Topic A: Fast Food and Worker Safety
In the Fast Food Nation chapter “The Most Dangerous Job,” Eric Schlosser describes the
gruelling, exploitive, injury-laden, low-paying jobs of meat-packing workers who handle the
cattle that eventually become hamburgers. Schlosser explains how—for different reasons—the
OSHA has been unable to enforce effective safety regulations needed to protect workers. Based
on this chapter, discuss why the OSHA must have stricter regulations for the meatpacking
industry. How has the OSHA been disempowered? To what extent has this federal agency’s
enforcement abilities been reduced, and with what consequences? How will giving OSHA more
power benefit the employees and the general public? What particular industries and jobs
especially need OSHA to be given more enforcement powers? Why? Provide several (at least
two or three) specific reasons to support this claim, and, of course, quote and paraphrase from
FFN to develop your argument.
Topic B: There’s S**t in the Meat!
As we have read about and discussed this semester, one major problem with the largely
unregulated fast food industry is that—in the words of a character in the film Fast Food
Nation—“There’s s**t in the meat!” As Schlosser explains in FFN, this is because a potentially
deadly bacteria known as E. coli O157:H7 can and does get into the beef supply that makes the
millions of hamburgers which people eat at fast food restaurants. Based on Schlosser’s
discussion of this problem (and, if you’d like, the scenes we saw from the film version of FFN),
explain why the government must implement stricter regulations and enforcement for beef
producers in order to protect people’s health. Describe why the current, unregulated system is
dangerous, and how greater government regulation will increase people’s safety. Provide several
specific reasons to support this claim.
Topic C: Fast Food and Communities
In the Fast Food Nation chapter “Cogs in the Great Machine,” Eric Schlosser presents us with
some ways in which the fast food industry changes communities for the worse. He provides
examples like the town of Greeley, Colorado, as well as other places, whose communities have
been irrevocably changed by the fast food industry when slaughterhouses and meatpacking
plants set up shop there. For this topic, discuss several specific ways in which the fast food
industry harms communities and WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO CHANGE THIS.
According to Schlosser, what specific problems does a community often face when its economy
is partly or largely based on fast-food related jobs, as is the case in Greeley? How do these
problems form because of the fast food industry? What kinds of people (what specific groups—
immigrants, young people, etc.) in communities like Greeley suffer, and how? In what ways does
a town or city’s quality of life decrease with the arrival of a slaughterhouse, meatpacking plant,
or perhaps even fast-food restaurants? Why should communities fight to keep these kind of
facilities out?
Student Name __________________________________________ Date __________________ English 1A
Prewriting and Reading
Your title, original, relevant
QnA - prewriting- outline - revisions
Active Reading – main ideas
Active Reading – key words
Active Reading – vocab/define
Active Reading – support details
Active Reading – annotate/outline
WRITING THE ESSAY
Intro –Summary – covers main points and
direction of topic of article/essay. DOES
NOT include “This essay/article is about…”
No “conversation” CONTAINS CLEAR
STAND, OPINION, or SHOULD
Thesis – covers your opinion and a clear
direction DOES NOT include “I think this
essay/article is…(qualifier-good bad etc.) –
The thesis has a “HOOK” GRABS
ATTENTION makes this opinion PROVEN
with Research and important- Answer
WHY we should care
EACH body paragraph contains strong topic
sentences that ties back to the thesis/
argument and provides direction!
40 points
2 pts poss
13 pts poss
5 pts poss
5 pts poss
5 pts poss
5 pts poss
5 pts poss
160 points
10 pts poss
10 pts poss
15 pts poss
BODY PARAGRAPH (4 pts each)
Topic sentence – intro new point
Intro article (author, title, summary)
Claim – argument point
Quote to support claim
Post claim – wrap up claim
Transition to next point
Body 1 – Argue Pt 1 –.Use QUOTE to
support points Transition
Body 2 – Argue Pt 2 –Use QUOTE to
support points Transition
Body 3 – Argue Pt 3 - Use QUOTE to
support points Transition
Body 4 – Argue Pt 4 – Use QUOTE to
support points Transition
INTRODUCES EACH article used in proper
MLA format / summary before quote 4 pts ea
Essay flows well using consistent tone,
consistent point-of-view, & transitions
Conclusion, restates their thesis in a new
way – summarizes all points and offers a
way of determining whether or not the
argument has been carried out successfully.
Grammar & Mechanics-Essay follows
standard conventions of English Uses
dictionary/Thesaurus
Peer Review
MLA works cited and in text citation.
NO TYPOS – proofread
Essay Total possible point 200
Point Total ____________
15 pts poss
15 pts poss
15 pts poss
15 pts poss
15 pts poss
10 pts poss
10 pts poss
10 pts poss
20 pts poss
-10 pts
-10 pts
Letter Grade__________
Essay Assignment Description:
Research-based Essay –
1. This research paper should present a thesis that is
specific, manageable, provable, and contestable—in
other words, the thesis should offer a clear position,
stand, should, or opinion that will be proven with
research. You should analyze and prove your thesis
using examples and quotes from a variety of sources.
2. You need to research and cite from at least five
sources. You must use at least three different types
of sources.
• At least one source must be from a library database.
(YOU FIND)
• At least one source must be a book, anthology, or
textbook. (FAST FOOD NATION – Food, Inc., etc)
• At least one source must be from a credible website,
appropriate for academic use.
• The paper should not over-rely on one main source
for most of the information. Rather, it should use
multiple sources and synthesize the information
found in them. (You can use some of mine)
3. This paper will be at least five full pages 5-in length, not
including the Works Cited page (on page six), which is
also required. AND Must be in MLA format with in-text
citations. Links to articles must be in Works Cited
4. You must integrate quotations and paraphrases using
signal phrases and analysis or commentary – Minimum of
4 quotes – at least one in each body paragraph.
5. You must sustain your argument, use transitions
effectively, and use correct grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
6. Paper must be logically organized and focused
7. WRITE your own prompt
PROMPT EXAMPLE: The federal government banned all
tobacco advertising from television, arguing that it could
influence children to become smokers. Considering the health
hazards of fast food, why do you think a similar ban has not
been imposed? SHOULD there be a ban on fast food? Fast
Food Tax? Soda Tax? Can you PROVE that this kind of ban
would help the EPIDEMIC of obesity in the country today? Do
you think companies such as McDonald’s are responsible for
the growing problem of childhood obesity in America (can you
PROVE it), or do you think it is primarily parents’ responsibility
(can you prove it)? What SHOULD be done about the
problem and solving the problem of childhood obesity? Can
your methods or ideas be proven. Analyze and prove your
opinion (your thesis) support with quotes from sources. (SEE
other PROMPT OPTIONS)
BODY PARAGRAPH (4 pts each)
Topic sentence – intro new point
Intro article (author, title, summary)
Claim – argument point
Quote to support claim
Post claim – wrap up claim
Transition to next point