Mini-Debates

Gene Patenting
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. What does a biotechnology company do?

Have you heard of Monsanto?
If so, what do you know about this company?

2. What are genes? Have you heard of genetically

modified food or genetically modified organisms
(GMOs)? If not, can you guess the meaning of these?

3. What do modern-day farmers do to protect

their plants from insects and weeds?

4. What does it mean to sue someone in a court of law?

5. If a company invents something, what can it do to protect

this invention and prevent others from stealing this idea?

6. Explain the meaning of the following expressions: by accident and on purpose.

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. contain a)  to put inside

2. herbicide b)  to legally protect one’s invention
3. damage c)  to break a law or agreement
4. previous d)  to come from
5. recover e)  to hold within itself
6. research f)  to hurt, to injure, to cause destruction
7. insert g)  to take to court and ask to be paid for suffering
8. profit h)  a chemical used to kill harmful weeds and plants
9. patent i)  to get back
10. originate j)  gain, money earned
11. violate k)  from before
12. sue l)  to study

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 Gene Patenting
Mini-Debates

Reading
1. Monsanto Canada, a biotechnology company, 4. In May 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that
produces canola seed that contains a gene that Monsanto could not patent a plant, but it could
protects the seed from the effects of Roundup, a patent the gene that it had developed and the
weed killer also produced by Monsanto. Farmers process for inserting it into the seeds. It means
who buy and plant Roundup Ready canola seed that farmers who do not buy seed directly from
can use the herbicide to kill the weeds in their Monsanto each year have to remove any crop
fields without damaging their canola crop. They from their land that originated from Monsanto
must agree to buy new seed every year instead seed, no matter how it got there.
of saving seeds from previous crops to plant
5. Earlier, in 2003, a government biotechnology
new ones. Monsanto argues this is the only way
advisory council had recommended that, in some
to recover the money it spends on researching
cases, higher life-forms such as plants could be
and developing genetically improved seeds.
patented, that farmers should have a limited
2. In the late 1990s, Monsanto sued Saskatchewan right to save and use seeds from patented plants,
farmer Percy Schmeiser for growing Roundup and that those who accidentally violate patents
Ready canola without having bought the seed. should have some legal protection.
Schmeiser said the seeds had blown into his field
6. Given the Supreme Court’s decision and the
by accident, either from his neighbors’ fields or
committee’s recommendations, the Federal
off passing farm equipment.
Patent Act needs to be updated to make the
3. Lower courts ruled against Schmeiser’s rules for gene patenting clearer.
“by accident” argument and ordered him to turn
over the profits from his 1998 crop to Monsanto.
He then took his fight to the Supreme Court of
Canada to argue that a company should not be
allowed to patent, or control, the use of a plant.

“Can you imagine if a person decided to paint

their house purple on a windy day, and as they’re
spraying their purple paint, it’s blowing all over
their next-door neighbor’s white house? But instead
of having to pay the neighbor for ruining their house,
the guy with the purple house sues his neighbor
for taking some of his purple paint.”
—Jim Gerritsen, seed grower

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 Gene Patenting
Mini-Debates

Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook.

1. What is Roundup?

2. What is Roundup Ready canola seed?

3. Why does Monsanto make farmers agree to buy new seeds

every year instead of letting them use seeds from previous years?

4. Why did Monsanto sue farmer Percy Schmeiser?

5. What did Percy Schmeiser argue in the Supreme Court of Canada?

Vocabulary Review
Complete the sentences using a word from the vocabulary
list on page 1. You may need to change the word form.

1. You promised to pay your ex-wife $1000 every month.

If you                 the divorce agreement, you will have to go back to court.

2. His business is only two years old, but he is already making a huge                 .

3. You have to                 a quarter into the parking meter to park for one hour.

4. He is going to the library to do some                 for his university project.

5. If you don’t wear your reading glasses, you will                 your eyesight.

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 Gene Patenting
Mini-Debates

Discuss
Work with a partner or in small groups. Discuss the following questions.

1. Do you believe Percy Schmeiser’s argument that

the canola seeds had blown onto his land by accident?

2. Did Percy Schmeiser win or lose his court case?

Do you agree with the court’s decision? Why or why not?

3. The article mentioned three recommendations that

the Canadian government’s biotechnology advisory council
made in 2003. Do you support these recommendations?

4. Does the 2004 decision made by the Supreme Court support

or contradict the recommendations of the advisory council?
Explain your answer.

5. What do you think about genetically modified food? Discuss the

advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified food. Do you
think that all genetically modified foods should be labeled as such?

Debate
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs.
Your teacher will tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea.
You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments.

TOPIC #1 TOPIC #2

A company should not be allowed Biotechnology companies like Monsanto will

to patent or control the use of a plant. help solve the problem of world hunger with
their genetically modified plants and foods.

Writing
Choose one of the questions from the Discuss section above.
Then write a paragraph in your notebook stating your own opinion.

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 Gene Patenting
Mini-Debates

Useful Expressions and Transitions for Debating

Agreeing and Disagreeing Expressing an Opinion

• That doesn’t take away from the fact that... • In my honest opinion...
• That’s beside the point. • It is my belief that...
• With all due respect... • From my experience...
• I agree with you there. • From where I look at it...
• I agree with ---- (name). • From my point of view...
• I see your point, but...
• That may be true, but...
Clarifying / Rephrasing
• We’re going to have to agree to disagree.
• I get/see where you’re coming from, but... • Let’s be clear here...
• I’m afraid I disagree entirely. • I think you misunderstood what I said.
• I’m afraid I’d have to disagree. • What I said was... (repeat a point
• I agree to some extent, but... that was misunderstood or confused)
• I disagree with you there. • What I meant to say was...
• Pardon me for disagreeing, but... (rephrase something in a way that is clearer)
• In other words...
• What I was trying to say
Interrupting / Asking to Contribute
before I was interrupted is that...
• I hate to interrupt, but...
• If I may come in here...
Summarizing / Concluding
• I’d like to add something.
• Would you like to contribute something? • So let me get this straight. You think...
• I’d like to raise a point. • To conclude...
• If I could speak for a moment... • I’d just like to summarize by saying...
• I’d like to cut in here. • Finally, I’d like to reiterate that...
• You haven’t answered my question. • It’s time to take stock of what we’ve heard today.
• Both sides have some valid points.
• The stronger argument/team today is...
Persuading

• Can you see where I’m coming from?

• I challenge you to give this a try/chance.
• I want you to see it my way.
• Put yourself in my shoes.
• Am I getting through to you?

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 Gene Patenting
Mini-Debates

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Int

In this lesson, students read about a 2003 Supreme Court TIME: 1.5 – 2 hours
case between Monsanto, a biotechnology company, and
TAGS:   genetically modified food, gene patenting, agriculture,
Percy Schmeiser, a Saskatchewan farmer. They then use their
Monsanto, farming, Saskatchewan, Canada
knowledge and personal opinions to debate two related topics.

Pre-Reading Discuss

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS Have students discuss in small groups or pairs. Answers will vary.

This discussion can be done as a class or in small groups or pairs.

Debate
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
Review language used in debates (see page 5). Then divide students
1. e 3. f 5. i 7. a 9. b 11. c into pairs or groups with some arguing for and others arguing
2. h 4. k 6. l 8. j 10. d 12. g against one or both of the topics. Alternatively, allow students to
choose one topic to debate as a class. If all students want to argue
Reading the same side, assign some students to be on the other side of the
debate. Give students time to practice making statements about
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. Help your students their opinions.
with vocabulary and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.
Remind students to defend their opinions with real-life examples
and details. They may also need to be reminded to respect
Comprehension the opinions of others. You could also practice interrupting
politely. (See our Functional English lesson plan on Interrupting.)
1. Roundup is a weed killer produced by Monsanto. Consult our Teachers’ Notes for more ideas on using ESL Library’s
2. Roundup Ready is canola seed that contains a gene Mini-Debates in the classroom.
that protects the seed from the effects of Roundup.
3. Monsanto argues that this is the only way to
Writing
recover the money it spends on researching
and developing genetically improved seeds.
Answers will vary.
4. Monsanto sued Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser for
growing Roundup Ready canola without having bought the seed.
5. Schmeiser said the seeds had blown into his field by accident, SPELLING NOTE:

either from his neighbors’ fields or off passing farm equipment.

This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Neighbor
and Labeled. Other English-speaking countries spell these
Vocabulary Review words this way: Neighbour and Labelled. Make it a challenge
for your students to find these words in the lesson and see
1. violate 3. insert 5. damage if they know the alternate spellings.
2. profit 4. research

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