Assignment

OVERVIEW:

Over the last several decades, fast food companies have aggressively targeted children in their marketing efforts.

Whether through strategically placed TV commercials, memorable jingles and catch-phrases, or toys and playgrounds, children are increasingly seen as a significant and essential consumer base.

Task:

You are to develop a 3 page argumentation-persuasion essay in which you take a stand on the FOLLOWING TOPIC:

Should fast-food advertisers be permitted to target children who lack the sophistication to make informed decisions and who may be being lured into eating high fat, high calorie food through toys and cute corporate mascots?

Is it possible that fast food companies-like tobacco companies-are recruiting increasingly younger consumers in order to insure a steady customer base as their older constituents die from heart disease, diabetes, and other obesity-related disorders?

Or, are current fast-food advertisements ethical and simply interested in promoting their businesses in the most effective and lucrative way?

KEY: Make sure your essay takes a specific stance and that you back up your position with enough evidence in the body of the essay.

For this topic, your essay must argue either "yes" or "no" and provide reasons why. Those reasons must be developed with evidence: opinions, claims, quotes, data, statistics, etc. REQUIREMENTS: 3 PAGE MINIMUM.

Your essay will be directed toward an audience of college students. This essay must be written in the objective (third person--DO NOT USE "I") point of view and must follow MLA guidelines.

An introduction w/ thesis, 3 main ideas, and a conclusion are all required for this essay. Failure to meet the requirements will result in penalties. Also, failure to address the specific writing topic topics will result in a "No Credit."