ENG 101.3732/3772 (MAT 096 Cluster)
Spring 1 2009
Andrew McCormick, Instructor
Essay # 4 (take-home, research-based)
Due:
For this last take-home assignment, choose one of the topics below and respond to it in a thesis-driven
essay of at least 850-900 words (about three to three-and-a-half pages, typed, double spaced, 12 font,
one inch margins).
As you compose this essay, consider the connections you have made between the math you have
learned this semester and the health and human rights issues we have encountered in this course. And
think of how you might work some math into this assignment.
Whichever topic you choose, you must incorporate one credible outside source into this essay. And, of
course, include a works cited page at the end, indicating any sources you drew from in the essay.
Proofread thoroughly for grammar errors.
Topic A: On the Dangers of Fast Food
In the book In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan discusses how in recent decades, the foods that
Americans have been consuming have been more like processed products vaguely resembling food than
real food. Pollan explains some of the major consequences this has had on people’s health. Similarly, in
Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser discusses some of the negative effects that consuming fast food has had
on people’s health. Drawing from both of these books (Pollan and Schlosser), pretend that you are a
public health policy expert (perhaps a doctor, nutritionist, or other professional) and you have been
hired by the local government of a community to write a comprehensive, informative and accessible
pamphlet which will warn the public of the dangers of consuming fast food in excess. The community
that has hired you to write this pamphlet wants to reduce public consumption of fast food, since it has
good reason to believe that the amount of fast food people eat is having an adverse effect on people’s
health. As you prepare this pamphlet, consider the following and incorporate it into your report:
 How widespread is fast food consumption in this community that you are writing the pamphlet for?
Present some feasible statistics as to how much fast food is being consumed there, and what the
demographic breakdown is on who is consuming the fast food (by age, social class/income,
ethnicity, marital status, etc.)
 Similarly, who in particular is this excessive fast food consumption affecting, and how? Provide some
mathematical data here, but don’t simply give charts and graphs—remember that this will be a
pamphlet for regular, everyday people to read, and too much complicated looking math might
intimidate them. So this means that you will have to simplify the statistics into regular language.
 Last but most importantly, how will people’s health generally improve if people cut down on their
fast food consumption, as the pamphlet you are writing asks people to do? To support this part of
your discussion, draw from Michael Pollan as well as any other sources that you think are relevant.
Topic B: The People vs. McDonald’s
You are an attorney representing a group of employees who used to work at a McDonald’s which the
company shut down when the employees tried to unionize (see Schlosser, “Behind the Counter”). So
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you are bringing a class-action lawsuit against Mickey-D’s. Write up the opening argument detailing
the lawsuit. What are your clients specifically suing the fast-food giant for? In what ways were your
clients mistreated? Be specific, use ideas from Fast Food Nation in the form of quotations or
paraphrases; just be sure to provide citations indicating where you are doing so. Also, specifically, create
several “characters” of some of the people you are representing, and provide pertinent details about
them: age, background, how long they worked there, what positions they held, what negative
conditions they faced day-to-day (unsafe working conditions, abuse by managers, working overtime
without compensation, etc. If you choose to use this last point, you will need to use some math; how
much should an employee have been paid and how much was he/she paid, etc.?) What happened to
each of your characters (clients) when they began to try to unionize? Provide specific details. How much
are your clients collectively suing for in damages? You will need to justify this amount, so this is where
some math will come in. To support your argument, refer to Fast Food Nation as well as “McDonald’s
Makes a lot of People Angry for a lot of Different Reasons” and one additional outside source.
Topic C: McDonald’s Comes to Your Neighborhood—Are You Lovin’ It?
You recently attended a community board meeting, where you learned that McDonald’s is planning on
building and opening several new branches in your community. Some local residents welcome the
arrival of Mickey-D’s; they say that the fries are delicious, that it fits many working-people’s budgets and
is convenient for busy families, and that these new locations will provide jobs to people in the
community, especially young people. However, others in your neighborhood do not like the idea of
McDonald’s opening more locations, citing reasons like obesity and other health-related issues that fast
food contributes to, as well as McDonald’s’ poor record in terms of how it treats its employees and
business partners. How do you feel? Should the local community board that grants licenses to
businesses to operate in the area allow the spaces available to be used by McDonald’s? Or should it
reject the company’s application, refusing them legal permission to build new locations. Write a letter
(in the form of an essay—intro w/ thesis, bodies, conclusion) to the Community Board, arguing
whether or not McDonald’s should be allowed to open several new locations in your neighborhood.
Support your argument by referring to Fast Food Nation as well as “McDonald’s Makes a lot of People
Angry for a lot of Different Reasons” and one additional outside source. Begin the letter, Dear
Community Board:
Topic D: Your Friend in a McDonald’s Uniform?
A close friend of yours who is a part-time college student and lives with her/his parents wants more
independence, and feels that the best way to get it is to get a job. The local McDonald’s is hiring, and
she/he is considering taking a job there. Write your friend a letter (in essay form) explaining whether
or not it is a wise idea to take a job at McDonald’s. Would this decision benefit your friend in the long
run? What are typical working conditions like at fast food restaurants, particularly McDonald’s? How are
teenagers and young people typically treated there? (See FFN, “Behind the Counter). Are there issues
with OSHA enforcement? Safety issues? Issues with mistreatment of workers by their managers? To
support your argument, refer to Fast Food Nation as well as “McDonald’s Makes a lot of People Angry
for a lot of Different Reasons” and at least one additional outside source.
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