Connecting Evidence

Sample Text Set: Fast Food

Students explore the issue of healthy fast food choices, annotating texts and forming working
claims before engaging in a guided study of what it means to connect evidence to a claim. This
mini-unit can therefore be used with virtually any text set on any topic. This set lends itself to a
discussion of source credibility. A selection of readings is provided from which you might choose.

Reading #1
A Fast Food Survival Kit starts the exploration of the issue of the nutritional value of fast food,

providing a quick overview of making healthy fast food choices. The second part of the article can
be omitted as it focuses on a different topic.
Ichikawa, Anne. A Fast Food Survival Kit. Choices. Scholastic. November/December 2012.
Web. July 2016.

Reading #2
"Healthy Fast Food: Tips for Making Healthier Fast Food Choices" provides specific examples of
the healthy options that are available at fast food outlets. Consider dividing the article among
pairs/small groups and charging each team with highlighting the key information, making a claim
about how to eat healthily at _______ (name of fast food outlet).
Smith, Melinda, M.A.; Robinson, Lawrence; and Segal, Jeanne, Ph.D. "Healthy Fast Food: Tips
for Making Healthier Fast Food Choices" HelpGuide.org. updated April 2015. Web. 8 June
2015.

Reading #3
"America's Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants provides similar information to that of
Reading #2 and can be used in lieu of it or in combination, excerpting the examples from
restaurants that are not addressed in Reading #2. Both have opening remarks that could be used
in concert with Reading #1 to compare/contrast information and evidence provided.
Minkin,Tracy, and Renaud, Brittani. Americas Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants.
Health Magazine. February 19, 2009. Web. 8 June 2015.

Reading #4
The 19 Ingredients in McDonalds Fries is an example of expose-like articles that are available
from some health-oriented websites.

Barrett, Mike. The 19 Ingredients in McDonalds Fries Including a Form of Silicone Found in
Silly Putty. Web. 27 January 2015. NaturalSociety.com. 12 July 2016.
Reading #5
Your Kids Become What You Feed Them7 Dangers of Fast Food is a quick read because of the
format, with a reason, photo, and explanation of health risks. The article is unsigned. It
appears on the official website for the Stay At Home Mom.
SAHM.org. Your Kids Become What You Feed Them7 Dangers of Fast Food. Web. 12 July
2016.
Reading #6
The Effects of Fast Food on the Body provides a helpful graphic showing the human body and
all of the health repercussions of fast food, which could be used alone as a text or with the
accompanying article. The website, Healthline Media, is certified by Health On The Net.
Healthline Media. The Effects of Fast Food on the Body. Web. 12 July 2016.

Reading #7
Fast food adds 310 calories to a teens day is rich with statistics, facts, and quotes from experts.
American Medical Association. Fast food adds 310 calories to a teens day. Web. Nov. 16,
2012. Amednews.com. 12 July 2016.