"Playing God In The Garden"
            
             Michael Pollan's essay, "Playing God in the Garden" analyzes the issue of genetically engineered foods, "New Leaf potatoes" in specific, in a writing style different from most essays. Pollan tries to present facts and figures to his reader by maintaining a neutral stance towards the issue at hand: whether genetically engineered foods are safe to eat or not. His writing does not take the form of a conventional investigative report or the form of a standard essay that begins with a thesis and ends with a conclusion. Rather, Pollan uses a style of writing similar to that of a journal entry. The reader learns about the pros and cons of genetically engineered foods along with Pollan as he investigates the issue because the essay is written in a journal style. The diction he uses is presented in the first person point of view, which allows for the reader to feel as if Pollan is carrying out a conversation with the reader himself. He manages to be objective and present facts t!
             o his reader in an unbiased fashion. His writing is more exposition than argument.
             Pollan's investigation of genetically modified food is outlined with subtitles: "Planting, Sprouting, Growing, Flowering, Meeting the Beetles, and Harvest." Under each subtitle, Pollan shows the reader the problems of genetically engineered foods as well as the advantages of genetically engineered foods. By presenting both sides of the story in reference to genetically engineered foods, Pollan manages to keep an objective stance towards the issue. This style of writing is very effective in getting his point across to his readers because Pollan's thoughts are well organized in reference to each subtitle. Through the use of his subtitles, Pollan replaces the traditional use of transitional sentences that follow each paragraph, yet he is still effective in bringing his thoughts out to the reader clearly a...