Fast Food Nation Chapters 3 and 7

1a) It was my first time in a Burger King; previously, I had only been to McDonald's. I was ready to hate it. The food was different, the layout was different, there wasn't a play area, and Ronald McDonald wasn't there. But then I saw the child in front of me get a crown. Granted, it was only paper, but it was gold, and shiny, and a crown. I wanted one.

Suddenly, Burger King was the best. Of course it was different; it had to be, because it was better! It didn't matter that there wasn't a play area and that Ronald McDonald wasn't there; the crown was enough. It was both a toy, and a prop that made me into a mascot. I was suddenly a little queen ruling over my own kingdom of fast food bliss.

1b) * “McDonald's operates more playgrounds than any other private entity in the United States.” (Fast Food Nation, p. 4)

* McDonald's “... is responsible for the bestselling line of children's clothing (McKids) and is one of the largest distributors of toys.” (Fast Food Nation, p. 4)

* “A survey of American schoolchildren found that 96 percent could identify Ronald McDonald.” (Fast Food Nation, p. 4)

1c) * The effects of advertising on children

* How much profit comes from McDonald's “extra products” versus its actual food sales?

* Why was Burger King's attempt to implement a child-friendly mascot unsuccessful while McDonald's succeeded?

2) Throughout the book Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser uses personal anecdotes concerning people who are associated with the fast food industry both to keep the reader's attention and to provide a sense of immediacy and connection that a presentation of facts and statistics would lack. For example, in Chapter 3, a strong contrast is provided between The Chinook Bookstore, an independent bookstore, and the growing fast food presence:

“The Chinook Bookshop, toward the north end, is as fiercely independent as they come – the sort of literate and civilized bookstore going out of business nationwide.” (Fast Food Nation, p. 59)

“Every few miles, clusters of fast food joints seem to repeat themselves, Burger Kings, Wendy's, and McDonald's, Subways, Pizza Huts, and Taco Bells, they keep appearing along the road, the same buildings and signage replaying like a tape loop.” (Fast Food Nation, p. 60)

The portrayal of Eliza Zamot in Chapter 3 is an example of Schlosser's attempts to provide a connection between the facts and the reader. As we learn more about her, and grow to admire her, we are presented with facts and statistics that we can then imagine being applied to her situation, such as the results from the report published by the National Academy of Sciences in 1998 that concluded “that the long hours many American teenagers now spend on the job pose a great risk to their future educational and financial success.” (Fast Food Nation, p. 80); as we read on the next page that Elisa hopes to attend Princeton after high school, we are emotionally connected to the previous fact.

This same pattern of providing a personal anecdote to draw the reader in is also seen in Chapter 7, particularly in the section concerning Ruben Ramirez. Once again, we are drawn into this man's story, only to be presented with a distressing fact that we can now relate to him; in this case, the fact is “The local meatpacking industry that once employed 40,000 people now employs about 2,000. Ninety-five percent of its jobs have moved elsewhere.” (Fast Food Nation, p. 157). There are numerous examples throughout the book, and it has proven to be an effective technique.

Because it is such an effective technique, I will try to include personal anecdotes to provide contrast with the facts and figures that I will present in my research paper. Even if I cannot find specific incidences to use, I think that using generic situations with “Sally” and “Billy” as the main focal points will still be effective.