America’s Obesity Problem

1. America’s Obesity Problem Expository Reading and Writing Mrs. Gonzalez

2. Key Concept Connection • What do you think of when you see fast food french fries? • What is the relationship between fast food and obesity?

3. Quick write • Who’s at fault for America’s growing weight problem?

4. Surveying Barboza and Brownlee • What do the titles “It’s portion distortion that makes America fat” and “If You Pitch It, They Will Eat It” tell you about the authors’ positions on who is responsible for America’s growing weight problem? • What do you think is the purpose of their articles? • “Portion Distortion” was published in the Sacramento Bee and “If you pitch it” was published in the New York Times. How do you think they might be the same? Different? Do you think they will be equally reliable? • What else can you tell about the articles just by looking at them?

5. Predictions • Read the first 3 and last paragraphs of Brownlee. What’s the point of the comparison between burgers, fries, and cigarettes? What arguments do you think she will make? • Read the first 3 and last paragraphs of Barboza. Who does Barboza think is responsible for America’s weight problem? What arguments do you think he is going to make?

6. Predictions continued • Who is the intended audience? How do you know? • What information and ideas are they likely to draw on to convince you of their positions? • Reword the titles and turn them into questions

7. Vocabulary • Self assessment

8. First Reading • Text Mark your article by marking your reactions on the right, the main points on the left, and highlighting phrases that prove who is at fault for the obesity problem.

9. After 1st Read • Which predictions were right? Which ones did you have to modify as you read? • What is the main idea of the your article? Who does author blame for America’s obesity problem? (Underline sentences that prove theory) • What does author think is the solution to the problem?

10. Second Read • Group Reading of 1 article • Compare annotations.

11. Zinczenko & Weintraub Questions • According to Zincenko’s “Don’t Blame the Eater,” why are kids suing McDonald’s? • According to Zincenko, what are the choices for American kids to get an affordable meal? Use the word “option” in your answer. • What causes 30% of the new cases of childhood diabetes in America?

12. Give an example of an alternative to fast food. How easy is it for kids to purchase that alternative? • Do people who buy fast food know how many calories they are eating? Use the word “consume” in your answer. • What do you think of kids who file lawsuits against the fast food industry?s

13. Now as a group, analyze the structure. • Divide the article into sections. • Draw a line where the introduction ends. Is it after the first paragraph, or are there more introductory paragraphs? • Draw a line where the conclusion begins. • On a piece of paper, draw a circle in the center of the paper and label it Main Idea. Put a definition of main idea in the circle also • Put branches out of the circle (looks like a sun with rays). On the branches put the text’s supporting ideas that connect to the central idea. “How are the ideas related to one another?”

14. Ethos/Pathos/Logos • Which article is the most convincing? • What are the major claims in the article? • Are there claims in the articles that are weak or unsupported? What are they? • What are the arguments that were left out? • Is the author knowledgeable? Smart? Successful? • What does the author’s style and language tell you about him or her?

15. Do you trust the author? Why or Why not? • How does they article affect you emotionally? What parts? • Do you think the author is trying to manipulate your emotions? How? • Do your emotions conflict with your logical interpretations of the argument? • Does the author use humor? How does this affect your acceptance of his/her ideas?