Fast Food Essay
Introduction
• Your introduction must have the
following components:
–Hook
–Introduce title(s) and author(s) of
the article(s)
–Thesis
Sample Introduction
America is now known as the fattest country
in the world. Many Americans blame the fast food
industry for over-advertising, selling unhealthy
food, and selling oversized portions. However,
others feel that America’s obesity is a matter of
personal responsibility. In his article, “The Battle
Against Fast Food Begins in the Home,” Daniel
Weintraub explains that parents need to take
responsibility for the eating habits of their kids. He
is absolutely right. Parents are responsible for their
children and are to blame when their children
become overweight.
Introduction Analysis
• Hook: America is now known as the fattest
country in the world.
• Title/Author: In his article, “The Battle Against
Fast Food Begins in the Home,” Daniel
Weintraub explains that parents need to take
responsibility for the eating habits of their kids.
• Thesis: Parents are responsible for their
children and are to blame when their children
become overweight.
Your Turn
• Look at the introduction that you were
asked to write last week. Does it contain
the following:
– Hook
– Author and Title Introduction
– Thesis
Body Paragraphs
• Your body paragraphs prove your thesis.
They provide the reasoning behind your
argument.
• Each body paragraph must be about one
topic/reason.
• DO NOT SUMMARIZE the article in your
body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs
• In your body paragraphs, you are making
“claims” about why things happened.
• You must use quotations from the
article(s) to support your claims.
– On the next slides, we will look at one body
paragraph that does not contain support, and
then the same paragraph that contains
support.
Sample Body Paragraph
without Support
Parents have a lot of influence on their
children from the day their child is born. Children
learn how to talk from their parents, how to respect
their elders, and they learn should about food and
exercise from their parents too. There are many
steps to take in showing a child what is healthy
and unhealthy. A parent could make sure that a
child receives a serving of fruits or vegetables at
lunch and dinner, eliminate soda from the house,
and even eliminate all junk food.
Sample Body Paragraph
WITH Support
Parents have a lot of influence on their children from
the day their child is born. Children learn how to talk from
their parents, how to respect their elders, and they should
learn “healthy eating and exercising habits” from their
parents (Weintraub 30). There are many steps to take in
showing a child what is healthy and unhealthy. A parent
could make sure that a child receives a serving of fruits or
vegetables at lunch and dinner, eliminate soda from the
house, and even eliminate all junk food. Children are
overweight because their parents don’t take these steps.
Therefore, Weintraub is right, “It’s the fault of parents who
let their kids eat unhealthy foods and sit in front of the
television or computer for hours at a time.”
Body Paragraph Analysis
• Both of the quotations are set up in a way
that gives context to the article, and they
are used to support the arguments.
– Parents are responsible for teaching their
children healthy eating habits.
– Parents are responsible for making sure their
children exercise.
Look at the worksheet provided
Example
Evidence
Explanation
Brownlee
mentions that
when we
were young,
we ate a
happy meal
and we were
satisfied with
the amount of
food we ate.
“…a small bag
of french fries,
a plain burger
and a 12-ounce
Coke seemed
like a full meal.
Fast food
wasn’t any
healthier back
then; we simply
ate a lot less of
it” (5).
Brownlee states that the
amount of food people eat
is much more than
needed. Since people eat
more, people gain more
weight. However, it is the
restaurants who decide
on how much is sold.
Therefore, it is the fault of
the restaurants who make
America obese.
Your Turn
• On the worksheet provided, find evidence
to support your claims in your essay.
– Example column: state your claim/reason
– Evidence column: find a quotation to support
your claim/reason (be sure to include author
and paragraph numbers).
– Explanation column: explain how the
quotation supports your claim/reason and
therefore your thesis.
Use the worksheet for
your Body Paragraphs
Example
Evidence
Explanation
Brownlee
mentions that
when we
were young,
we ate a
happy meal
and we were
satisfied with
the amount of
food we ate.
“…a small bag
of french fries,
a plain burger
and a 12-ounce
Coke seemed
like a full meal.
Fast food
wasn’t any
healthier back
then; we simply
ate a lot less of
it” (5).
Brownlee states that the
amount of food people eat
is much more than
needed. Since people eat
more, people gain more
weight. However, it is the
restaurants who decide
on how much is sold.
Therefore, it is the fault of
the restaurants who make
America obese.
Sample Body Paragraph
Fast food restaurants are serving too much
food. Brownlee mentions that when we were young,
we ate a happy meal and we were satisfied with the
amount of food we ate. She says, “[A] small bag of
french fries, a plain burger and a 12-ounce Coke
seemed like a full meal. Fast food wasn’t any healthier
back then; we simply ate a lot less of it” (5). Brownlee
states that the amount of food people eat is much
more than needed. Since people eat more, people
gain more weight. However, it is the restaurants who
decide on how much is sold. Therefore, it is the fault of
the restaurants who make America obese.
Your Turn
• Write a body paragraph of your own using
the Example, Evidence, Explanation
worksheet provided.
– Be sure to properly set-up your quotation.
Conclusions
• Your conclusion for a Research essay
should do the following:
– Sum up your points
– Give a final thought/lesson learned
• All conclusions must:
– Restate the Title and Author
– Restate the thesis and points
• Conclusions do not:
–
–
–
–
Make new claims
Say: “In conclusion…”
Say: “This is why I think that…”
Say: “Now I’ve told you why…”
Sample Conclusion
It is a fact that America is getting fatter and
fatter. However, life doesn’t have to be this way.
As Daniel Weintraub points out in his article, “The
Battle Against Fast Food Begins in the Home,”
parents are responsible. America will start losing
some of its pounds once parents teach their
children proper eating and exercise habits.
Hopefully then America will have a generation of
healthy eaters and therefore will lose weight.
Your Turn
• Write your own conclusion.
– Remember the following:
•
•
•
•
•
Restate the title and author
Restate your thesis and claims
Give a final comment/lesson learned
Avoid saying, “In conclusion…”
Avoid saying, “This is why I think that…”