It should not be a matter of what tastes good, but what is actually good for you. Some people on this discussion board drink VitaminWater religiously. I believe that these people are the ones who are as concerned with the foods and beverages they put into their bodies. It is all about the taste for them. How can people not know that it is not a healthy beverage when it is clearly advertised as such. Maybe Coca-Cola thinks the public is dumb.
Facebook Discussion Board. (2010 October). What do you have to say about the crystalline fructose in your drink? [Msg 10]. Message posted to http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=50540568485&topic=14050
This discussion board question provided some insight from the general public on the Crystalline Fructose found in VitaminWater. The results were kind of a mixed reaction. Some people believed the Crystalline Fructose to be no big deal it just makes the beverage sweeter, while others were actually serious about the health part of the water and how the Crystalline Fructose in a single bottle of VitaminWater is equal to that in a single can of Coke. Additionally, some people were frustrated that Coke-Cola makes VitaminWater and that using celebrity influences sells the product to the masses because it is the popular decision. Hey, if the celebrities can do it, then it must be ok. On the other hand, some people simply drink VitaminWater for the taste, even though they might realize that VitaminWater is not actually a healthy beverage. For example, Adam said (quoting Paul from another discussion board), “all it is is minimal nutrients, sugar, and aggressive marketing, like Gatorade, but yeah, it is good every once in awhile.”
Gregory, Sean. "Is Vitaminwater Really a Healthy Drink?" TIME: Business & Technology. TIME, 30 July 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2007106,00.html>.
Sean Gregory’s article, “Is Vitaminwater Really a Healthy Drink?” he discusses whether this beverage is something that consumers should be drinking, or if they really have had the wool pulled over their eyes because Vitaminwater is deceivingly unhealthy. He claims that some people drink Vitaminwater because it is advertised as a vitamin-enriched healthy beverage. The truth of the matter is that there is more sugar in Vitaminwater than people realize. In fact, he says, “…they’re getting more [than healthy vitamins]: 33 grams of sugar and 125 calories, for every 20-ounce bottle” (2). Coca-Cola, who puts out Vitaminwater, is in some hot water due to the fact that they are not protecting the consumers from an unhealthy product, and they are not being honest in their advertising campaigns. Coke managed to “…merge two words, vitamin and water, which epitomize good health” (9). When people see the name alone, they are convinced that they will be drinking something healthy.
Jolliffe, Tanya. "Nutrition 101: What Is Crystalline Fructose?" DailySpark.com - Your Healthy Lifestyle Blog. DailySpark, 25 May 2009. Web. 02 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asppost=nutrition_101_what_is_crystalline_fructose>.
In her article, “Nutrition 101: What is Crystalline Fructose,” Tanya Jolliffe made some valid points about what makes up crystalline fructose and what the pros and cons of using this particular sweetener. She mentions that the base of crystalline fructose is corn, like other sweeteners, such as high fructose corn syrup. Additionally, crystalline fructose is sweeter than other sweeteners, which allows the manufacturers to use less amounts of crystalline fructose in the products. The truth of the matter is, however, that no amounts of sugar in excess are good for you to put into your body. Jolliffe makes a valuable point when she discusses the using alternatives to crystalline fructose or any other fructose or sugar. Instead of drinking beverages, such as Vitaminwater, that contain large amounts of sugar, stick to a regular water diet with natural flavor enhancers such as lemon or lime. The results will be much more beneficial to you and your health.
"Coke Sued for Fradulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting 'VitaminWater'." Center for Science in the Public Interest. Center for Science in the Public Interest, 15 Jan. 2009. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html>.
In a recent article, “Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting ‘Vitaminwater,’” the Center for Science in the Public Interest, talks about the lawsuit against Coca-Cola. After Coca-Cola began promoting their new product, Vitaminwater, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (or CSPI) took an interest in the “…deceptive and unsubstantial claims…that Vitaminwater is a healthful alternative to soda by labeling its several flavors with such health buzz words as “defense,” “rescue,” “energy,” and “endurance” (1). People were deceived by the advertisements and labels that Coca-Cola used for Vitaminwater. One customer, James, bought into the Vitaminwater craze thinking it was a beneficial beverage, when in reality, he was shocked and surprised by the excessive amounts of sugar and calories rather than a substantial amount of vitamins (4). A beverage with as much sugar as Vitaminwater, can hardly be considered a healthy beverage. After all, “vitamins + water + sugar + hype = soda – bubbles (1).
O'Reilly, Lara. "Coca-Cola's Vitaminwater Ad Slammed for Flu Jab Claims." Marketing Week. Marketing Week, 04 Feb. 2011. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/sectors/food-and-drink/soft-drinks/coca-colas-vitaminwater-ad-slammed-for-flu-jab-claims/3023110.article>.
In the article, “Coca-Cola’s Vitaminwater Ad Slammed for Flu Jab Claims,” Lara O’Reilly discusses the possible banning of Vitaminwater for deceptive claims about the health benefits contained in the product. However, one claim from a poster advertisement for Vitaminwater says, “flu shots are so last year,” which created uproar among the National Consumers League (NCL). They claim that the beverage should not be advertised as a healthy beverage or alternative to regular water, because the excessive amounts of sugar change Vitaminwater from a possible healthy beverage to an unhealthy choice. “In the UK, Coca-Cola has been censured twice in the last eighteen months for “misleading” health claims made about the Vitaminwater brand” (9). Additionally, “the Advertising Standards Authority banned poster adverts, ruling Vitaminwater’s claims about the health and nutritional value of the drink were likely to mislead customers” (10). Perhaps that is the reasoning behind not being able to find print ads for Vitaminwater anymore.
Reed, Kari A. "VitaminWater:Appearance v. Reality." Personal Interview. 5 Apr. 2011.
On April 5, 2011, Lindsey and I had the privilege of sitting down with Kari Reed, who has her Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design. She is also health conscious when it comes to her own personal food and drink choices. Kari discussed with us her views on VitaminWater and whether or not it is a healthy choice for consumers. She was able to use her advertising background to provide information that Lindsey and I may not have thought about otherwise. Advertising plays a large role in the distribution of any product. Additionally, Kari provided insightful information about the ingredients found in the so-called healthy beverage, VitaminWater. The main component is in fact, sugar, in this case, Crystalline Fructose, and Crystalline Fructose, itself, is not good for you as it contains mostly Fructose and traces of arsenic and other metal compounds. Finally, we learned that no specific party can actually be at fault in this situation; instead, the public needs to be aware, Coca-Cola should advertise better, and CPSI is just a business trying to earn money like everyone else.
Robbins, John. "The Dark Side of Vitaminwater." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Huffpost Living, 5 Aug. 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/the-dark-side-of-vitaminw_b_669716.html>.
One might think that Vitaminwater is a healthy beverage to drink, but John Robbins says things a little differently in his article “The Dark Side of Vitaminwater.” Robbins discusses the ingredients of Vitaminwater including high doses of sugar. In fact, Robbins says that “…the product is basically sugar-water, to which about a penny’s worth of synthetic vitamins have been added” (5). He goes on to reveal that the amount of sugar (33grams) is equivalent or more than a single can of Coke. Instead of helping people with their health, Vitaminwater actually plays an important role in the diabetes and obesity problems in America. Vitaminwater, although advertised as such, is hardly a healthy beverage for any individual to consume. A safer, more healthier option to Vitaminwater, would be a nice glass of good old regular water. “And it’s probably not the best idea to rely on a soft drink company for your vitamins and other essential nutrients” (17).
Tsirulnik, Giselle. "Vitaminwater Runs Text Campaign to Increase Brand Awareness." Mobile Marketer - The News Leader in Mobile Marketing, Media and Commerce. Mobile Marketer, 09 May 2008. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/messaging/968.html>.
In the article, “Vitaminwater Runs Text Campaign to Increase Brand Awareness,” Giselle Tsiruinik discusses the newest way to promote Vitaminwater, via text messaging. Anyone can participate in this campaign by simply texting the word “Vitaminwater” to the 5-digit code, “41513. Upon sending the text message to this code, the customer would receive a coupon for Vitaminwater. The customer could continue to receive Vitaminwater coupons anytime, but they also have the option to opt out of the program at any time as well by simply texting the word ‘Stop,’ to the same 5-digit code, “41513.” The point of the campaign is to increase the popularity of the product through a technical device that is more common than any other, the cell phone. Most people own their own cell phone, and with the increase in unlimited texting plans, it makes sense that Glauceau would use texting to reach a broader public much faster. Additionally, each participant will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a “…free year’s supply of vitaminwater…”(2).
In Elena Conis’ article, “Is crystalline fructose a better choice of sweetener?” she assesses the pros and cons of using crystalline fructose over high fructose corn syrup. Chemically, the two sweeteners differ. On the other hand, the nutritional elements of both sweeteners are very similar (3). In regards to the calories, Crystalline Fructose actually has a smaller percentage of caloric intake then high fructose corn syrup, which is a good alternative for those that keep track of the amount of calories they consume per day. Crystalline fructose is sweeter then high fructose corn syrup which means the companies that manufacture it can utilize less amounts of crystalline fructose than high fructose corn syrup. Finally, in the case of diabetes and obesity, the fructose in both high fructose corn syrup and crystalline fructose may play a role, rather than one or the other. More studies need to be conducted in order to determine which sweetener is the better choice in the long run. Although one choice might be a tiny bit healthier, neither choice is a particularly good one because it is a high amount of sugar.
Facebook Discussion Board. (2010 August). "No consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage." [Msg 29]. Message posted to http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=50540568485&topic=13876
Coca-Cola claims that “No consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking VitaminWater was a healthy beverage.” When posed as a question on VitaminWater’s Facebook page discussion board, the public erupted into a debate over Coca-Cola advertising VitaminWater as a healthy beverage when in fact it is full of sugar like a can of Coke. Once again, the people on this board turned their opinions to whether it is healthy or unhealthy. However, the underlying issue is whether Coca-Cola should have advertised as a healthy beverage when people are unaware of the amount of Crystalline Fructose in the product. It should not be a matter of what tastes good, but what is actually good for you. Some people on this discussion board drink VitaminWater religiously. I believe that these people are the ones who are as concerned with the foods and beverages they put into their bodies. It is all about the taste for them. How can people not know that it is not a healthy beverage when it is clearly advertised as such. Maybe Coca-Cola thinks the public is dumb.
Facebook Discussion Board. (2010 October). What do you have to say about the crystalline fructose in your drink? [Msg 10]. Message posted to http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=50540568485&topic=14050
This discussion board question provided some insight from the general public on the Crystalline Fructose found in VitaminWater. The results were kind of a mixed reaction. Some people believed the Crystalline Fructose to be no big deal it just makes the beverage sweeter, while others were actually serious about the health part of the water and how the Crystalline Fructose in a single bottle of VitaminWater is equal to that in a single can of Coke. Additionally, some people were frustrated that Coke-Cola makes VitaminWater and that using celebrity influences sells the product to the masses because it is the popular decision. Hey, if the celebrities can do it, then it must be ok. On the other hand, some people simply drink VitaminWater for the taste, even though they might realize that VitaminWater is not actually a healthy beverage. For example, Adam said (quoting Paul from another discussion board), “all it is is minimal nutrients, sugar, and aggressive marketing, like Gatorade, but yeah, it is good every once in awhile.”
Gregory, Sean. "Is Vitaminwater Really a Healthy Drink?" TIME: Business & Technology. TIME, 30 July 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2007106,00.html>.
Sean Gregory’s article, “Is Vitaminwater Really a Healthy Drink?” he discusses whether this beverage is something that consumers should be drinking, or if they really have had the wool pulled over their eyes because Vitaminwater is deceivingly unhealthy. He claims that some people drink Vitaminwater because it is advertised as a vitamin-enriched healthy beverage. The truth of the matter is that there is more sugar in Vitaminwater than people realize. In fact, he says, “…they’re getting more [than healthy vitamins]: 33 grams of sugar and 125 calories, for every 20-ounce bottle” (2). Coca-Cola, who puts out Vitaminwater, is in some hot water due to the fact that they are not protecting the consumers from an unhealthy product, and they are not being honest in their advertising campaigns. Coke managed to “…merge two words, vitamin and water, which epitomize good health” (9). When people see the name alone, they are convinced that they will be drinking something healthy.
Jolliffe, Tanya. "Nutrition 101: What Is Crystalline Fructose?" DailySpark.com - Your Healthy Lifestyle Blog. DailySpark, 25 May 2009. Web. 02 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asppost=nutrition_101_what_is_crystalline_fructose>.
In her article, “Nutrition 101: What is Crystalline Fructose,” Tanya Jolliffe made some valid points about what makes up crystalline fructose and what the pros and cons of using this particular sweetener. She mentions that the base of crystalline fructose is corn, like other sweeteners, such as high fructose corn syrup. Additionally, crystalline fructose is sweeter than other sweeteners, which allows the manufacturers to use less amounts of crystalline fructose in the products. The truth of the matter is, however, that no amounts of sugar in excess are good for you to put into your body. Jolliffe makes a valuable point when she discusses the using alternatives to crystalline fructose or any other fructose or sugar. Instead of drinking beverages, such as Vitaminwater, that contain large amounts of sugar, stick to a regular water diet with natural flavor enhancers such as lemon or lime. The results will be much more beneficial to you and your health.
"Coke Sued for Fradulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting 'VitaminWater'." Center for Science in the Public Interest. Center for Science in the Public Interest, 15 Jan. 2009. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html>.
In a recent article, “Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting ‘Vitaminwater,’” the Center for Science in the Public Interest, talks about the lawsuit against Coca-Cola. After Coca-Cola began promoting their new product, Vitaminwater, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (or CSPI) took an interest in the “…deceptive and unsubstantial claims…that Vitaminwater is a healthful alternative to soda by labeling its several flavors with such health buzz words as “defense,” “rescue,” “energy,” and “endurance” (1). People were deceived by the advertisements and labels that Coca-Cola used for Vitaminwater. One customer, James, bought into the Vitaminwater craze thinking it was a beneficial beverage, when in reality, he was shocked and surprised by the excessive amounts of sugar and calories rather than a substantial amount of vitamins (4). A beverage with as much sugar as Vitaminwater, can hardly be considered a healthy beverage. After all, “vitamins + water + sugar + hype = soda – bubbles (1).
O'Reilly, Lara. "Coca-Cola's Vitaminwater Ad Slammed for Flu Jab Claims." Marketing Week. Marketing Week, 04 Feb. 2011. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/sectors/food-and-drink/soft-drinks/coca-colas-vitaminwater-ad-slammed-for-flu-jab-claims/3023110.article>.
In the article, “Coca-Cola’s Vitaminwater Ad Slammed for Flu Jab Claims,” Lara O’Reilly discusses the possible banning of Vitaminwater for deceptive claims about the health benefits contained in the product. However, one claim from a poster advertisement for Vitaminwater says, “flu shots are so last year,” which created uproar among the National Consumers League (NCL). They claim that the beverage should not be advertised as a healthy beverage or alternative to regular water, because the excessive amounts of sugar change Vitaminwater from a possible healthy beverage to an unhealthy choice. “In the UK, Coca-Cola has been censured twice in the last eighteen months for “misleading” health claims made about the Vitaminwater brand” (9). Additionally, “the Advertising Standards Authority banned poster adverts, ruling Vitaminwater’s claims about the health and nutritional value of the drink were likely to mislead customers” (10). Perhaps that is the reasoning behind not being able to find print ads for Vitaminwater anymore.
Reed, Kari A. "VitaminWater:Appearance v. Reality." Personal Interview. 5 Apr. 2011.
On April 5, 2011, Lindsey and I had the privilege of sitting down with Kari Reed, who has her Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design. She is also health conscious when it comes to her own personal food and drink choices. Kari discussed with us her views on VitaminWater and whether or not it is a healthy choice for consumers. She was able to use her advertising background to provide information that Lindsey and I may not have thought about otherwise. Advertising plays a large role in the distribution of any product. Additionally, Kari provided insightful information about the ingredients found in the so-called healthy beverage, VitaminWater. The main component is in fact, sugar, in this case, Crystalline Fructose, and Crystalline Fructose, itself, is not good for you as it contains mostly Fructose and traces of arsenic and other metal compounds. Finally, we learned that no specific party can actually be at fault in this situation; instead, the public needs to be aware, Coca-Cola should advertise better, and CPSI is just a business trying to earn money like everyone else.
Robbins, John. "The Dark Side of Vitaminwater." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Huffpost Living, 5 Aug. 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/the-dark-side-of-vitaminw_b_669716.html>.
One might think that Vitaminwater is a healthy beverage to drink, but John Robbins says things a little differently in his article “The Dark Side of Vitaminwater.” Robbins discusses the ingredients of Vitaminwater including high doses of sugar. In fact, Robbins says that “…the product is basically sugar-water, to which about a penny’s worth of synthetic vitamins have been added” (5). He goes on to reveal that the amount of sugar (33grams) is equivalent or more than a single can of Coke. Instead of helping people with their health, Vitaminwater actually plays an important role in the diabetes and obesity problems in America. Vitaminwater, although advertised as such, is hardly a healthy beverage for any individual to consume. A safer, more healthier option to Vitaminwater, would be a nice glass of good old regular water. “And it’s probably not the best idea to rely on a soft drink company for your vitamins and other essential nutrients” (17).
Tsirulnik, Giselle. "Vitaminwater Runs Text Campaign to Increase Brand Awareness." Mobile Marketer - The News Leader in Mobile Marketing, Media and Commerce. Mobile Marketer, 09 May 2008. Web. 02 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/messaging/968.html>.
In the article, “Vitaminwater Runs Text Campaign to Increase Brand Awareness,” Giselle Tsiruinik discusses the newest way to promote Vitaminwater, via text messaging. Anyone can participate in this campaign by simply texting the word “Vitaminwater” to the 5-digit code, “41513. Upon sending the text message to this code, the customer would receive a coupon for Vitaminwater. The customer could continue to receive Vitaminwater coupons anytime, but they also have the option to opt out of the program at any time as well by simply texting the word ‘Stop,’ to the same 5-digit code, “41513.” The point of the campaign is to increase the popularity of the product through a technical device that is more common than any other, the cell phone. Most people own their own cell phone, and with the increase in unlimited texting plans, it makes sense that Glauceau would use texting to reach a broader public much faster. Additionally, each participant will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a “…free year’s supply of vitaminwater…”(2).
