Argumentative Writing

Argumentative Writing Is Fast Food Bad for you?

Write an argumentative essay on the following:‘Is Fast Food Bad for You?’ Use the following to help you: • The fast food file • The writing frame • The word-bank on linking words • The notes you made in your groups

Getting Started on Writing • Stage 1 - Make notes using resources • Stage 2 - Develop ideas from notes onto the writing frame • Stage 3 – Write out first draft

The History of Fast Food The Hot Dog – The USA’s Original Fast Food • USA considered the fast food capitol of the world • 1867 German butcher, Charles Feltman opened hot dog stand in Brooklyn, New York – soon became a favourite food • 1904 – Chicago – Saint Louis World’s Fair – introduced new fast foods e.g. ice cream cones and & hot dogs – general public were encouraged to enjoy these new foods Burgers & Fries • Origins of fast food traced to a specific date – 7th July 1912 – fast food restaurant opened in NY by Horn & Hardart • These were automat restaurants & soon they began opening all over the country • Companies used terms like ‘take-out’ & ‘Less work for Mother’ in order to appeal to their customers • Drive-in restaurants opened around the time of the first world war – coincided with the increasing availability of cars • First burger bar – The White Castle Burger Chain – limited menu – many covers (tables/customers)

The History of Fast Food cont… The Biggest Burger Bar in Town • McDonald’s founded as bbq drive-in 1940 by Dick and Mac McDonald • Profit largely came from burgers so they closed restaurant & opened again in 1948 as a walk in stand selling burgers, fries & drinks – they called this fast & efficient service the ‘Speedee Service System’ • Milkshake salesman Ray Kroc – bought the business in 1961 – ambitious – expanded business & made McDonald’s into a national chain

Fast Food in the 21st Century It’s said that more people pass through the doors of a McDonalds than a church or a synagogue! The Reputation of Fast Food • Fast food blamed for the ‘obesity epidemic’ • Each week there is new negative publicity regarding fast food – articles about it making you fat, giving you an array of harmful illnesses or even killing you • UK health minister – Ed Balls suggested all fast food outlets advertise calorie count & nutritional information on all food & no fast food outlets near schools – school pupils prohibited from leaving school to go to fast food outlets • Children brought up to know that fast food is bad for them – but does this just set a challenge for them – told not to do something, therefore increasing the desire to do it? Why Do We Eat So Much Fast Food? • Cheap • Tasty • Saves time • But was originally intended as a treat – overindulgence has made it a staple diet in some countries

Fast Food in the 21st Century cont… Fast Food Tastes Good • Genetically programmed to enjoy taste of fat & sugar • Fast food = fat, sugar & salt • Controversial 2003 study – fast food more addictive than heroine due to sugar and fat content • 44% Americans 45% Brits said they could not give up fast food Fast Food Availability • Variety & ease of fast food make it even more appealing & tempting • Takeaways, home deliveries, microwave meals, frozen meals, fast food at petrol stations, coffee bars… • Phone ordered fast food • Online ordered fast food

Fast Food in the 21st Century cont… It’s Cheap to Eat Fast Food • McDonalds – built on premise of food prepared quickly and inexpensively • McDonalds – cheaper food – more food prepared – more customers – bigger profit • Supermarket frozen meals sometimes cheaper than buying individual ingredients to make the meal from scratch at home It’s Convenient • Working parents – less time to prepare home cooked meals – more fast food • People living alone – fast food cheaper than cooking meals for one from scratch • Changing lifestyle – home cooking a luxury – better faster option is fast food – microwave or oven meal

The Advantages of Fast Food I Just Love It! • Fast food provokes debate • Fast food industry booming • New fast food outlets opening all the time – maybe it’s not all bad then? Obvious Advantages • Speed • Cost • Meets need – busy lifestyle = less time to prepare & cook fresh food so frozen meals are quick and easy solution • Burgers & fries from fast food chains – notoriously cheap • However feeding a family on fast food could prove expensive • Not all fast food bad for you • Frozen meals can be additive free • Frozen meals available as healthy options • Fast food restaurants with healthy options menus • Fast food takeaway doesn’t have to be bad for you – e.g. steamed rice instead of fried, vegetables instead of meats & cheese on pizzas etc…

The Disadvantages of Fast Food Obvious Disadvantages • Fast food contains more fat, salt & calories than should be consumed on a regular basis • Occasional treat not harmful but limiting fast food intake made difficult by promotions/offers e.g. supersize & buy one get one free deals • Takeaway portions for one are big enough to feed three or four – if you eat it all you are vastly increasing your fat, salt, sugar & calorie intake in just one meal • Family meals often serve more food than is necessary • Ingredients in fast food detrimental to our health if we overindulge

The Disadvantages of Fast Food cont… Fast Food & Fat • Lots of fat in fast food • 2002 – 19 stone man attempted to sue fast food burger chain – claimed he didn’t know fast food was bad until after he had a heart attack in 1996 – he lost • Trans-fat linked to higher risk of heart disease – 25% higher risk • KFC & McDonalds burgers have been found to contain 5 grams of fat • McDonalds UK made commitment to get rid of trans-fats in all fast food but this does not extend to outlets in other countries Salt in Fast Food • Not just added salt which is a danger • 80% of salt in our diet comes from processed food – salt is hidden – we don’t realise we are eating it – don’t realise the potential damage to our health • Salt – detrimental to health - high salt level – water retention – high blood pressure – higher risk of heart disease & stroke • Fast food chain claim to have reduced salt levels but one meal from pizza hut – more than twice daily recommended salt intake

The Disadvantages of Fast Food cont… Sugary Treats • Some fast food loaded with sugar e.g. doughnuts • Sugar has absolutely no nutritional value Fat & Sugar Combined – More Addictive than Heroine? • 2003 American research – combination of fat & sugar in fast food – contributing factor to soaring obesity levels • Experiment – rats fed food with similar aft & sugar levels – they became addicted to the food & suffered withdrawal symptoms when their diet was changed – became agitated & had the shakes • Eating combination of fat & sugar releases pleasure chemicals in the brain – leads to addiction – we want more of the pleasure chemical so we eat more fast food

What Are Food Additives(?) • Substances which are intentionally added to our food to perform functions • Enhance flavour • Colour • Sweetener • Preservative • Additives have been around for years – e.g. yeast in baking • Some additives derive from natural sources – middle ages saltpetre was used as preservative in meat • We now use nitrite which is an active ingredient of saltpetre • However many of the additives in our food now are manufactured from chemicals – not as innocent as a pinch of salt or yeast in a loaf of bread

What Are Food Additives cont… Additives in Processed and Fast Food • Most fast food processed – this can lead to loss of flavour – leads to food contains other ingredients e.g. (i) chicken nuggets found to contain beef extract as an additive (ii) French fries found to contain animal products (iii) Burger buns found to contain artificial additives • Strawberry milkshake in fast food restaurant – surprising ingredients – milk fat, high fructose corn syrup, guar gum, monoglycerides, diglycerides, cellulose gum, sodium phosphate, carrageen, E129, artificial strawberry flavour • The artificial strawberry flavour itself contains 29 different chemicals including amyl acetate, alcohol & solvent • Not just burger bars – Chinese food flavoured with artificial flavour enhancer – monosodium glutamate – can cause headaches in people sensitive to it • 2002 – Scientists warned large quantities MSG lead to retina damage (significantly large amount would have to be eaten fro this to happen though) • Active ingredients have to be listed though so you can at least be aware if you are going to eat a plate full of chemicals and make an informed decision • Frozen food is not as full of additives as other fast food

What Are Food Additives cont… How Do Additives in Fast Food Affect Our Health? • 2007 study by Food Standards Agency on how additives affect children aged 3 & 8 years old – link between hyperactivity in children & some food colourings • Also a link between hyperactivity in children & preservatives used in processed foods, sweets & drinks • However additives in UK have to be rigorously tested – not permitted to be used until they are determined safe to eat • Like most thing sin health & nutrition – moderation is the key

The Old Classic The Good News About Fish & Chips • Fish & chips does not have to be totally unhealthy – although still high in calories & fat it can be reasonably nutritious. • Fish is low in fat, high in protein & a good source of omega 3 fatty acids which are actually good for us. • Chips can be a good source of fibre How Much Fat Is In A Fry Up? • Average portion bettered fish & chips contains a massive 20.6g of fat • However not all the fat used is saturated fat – bad fat • Most chip shops use rapeseed oil – a healthier alternative • The fat content of the average portion of fish & chips is almost three times less than that found in a chicken tikka masala with pilau rice or Chinese sweet & sour pork with fried rice.

The Old Classic cont… The Bad News About a Fish & Chip Shop Menu • Not everything in a fish & chip shop menu can claim to be as healthy as a portion of fish • Battered sausage will not be made from high quality meat, will be covered in fatty battered & will contain on average 750 calories. • Other items on chip shop menus are also bad for your health e.g. pies will generally be filled with low quality meat providing little to no nutritional value

The Writing Frame Opening Paragraph • Make sure you give a strong opening statement/opinion – addressing the question/title of the essay • Refer to the ‘Supersize Me’ documentary you watched • Explain the generally held view of fast food – i.e. what do most people think of fast food e.g. I firmly believe that fast food is bad for you can have a negative impact upon your health. The documentary ‘Supersize Me’ illustrated the way in which over indulging on fast food can be extremely detrimental to your health. Public opinion does seem to vary over the harmful effects of fast food. However I think that whilst over indulgence would result in health concerns, eating fast food as a rare treat can be an enjoyable experiences and should not adversely affect you.

Paragraph Two The history of fast food • Include some information in this paragraph about the origin of fast food • Where did it originate? • How did it originate? • Do elements of these humble beginnings of fast food still exist today? i.e. • Burger Bars • do we still have fast food burger eateries today? • what does this make us think about the fast food industry? • Is it successful? • Does this mean people like it?

Paragraph Three • There are a few advantages of fast food • As this is your weaker argument i.e. not the one you agree with – you will write this argument first. • What are the advantages of fast food? • Look at your notes and formulate your second paragraph around these e.g. cost ease/convenience not always bad for you

Paragraph Four Disadvantages of fast food In the next few paragraphs you will discuss the disadvantages of fast food In this paragraph we will concentrate on: The reputation of fast food? Why we eat so much of it? What makes us each so much of it?

Paragraph Five Fat in fast food • What does it do to us? • What do fast food restaurants and takeaways do to encourage us to eat too much fast food? e.g. sizes of meals meal deals special offers & promotions • What affect does this have?

Paragraph Six Fat Content in fast food • How much fat is in fast food? • What affect does this fat have on our health? • Is fat always bad for your health? • Does it have any nutritional value? Salt Content in Fast Food • How much salt is in fast food? • How can this potentially affect our health? • Is salt always bad for your health? • Does it have any nutritional value? Sugar Content in Fast Food • How much salt is in fast food? • How can this adversely affect our health? • Is sugar always bad for your health? • Does it have any nutritional value?

Paragraph Seven • What is the combined result of eating too much fat & sugar? • What does this tell us about fast food?

Paragraph Eight Food additives • What are additives? • Why are they in fast food? • Do they have any nutritional value?

Conclusion Linking word/phrase Return to your opinion on the matter and sum up your arguments Do you agree/disagree with the statement that fast food is bad for you?

Word bank Linking Words • and first second • third next in addition • likewise also moreover • furthermore similarly despite • therefore consequently as a result • in brief at the same time yet • accordingly without question without doubt • significantly unquestionably absolutely • on the other hand nevertheless however • on the contrary otherwise ultimately • in spite of although significantly • clearly critically evidently • finally hence interestingly • justifiably notably on reflection • regardless of

Good Vocabulary for Our Articles Homework: Can you think of any vocabulary throughout the course of today’s lesson or on your own which you think will make your article sound even better?

Argumentative Writing