1 SUMMER READING June 4, 2013 GRADE 12 (2013 2014) Mrs. Del Conte sdelconte@bbrook.org Dear Students, This summer I am asking you to read a non fiction book entitled Chew On This by Eric Schlosser. It is about the food industry and I think you will enjoy it. It will probably change the way you look at food, so beware! The book is available at any bookstore, with ISBN # 978 0618593941. If you are looking for copies, here are a few places to consider: Amazon.com sells used books and has 111 copies right now that start at the bargain price of $2.44 plus shipping. This book is available on itunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chew onthis/id601987027?mt=11. Chew On This is available for both the Nook and the Kindle. http://www.thriftbooks.com/ sells used books and has 6 copies with a starting price of $3.97 plus shipping. http://www.abebooks.com/ sells used books and has 12 copies with a starting price of $1.00 plus shipping. The Bound Brook library has several copies that may be borrowed. I have 15 copies of the book available on a first come first served basis (Warning if you lose the book it will cost $19.00 to replace it!) Barnes and Noble has 25 copies in stock. The closest location is at the Somerville Circle. Find a classmate who has a copy and borrow it when they are done. DO NOT SHARE ANSWERS ON THE WRITTEN SECTION! The book has 8 chapters and a short introduction. This translates to one chapter a week if you have your own copy. This is completely achievable. Under no circumstances are you to share answers with classmates. DO your own work. The packet attached is due on September 10, 2013. Be prepared to write an essay about the book the first week you return to school. Contact me at the email above if you have any questions (before August 15!). The packet will be available online on the BBHS website and through the Bound Brook town library.
2 Chew On This Summer Reading Assignment English 4 Mrs. Del Conte (Sdelconte@bbrook.org) Directions: Answer each part of each question fully, in paragraphs of no less than three sentences. The essay at the end should be a classic 5 paragraph essay with at least 6 citations from the book and a works cited page. We will be discussing this book the first few weeks of school and the activities we complete, including this summer reading assignment will comprise about 25% of first MP grade. If you have issues or questions please contact me before August 15 th. I have a limited number of copies to loan out on a first come first served basis. The Bound Brook library also has some copies. The Pioneers Pages 1 35 1. The author's purpose of writing the introduction is to 2. The person who invented the hamburger is 3. Explain the different reasons why ground beef had a bad reputation. 4. What happened to change people's view of hamburgers? 5. Describe the history of the carhop.
3 6. How was Richard and Mac McDonald's radical new idea implemented? 7. How did Ray Kroc's contributions to McDonald's make the restaurant an even bigger success? 8. Taking the history of the developers of several of the fast food chains that we know today into consideration, what conclusions can you make about life and people's view of careers in America during the 30's, 40's, and 50's? The Youngster Business Pages 37 91 1. In the chapter entitled, "The Youngster Business," describe what Ray Croc and Walt Disney are credited/accused of doing. 2. Explain the concept of synergy using examples from the text. 3. Describe the plans that Ray Croc set in place to make McDonald's a "family restaurant." 4. As detailed in James U. McNeal's book, what are two of the seven nags?
4 5. In relation to the chapter's topic, why are kids' clubs good business? 6. Interpret the quote, "McDonald's is in some ways a toy company, not a food company." 7. In the 1980s, what was the purpose of McDonald's purchasing the world's largest amount of satellite images? 8. Discuss the concept behind the term "McJob." 9. What were the events that led up to Pascal and Maxime's formation of the labor union? 10. a. Can you recall a time when a marketing campaign for a product has persuaded you to buy something, or has persuaded you to ask your parents to buy something for you? Explain.
5 b. Whether or not you've been persuaded in the past, do you think you'll be more aware of these tactics in the future? Explain. "The Secret of the Fries" page 92 127 1. Were you surprised to learn what's in the red food dye that goes into many fast food strawberry shakes? Or to find out what flavoring goes into the French fries? What do you think about the fact that a lot of the flavors in your fast food come from chemical factories along the New Jersey Turnpike? Could our food be made in any other way? 2. Do you think it was appropriate for Harish Bharti to file a lawsuit claiming that McDonald's was misleading vegetarians? What do you think of the results of the suit? 3. Based on what you learned from reading this chapter, do you think that the foods American children like the most are the foods that children all over the world like the most? Why or why not?
6 Stop the Pop Pages 128 201 1. What is the author's purpose for writing about the history of the Yupiks? 2. Explain the problem revealed in Spargo's book The Bitter Cry of Children. 3. What prompted Kristina Clark to "Stop the Pop?" Completely explain. Meat Pages 156 201 1. What was the purpose of including a section on the cattle market? 2. What conclusions can you make from the section about chickens? 3. What was the effect of the publication of The Jungle? Completely explain. (For extra credit: who is mention of the author of The Jungle (Upton Sinclair) so ironic for the BBHS students who are completing this assignment?) 4. Why did the author include information about Sundance, Butch, and Emily?
7 "Big" Pages 202 233 1. What are some of the effects on growing bodies of consuming too much fast food and exercising too little? 2. A) Representatives of the fast food industry say that the responsibility for healthy choices lies with you. B) How much do you think that lack of personal responsibility is a cause of the current obesity crisis? C) How much do you think that corporations are responsible? Why? 3. Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson describe Sam Fabrikant's struggle with weight gain and his frightening experience with gastric bypass surgery at the age of sixteen. After reading about Sam's experience, do you think that gastric bypass surgery was the best option for him? What were Sam's alternatives?
8 "Your Way" Pages 234 258 1. What alternatives to eating at the big fast food chains do the authors propose? What other alternatives can you think of? 2. Has reading Chew on This changed your mind about where to buy your food? Why or why not? Essay question This essay should be a classic 5 paragraph essay with at least 6 citations from the book and a works cited page, with proper MLA formatting. Please write on lined paper but feel free to brainstorm below. What techniques do the authors use to get the reader to feel the same way about fast food as they do? What images from the book stick in your mind and how were they effective? Cite several specific examples from the book that support your assertions.