Write an essay that must be argumentative, centered around a thesis statement in which you take a side on something.

a. Your introduction should familiarize your readers with your topic and clearly end with a strong, argumentative thesis statement - something that can be either agreed with or disagreed with by your reader.

b. Each of your three body paragraphs should begin with a clear topic sentence that supports the thesis statement and include at least TWO concrete examples that use paraphrase or quotations and are properly cited. Each example must be analyzed and explained in light of the topic sentence and the thesis statement.

c. Your conclusion should offer a solution or something further for your readers to ponder.d. Finally, you should have a perfectly formatted works cited page attached to the back of this essay. Please use three-to-four sources.

As always, avoid the use of the second-person ("you," etc.) and use the first-person ("I," "we," etc.) only when absolutely necessary (such as when including an anecdote); use a plain font (11-to-12-point-sized); follow MLA manuscript guidelines; and include a word count at the end.

Schools Should Take Responsibility for Obesity

Obesity, 2010

"While some form of nutrition education is offered in many schools, it's very limited because the government doesn't see it as a priority."

In the following viewpoint, Adam Bornstein argues that schools need to do more to combat obesity. Although many schools are trying to provide healthy food, he contends, many are forced by economic necessity to offer unhealthy items in their cafeterias and to permit soda vending machines in their hallways. The federal government must provide more funding to ensure that schools serve healthy food and deliver adequate nutrition education, Bornstein concludes. Bornstein is the fitness editor for Men's Health magazine.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What loopholes in the National School Lunch Program allow the selling of unhealthy foods at schools, according to the author?

2. Why do schools sell "competitive foods," according to Bornstein?

3. How has the No Child Left Behind Act affected nutrition education, in the author's opinion?

It's no secret that childhood obesity is a major problem in America's schools. What's so baffling, though, is that despite our awareness, it's a growing problem. After all, one solution seems obvious and simple: Pull the plug on vending machines, ban junk food on campuses, and serve only healthy fare in cafeterias. Case closed, right? If only it were that easy.

"The government system is forcing our schools to choose," says Katie Wilson, Ph.D., president of the School Nutrition Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving school meals and nutrition. "Schools can either provide only healthy foods and go into debt, or allow unhealthy options, which generate revenue but are also a contributing factor to weight gain."

This unappetizing proposition, says Wilson, is the result of education budget cuts and a flawed system. But while it may be hard to swallow, it's just one piece of the puzzle. That's because, well, french fries taste good. So do candy bars, potato chips, and soda. "Unless kids are properly educated, they're going to choose junk over healthy food at school and at home," says Wilson. "Unfortunately, the number one question children ask me about nutrition is, 'Why don't schools teach us right from wrong?'"

We wondered that, too. We also wanted to know how, exactly, a system meant to help kids is ultimately making them fat.