4.2.

9 Practice: Complete Your Assignment Practice

English 10 Sem 1 Name:
Date:

Use the research you gathered in Lesson 1 to write a first draft of an essay about a
topic that Eric Schlosser explores in Fast Food Nation. You may have to conduct new
research to get all the information you need, especially if some of your sources in
Lesson 1 weren't credible.

A thesis statement will establish the focus of your paper, and subtopics will support
the thesis. Each subtopic must be supported by evidence from relevant and credible
sources. Even though this essay is your first draft, you must still make sure it is as
polished as possible.

Your essay should include the following elements:

● A thesis statement that establishes the purpose of the essay

● Subtopics that are related to your thesis statement

● Evidence from credible sources that support your subtopics and thesis
statement

● An introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph

● Transitions that connect ideas and introduce cited sources

You should have completed a draft of this assignment in the activity before this one.
If you haven't done so, go back and complete that activity now.

Ask yourself these questions as you revise:

 ● Does my thesis statement follow naturally from my research? Will my thesis
statement, subtopics, and evidence all come across as related? Do I make that
relationship clear to the reader?

● Does my introduction paragraph grab the reader's attention and present the
thesis statement? Does it provide enough background information for the reader
to understand the thesis statement?

● Do my body paragraphs all present evidence from credible sources? Do they

show how the evidence is connected to my overall point? Does each body
paragraph include a topic sentence that makes it clear what each paragraph is
about?

● Do I use in-text citations correctly? Do they follow MLA guidelines? Do I show

good judgment about when to paraphrase and when to quote from a source?

Use this rubric to determine how well you're meeting the criteria for the assignment.
 How has fast food affected society? Fast food has taken a significant toll on American lives.

Americans have become more obese now than back in the 70s. Fast food has changed the number

of daily calories an American consumes. In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in

2001, they spent more than $110 billion. “Americans now spend more money on fast food than on

higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars.” (Schlosser). In one day,

approximately one-fourth of Americans go to a fast-food restaurant. Mcdonald's is responsible for

about 90% of new fast-food jobs in America. Mcdonalds' has thousands of restaurants all over the

united states. Around two-thousand new restaurants open every year.

Fast food impacts not only your weight but your mental health as well. The more fast food

you eat makes you more prone to having anxiety and becoming depressed. A person who eats

healthily is less likely to become depressed than someone who eats fast food daily. "Another

consequence of younger people regularly eating fast food is their unintentional lack of

understanding of basic meal preparation, cooking, and healthy eating. Over time, this perpetuates

dependence on fast food, and people may not learn how to prepare healthy, balanced food in the

home".(Jones)

Since the 1950s, American drive-thru fast food places have become more popular. Fast food

restaurants became known for their low prices, good food, and convenience. Most Americans

understand Fast food is unhealthy for you. “A recent study conducted in Australia found that

someone close to fast food is more likely to have a heart attack.” People who associate with fast

food daily tend to have a higher body mass index and a more difficult time keeping a steady weight.

Eating fast food can affect you physically and mentally. “The high levels of sugar, fat and other

additives cause the brain to inflame. This also negatively affects the ability to learn and make better

connections in the brain.” Before fast food had its big take-off, Americans used to sit at a table with

their family and eat a good healthy dinner. This article helps support my question by explaining how

fast food impacts Americans. Americans went from eating a healthy dinner at the table with their
family to stopping at a fast food place to get a quick unhealthy dinner. The rate of unhealthy eating

goes up dramatically as fast food evolves.

The rise in fast food has led to obesity having an exponential growth rate. Obesity is proven

to cause health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. The more fast-food restaurants

there lead to more obese people. The more fast food Americans consume, the less active they are.

"Obesity is linked to several long-term health conditions, premature death, and illness including

diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gall bladder disease, fatty liver, arthritis and joint disorders and

some cancers." Fast food affects children more than adults. The fast food market targets children

making them more vulnerable to becoming obese. This article helps support my question by

explaining how fast food impacts Americans' lives.

Americans tend to have fast food in their life daily. Fast food is easy to obtain for most.

People don't need to leave their houses for a fast food meal. Getting fast food is cheaper and faster.

Fast food is inexpensive, therefore, making more Americans drawn to it. "Fast food in America has

been on a steady increase for years and will not slow down anytime soon." Another reason is

convenience. Instead of going to the grocery store and buying what you need, going home, and

preparing to make dinner, you can stop at a fast food place and have your food ready in about

10mins. Fast food is easy to eat. You do not need a spoon, fork, or knife.

The way fast food has affected society is ridiculous. Americans have loved fast food for

years. French fries were a favorite snack at one point. Americans that love fast food make them

prone to becoming obese than someone who does not eat fast food. Fast food leads to bad mental

health and becoming overweight. Therefore this shows how fast food affects society.
 Works cited

“Commentary: How fast food has ruined our society.”

Scoring RUBIRC Feedback:

 Content = 5/10 points (Needed to include a thesis statement at the end of your
introduction.)
 Organization = 11/14 points (Needed a thesis statement. Transitions needed.)
 Research = 0/10 points (See comments up above. You needed to provide in-text
citations and a works cited page.)
 Style = 5/6 points (Just a few grammatical errors.)
 TOTAL = 21/40 points