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Eric Schlosser's Essay 'The Way We Live Now'

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Eric Schlosser's Essay 'The Way We Live Now'
Bo Liang
Dr. Byars-Nichols
October 30, 2012
ENG111

Introduction
Obesity is perhaps one of the biggest problems society faces today, people are asking the question: Who is to blame? Fast food, while a major contributor, but it is not the only cause of the obesity epidemic in America. In particular, food producers that supply the high calorie, minimally nutritious, and highly processed foods that dominate our market must be examined. Although the external factors are important, it is more important for American citizens to educate themselves to make more informed individual decisions.

Outline
Agriculture plays a crucial role in the life of an economy; governmental support programs provide U.S. families with
…show more content…
Context: Michael Pollan is an American author, journalist, activist who focus on American food issues. His essay “The Way We Live Now” appeared in New York Times Magazine on October 13, 2003 (http:// http://michaelpollan.com)
Under consideration is the debate in his opening paragraphs.
Summary Worksheet
Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation [2001]
Main claims:
1. As Eric Schlosser point out that Americans spend much money on fast food.
2. Eric Schlosser claims that the fast food industry has too much control over supply, production and demand worker safety and consumer’s health.
3. Eric Schlosser asserts that people should know what really goes into fast food, and what real coasts of it are.
Examples:
1. Eric Schlosser states that Americans “spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music- combined” (1)
2. Eric Schlosser claims that “McDonald’s Corporation has become a powerful symbol” for the American economy. (4)
3. Eric Schlosser states that Americans “rarely consider where this food came from, how it was made.”(10)

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