Corn. Is it delicious? Yes. Do we think about it’s role in our lives when we’re eating it? Probably not. As shocking as it may seem, corn is an important factor in our diets and might even take up a large percentage of what we eat. In the passage, Pollan brings in all sides of the argument by giving an example of his own experience, describing corn by using metaphors and interesting word choices, and contrasting the way corn moved from being just a simple food to being a problem in our lives. Pollan begins this chapter by describing his visit to a grain elevator in Jefferson, Iowa. He uses descriptive words and phrases to convey exactly what he saw; this gives the reader an idea of what to expect from the chapter and also aids in Pollan’s ethos because he has received a first-hand experience of a grain elevator and how it operates. Pollan also references his meeting with Ricardo Salvador, an agronomist from Iowa State University. Pollan even quotes a few lines from this expert, stating that in Mexico, corn could not be placed on the ground, for it was considered sacrilegious due to the importance of this one plant. Pollan’s vivid introduction sets the scene for his upcoming arguments. …show more content…
For instance, he paints an image of corn flooding together into the food industry; this image shows how the corn population has grown and could possibly be a threat because of its abundance. This metaphor makes people feel astonished because of the way corn is taking over the economy. Pollan also uses interesting words to describe corn. For example, he describes the amount of corn in the grain elevator as a pyramid. He writes that this enormous pile of corn is only from one area. When readers read this, they will be surprised at the amount of corn we