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6 pages/β‰ˆ1650 words
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3 Sources
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MLA
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Social Sciences
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Research Paper
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English (U.S.)
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ENG 2012 Paper #3 Assignment: Obesity and Diet in America

Research Paper Instructions:

ENG 2012 Paper #3 Assignment
This is your last paper for this course, and it will take a bit different form than the other two. We are working on rhetorical nonfiction, using Pollan’s book on the US food system as a model. The issues that he raises in this book are personal, national, ethical, ecological, and economic. I’d like you to write your own short, research-based investigation into some issue related to food. Since this is an extraordinarily complex system, involving both agriculture and animal husbandry, food processing, transportation, workers’ rights, consumer tastes, health, pollution, etc, etc, the field is wide open for your specific interests. You will identify an area of interest, for example, pesticide exposure in FL agricultural workers, and conduct research that assists you in writing a clear, creative, and fact-based survey of the issue. The essay will be informative, and may either be a thesis-based rhetorical argument or a journalistic unbiased survey. 
The paper will be 6 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font. Your bibliography of research will be at the end of the paper on a separate page. Legitimate research is limited to peer-reviewed, published essays and books and select websites with .gov and .edu tags. I would like to see at least 3 research citations in your MLA-format bibliography, with at least 1 of those sources coming from print media (e-book versions of print media are OK). If you know a person who you could interview about an issue of interest, you may use their testimony as one of the researched sources. You will follow Pollan’s model of nonfiction, which involves using accessible language, creative composition, and clear analysis of the research and evidence you use.
Here are just a few of the many areas of possible inquiry:
Fossil fuel use in conventional agriculture
The economics of fast food
Marketing and greenwashing
Obesity and diet in America
Food addiction: fat, sugar, salt
Human evolution and the modern diet
Health claims of the organic industry
Migrant worker health and human rights 
Conventional vs. organic and farm biodiversity
Local food and poly-culture movements 
The effects of climate change on agriculture
The effects of agriculture on climate change
Shopping culture: supermarket vs. farmer’s market
Grading Rubric:
An A-level paper is error-free and lively in composition, establishes an interesting (and perhaps even surprising) thesis, and garners all available evidence to strengthen the argument. It contains no plot summary, filler, weird spacing, or other monkey business. It concludes by extending the thesis claim based in the text to interesting implications about history, society, environment, fiction, or some other relevant area. 
A B-level paper may have some minor errors in composition, but is wholly intelligible. It has an identifiable thesis that may be somewhat derivative, and uses good evidence in support of the thesis. It contains no plot summary, filler, weird spacing, or other monkey business. It may make a limited extension of the implications of the thesis in conclusion.
A C-level paper has some errors in composition that affect the reader’s perception of the author, and may even obscure the meaning. The thesis may be vague, obvious, or inadequately supported by evidence. It may have some plot summary, repetition, and spurious content. It may be slightly short in length requirements. 
A D- and F- level paper is obviously too short, riddled with composition errors that dismantle the argument, contains no identifiable thesis, or includes content found to be plagiarized from outside sources. 

Research Paper Sample Content Preview:
Obesity and Diet in America
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Introduction
America is among the super powers of the world. It is a trendsetter in virtually every field, from economy, to modern development. However, there is one pitfall and challenge that the developed country continues to battle with. Obesity remains a topical issue in American media being a reflection of the reality in society. Statistics indicate that well over half of the population are bordering obesity and being overweight. There are specific factors that have been cited as contributing to the increase of the phenomenon. Is it the amounts of foods consumed, the contents of the food, or is it non-availability of healthy alternatives? These are some of the questions that this discussion will seek to answer as it delves more on food and nutrition in the American society.
Backgrounder
A good chunk of the American population have at one time in their life, if not currently, battled with weight. Food nutritionists have sought to find out exactly the factors that have contributed to the soaring numbers of obese and overweight people in America. The response appears to be the same throughout; the rate of calorie intake compared to the physical exercise is high. The choices of foods preferred by most Americans are those whose calorie content is high. Yet, most Americans are not as physically active as would be required. As a result, there is an influx and build Ò€“up of the total number of calories which eventually leads to being overweight and developing obesity (Campos, 2014).
Nutritionists also note that eating patterns and habits have changed drastically with the total calorie uptake increasing. From 1850 intake of calories per day 30 years ago, the intake has now gone up to 2150. High calorie intake comes in two main ways; either a person takes food with high content of calories or the person consumes large amounts of food in general. Surveys show that for a majority of the American population, it is a combination of both that has seen an increase in the number of obese people.
The Fast Food Craze
If you happen to pass near a pizza store, Macdonald Fries, Kentucky Fried Chicken to mention but a few, the number of people flocking to get a take away meal is quite large. There are myriads of excuses as to why people opt for fast foods as opposed to cooking in their homes. For some, there is not enough time to prepare a proper meal as they are juggling two jobs and school. For others, it is a quick fix and perhaps a cheaper option as compared to preparing a healthy well balanced meal. As for others, well, the fast foods are just too sweet. Campos (2014) notes that having these kinds of foods once in a while does not in itself present a health problem. The problem is only when one makes it a habit and consumes on a daily basis. The calorie intake gets to unbearable levels and before long a person begins to battle with weight.
American diet types
Although, there is no diet that can be referred to as the American diet, the patterns and habits of eating have been identified to be similar. Even with varying tastes and preferences, the level of calorie intake still remains high. Diets in the American society have been categorize...
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