Fast Food : Unit One

Fast FoodFast FoodWho’s to Blame?Who’s to Blame?

Fast Food : Unit One

Reading selections for Reading selections for unit:unit:

Brownlee, Shannon. “It’s Portion Distortion That Brownlee, Shannon. “It’s Portion Distortion That

Makes America Fat.” Makes America Fat.” Sacramento Bee.Sacramento Bee. 5 Jan. 5 Jan.

20032003

Barboza, David. “ If You Pitch It, They Will Eat Barboza, David. “ If You Pitch It, They Will Eat

It.” It.” New York Times.New York Times. 3. Aug. 2003. 3. Aug. 2003.

Weintraub, Daniel. “The Battle Against Fast Food Weintraub, Daniel. “The Battle Against Fast Food

Begins in the Home”. Begins in the Home”. Sacramento Bee. Sacramento Bee. 17 Dec. 17 Dec.

2002.2002.

Zincenko, David. “Don’t Blame the Eater.” Zincenko, David. “Don’t Blame the Eater.” New New

York Times. York Times. 23 Nov. 2002.23 Nov. 2002.

Fast Food : Unit One

Fast Food:Fast Food:DAY ONEDAY ONE

Fast Food : Unit One

Fast Food : Unit One

Activity 1: Getting Ready to Activity 1: Getting Ready to ReadRead

~On a separate sheet of paper, write a ~On a separate sheet of paper, write a response to the following topic:response to the following topic:

Who’s at fault for Who’s at fault for America’s growing America’s growing weight problem?weight problem?

Fast Food : Unit One

Activity 2: Surveying the Activity 2: Surveying the TextText

1. What does the titles “It’s 1. What does the titles “It’s Portion Distortion That Makes Portion Distortion That Makes America Fat” tell you about the America Fat” tell you about the author’s position on who is author’s position on who is responsible for America’s responsible for America’s weight problem?weight problem?

Fast Food : Unit One

Activity 2: Surveying the Activity 2: Surveying the Text, Text, cont.cont.

2. What do you think is the purpose 2. What do you think is the purpose of this article?of this article?

3. “Portion Distortion” was 3. “Portion Distortion” was published in published in The Sacramento Bee, The Sacramento Bee, and “If you Pitch It” was and “If you Pitch It” was published in published in The New York Times. The New York Times. What similarities do you think What similarities do you think these articles might have? What these articles might have? What differences? Do you think they will differences? Do you think they will be equally reliable? be equally reliable?

Fast Food : Unit One

Activity 2: Surveying the Activity 2: Surveying the Text, Text, cont.cont.

4. What else can you tell about 4. What else can you tell about the articles just by looking at the articles just by looking at them?them?

5. Do you think that this article 5. Do you think that this article might support your claims?might support your claims?

Fast Food : Unit One

Activity 3: Making Activity 3: Making Predictions & Asking Predictions & Asking

QuestionsQuestions1.1. Read the first three and the last Read the first three and the last

paragraphs of Brownlee’s article. paragraphs of Brownlee’s article. What is the point of comparing What is the point of comparing burger’s, fries and cigarettes? What burger’s, fries and cigarettes? What arguments so you think she will make? arguments so you think she will make?

2.2. Who is the Who is the intended audience intended audience for for these articles? How do you know this?these articles? How do you know this?

3. What 3. What information and ideas information and ideas is the is the author likely to draw on to convince author likely to draw on to convince you of their positions?you of their positions?

Fast Food : Unit One

First ReadingFirst Reading~Read:~Read:

-Brownlee’s, “It’s Portion -Brownlee’s, “It’s Portion Distortion That Makes America Distortion That Makes America Fat.” Fat.”

Rereading Exercises: Rereading Exercises: Activity #1:Activity #1:Now that you now what “Portion Distortion” Now that you now what “Portion Distortion”

is about, answer the following questions.is about, answer the following questions.1. Think back to your original predictions. Which were 1. Think back to your original predictions. Which were

right? Which did you have to modify as you read right? Which did you have to modify as you read “Portion Distortion”?“Portion Distortion”?

2. What is the main idea of “Portion Distortion”? Who 2. What is the main idea of “Portion Distortion”? Who does Brownlee think is to blame for America’s does Brownlee think is to blame for America’s obesity problem? Underline or highlight the obesity problem? Underline or highlight the sentence that most clearly indicates who is to sentence that most clearly indicates who is to blame.blame.

3. What does Brownlee think is the solution to the 3. What does Brownlee think is the solution to the problem?problem?

Fast Food : Unit One

Rereading Exercises: Rereading Exercises: Learning How to Use Your Learning How to Use Your

ReadingsReadingsActivity #2:Activity #2:

Reread & Annotate “Portion Reread & Annotate “Portion Distortion”Distortion”

~underline & identify:~underline & identify:

author’s thesis (make sure to star this author’s thesis (make sure to star this info.)**info.)**

arguments made to support the thesisarguments made to support the thesis

evidence used to support thesisevidence used to support thesis

the conclusionthe conclusionFast Food : Unit One

Fast Food : Unit One

Responding to Responding to Reading: Reading: Writing a Writing a

Summary Summary (See attached assignment sheet)

Group A AWrite 6-7 sentence summary of

Brownlee’s “Portion Distortion” following the summary guidelines from Reading Rhetorically p.59-62.

Then write a 3-4 sentence response to Brownlee’s views.

Fast Food : Unit One

Peer Response to Peer Response to SummarySummary

• Exchange your summary/response with a partner from Group B. Use the Peer Response Form to evaluate your partner’s summary/response.

• Then talk about both articles with your partner and decide whether you agree or disagree with the authors’ views about marketing and its relationship to obesity.