WELCOME TO FAST FOOD

1. WELCOMETO FAST FOOD WE ARE GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER, BUT WHO IS TO BLAME FOR ALL OF THIS IN AMERICA TODAY?

2. Activity 1: Getting ready to read…

3. Please write down ten words that you associate with french fries. A list is fine.

4. Now that you have brainstormed words that you associate with fries, please write continually for ten minutes on the topic below. Topic: “Who is at fault for America’s growing weight problem?”

5. Read your journal to your partner. Did you have similar or opposing viewpoints? Should we get extra cheese on it?

6. With a partner, please complete • Activity 2: Surveying the Text • Questions 1-4; 1-4 • Activity 3: Making Predictions and Asking • Questions • Questions 1-5; 1-5 • PLEASE • WRITE IN YOUR CLASS NOTES.

7. Surveying the Text • 1. What do the titles, “It’s Portion Distortion That Makes America Fat” and “If You Pitch It, They Will Eat,” tell you about the authors’ positions on who is responsible for America’s growing weight problem? • 2. What do you think is the purpose of these articles? • 3.What similarities do you think the articles might have? What differences? Do you think they will be equally reliable? • 4. What else can you tell just by looking at them?

8. Surveying the Text - Again • 1. On the basis of his article title, what do you think Weintraub’s position will be? In what ways do you think his article will be like those of Brownlee and Barboza? In what ways do you think it will be different? What do you think his purpose is? • 2. On the basis of his title, what do you think Zinczenko’s position will be? Which of the other authors do you think he might agree with? • 3. What do you expect is the purpose of the letters to the editor written in response to Zinczenko? How will they be different from Zinczenko’s article? • 4. What else can you tell about the letters just by looking at them?

9. Activity 3 – Making Predictions and Asking Questions • 1. Read the first three and the last paragraph of Brownlee’s article. What is the point of comparing burgers, fries, and cigarettes? What arguments do you think she will make? • 2. Read the first three and the last paragraph of Barboza’s article. According to Barboza, who is responsible for America’s weight problem? What arguments do you think he is going to make? • 3. Who is the intended audience for these articles? How do you know? • 4. What information and ideas are the authors likely to draw upon to convince you of their positions? • 5. Reword the titles and subtitles and turn them into questions for you to answer after you have read the full articles.

10. Making Predictions and Asking Questions Again • 1. Read the first two and the last paragraphs of Weintraub’s article. According to Weintraub, who is responsible for America’s obesity problem? What arguments do you think he will make? • 2. How do you think he will respond to the arguments raised by Brownlee and Barboza? • 3. Read the first two and the last paragraph of Zinczenko’s article. Why does he bring up Jay Leno’s monologue? According to Zinczenko, who is responsible for America’s obesity problem? What arguments do you think he will make? • 4. Zinczenko and Weintraub both argue in part from personal experience. How do their viewpoints differ? • 5. Read the last paragraph of each of the letters to the editor. In each case, identify who the writer thinks is to blame. How do you know?

11. Activities Four and Five: Introducing Key Vocabulary • 1. Complete the vocabulary self-assessment chart. • 2. Create semantic map, listing specific examples for each category. • “It’s Portion Distortion That Makes America Fat” • (Brownlee) • “If You Pitch it, They Will Eat” (Barboza) • “The Battle Against Fast Food Begins in the Home” • (Weintraub) • “Don’t Blame the Eater” • (Zinczenko)

12. Semantic Map for Key Vocabulary • Use statistics of overweight kids • Use doctors as advisors on TV, radio, teen magazines? How? • End obesity • Educate parents • Create a society that understands health Why? Obesity in American children In a four person group, you will use this model for identifying key vocabulary words. Each group will choose a leader who will explain the words to the class. • Who? • Families • Cities • Small towns • Children • School • Health systems W

13. Activity Six: First Reading As you read, think about the predictions you made. You may notice words from the previous activities. Think about personal connections you can make and group them together if they relate. .

14. ACTIVITY 7: REREADING TEXT • GROUP A: • ANSWER THE THREE • QUESTIONS ABOUT • “PORTION • DISTORTION” • GROUP B: • ANSWER THE THREE • QUESTIONS ABOUT • “IF YOU PITCH IT” Dude, you’re hot I know, right?

15. Group A 1. Think back to your original predictions. Which were right? Which did you have to modify as you read “Portion Distortion”? (I was right about…I was wrong about…) 2. What is the main idea of “Portion Distortion”? Who does Brownlee think is to blame for America’s obesity problem? Underline or highlight the sentence that most clearly indicates who is to blame. (The main idea is that____is to blame for…) 3. What does Brownlee think is the solution to the problem? Group B 1. Think back to your original predictions. Which were right? Which did you have to modify as you read “If You Pitch It”? (I was right about…I was wrong about…) 2. What is the main idea of “If You Pitch It”? Underline or highlight the sentence that most clearly indicates why food companies aim their advertisements at children. (The main idea is that advertisements are…) 3. What does Barboza think is the solution to the problem? “Portion Distortion”/If You Pitch It”

16. Activity 8 – Let’s Annotate!!!!!! • Group A – “Portion Distortion” • Group B – “If You Pitch It” • Annotate: to have a conversation with the text • UNDERLINE, HIGHLIGHT, DRAW ARROWS • Left Margin – comments, questions, objections, and connections about main ideas • Right Margin – reactions to what the author says

17. Activity 9 • 1. According to Zinczenko’s “Don’t Blame the Eater,” why are kids suing McDonalds? • 2. According to Zinczenko, what are the choices for American kids to get an affordable meal? Use the word “option” in your answer. • 3. What causes 30% of the new cases of childhood diabetes in America? • 4. Give an example of an alternative to fast food. How easy is it for kids to purchase that alternative? • 5. Do people who buy fast food know how many calories they are eating? Use the word “consume” or “consumer” in your answer. • 6. What do you think of kids who file lawsuits against the fast-food industry? • 7. Do you agree with Zinczenko that the fast-food industry is vulnerable? • 8. Do you make informed choices when you buy fast food?

18. Please refer to your packet for the following activities on post-reading and pre-writing: Considering the Structure Revisiting and Refining vocabulary Summarizing and Responding Thinking Critically Reading the Prompt Getting Ready to Write Formulating a Working Thesis Composing a Draft Please refer to your packet for the following activities on revising and editing: Organizing the Essay Developing the Content Revising the Draft Editing the Draft Activities 10-18/Activities 19-22

19. Activity 23 – Reflecting on the Writing • 1. What was most difficult about this assignment? • 2. What was easiest? • 3. What did you learn about arguing by completing this assignment? • 4. What do you think are the strengths of your argument? Place a wavy line by the parts of your essay that you feel are very good. • 5. What are the weaknesses, if any, of your paper? Place an X by the parts of your essay you would like help with and write any questions in the margin. • 6. What did you learn from this assignment about your own writing process – about preparing to write, writing the first draft, revising and editing?