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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 1
Name: ___________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
Burger Battles Assignment
I. Write “S” if the words form a complete sentence. Capitalize and punctuate the sentences. Write “F” if the words are a sentence fragment. Change the fragments into complete sentences.
1. ________ eating fast food
_____________________________________________________________________
2. ________ childhood obesity is on the rise _____________________________________________________________________
3. ________ high in sodium _____________________________________________________________________
4. ________ yale university conducted a study on fast food _____________________________________________________________________
5. ________ fast food restaurants _____________________________________________________________________
II. Rearrange the words into a sentence. Add correct capitalization and punctuation.
(Hint: The first word of the sentence is in bold.)
children to take food many their parents out eat
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 2
III. Write about the topic of fast food using each of the four sentence types. 1. Statement ( . )
______________________________________________________________________
2. Question ( ? )
______________________________________________________________________
3. Exclamation ( ! )
______________________________________________________________________
4. Command ( . or ! )
______________________________________________________________________
IV. Complete the given sentence stem using because, but, and so.
Eating fast food can be harmful …
Eating fast food can be harmful because ___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Eating fast food can be harmful, but _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Eating fast food can be harmful, so ________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 3
V. Complete the sentences about fast food.
1. Although people are aware of the health risks of eating fast food, ______________
____________________________________________________________________
2. If young people eat less fast food, ________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
VI. Combine the given sentences into one sentence.
Fast food is high in sodium.
Fast food is high in saturated fat.
Fast food poses serious health risks.
Combined sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 4
VII. Expand the kernel sentence.
Kernel: It has tripled.
What: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Why: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expanded sentence: _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
VIII. Complete the following sentences by adding additional information and examples.
1. Several diseases have been attributed to eating too much fast food. For example,
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. Fast food restaurants are facing pressure to promote good nutrition. As a result,
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 5
IX. Improve the following paragraph by using at least three of the strategies from the
box. Check off the strategies you used.
Fast food can be harmful. It is unhealthy. Families eat it. It
can cause health problems. Restaurants have made changes.
• improve T.S.
• expand sentences
• add a transition
• combine sentences
• vary sentence starters
• vary vocabulary
• provide examples
• add a C.S.
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 6
Write the improved paragraph here:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 7
X. Convert the following sentences into key words, phrases, abbreviations, and symbols.
1. McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s are some popular food chains.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Childhood obesity leads to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Several fast food restaurants offer healthier menu items, such as apple slices, low-fat milk, turkey and yogurt.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
XI. Identify the topic sentence (T.S.). ________ Fast food is high in calories and saturated fat.
________ Fast food is an unhealthy choice.
________ Eating too much fast food can lead to obesity.
________ Young people who consume a diet high in fast food run the risk of developing diabetes.
________ Heart disease can result from eating fast food on a regular basis.
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 8
XII. Complete the following Single-Paragraph Outline by creating four details and a concluding sentence. Use the cues on the side of the details as a guide. Remember to use key words, phrases, abbreviations and symbols on the dotted lines. Convert the Single-Paragraph Outline into a paragraph on the following page;
Single-Paragraph Outline
T.S. Eating fast food can pose serious heatlh risks to young people.
problem 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
problem 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
problem 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
solution 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C.S. ____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 9
Convert the Single-Paragraph Outline into a paragraph here.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.
BurgerBattlesAnewstudyshowsfast-foodadvertisingtokidsisontherise.
There’sahugefoodfightgoingonacrosstheUnitedStates!Ononesidearethefast-food
giants—Wendy’s,BurgerKing,McDonald’s,KFC,andothers.Ontheothersidearemany
healthexpertswhosaythattoomuchfastfoodisruiningthehealthofkids.Theysaymost
fastfoodhastoomanycalories;toomuchsodium,achemicalelementinsalt;andtoomuch
saturatedfatforkidstoeatmorethanjustonceinawhile.
C.J.Burton/CorbisMakinghealthyfoodchoicesisnotalwayseasy
Despitesuchwarnings,kidsareeatingmorefastfoodthanever.That’stheconclusionofa
teamatYaleUniversity.Theteam,ledbyJenniferHarris,spentayearstudyingwhatkidsate
atfast-foodrestaurants.
TheYaleteamdiscoveredthatone–thirdofU.S.kidseatsometypeoffastfoodeveryday.It
alsofoundthat84percentofparentstaketheir2-to11-year-oldkidsouttoeatfastfood
everyweek.
ToHarris,thefindingsamounttoaserioushealthcrisisforkidsandteensintheUnited
States.
“Thereisalotofresearchshowingthateatingfastfoodisharmfultoyoungpeople’shealth,
increasingtherateofobesity,”HarristoldWRNews.“Thenumberofteenswho
areoverweighthastripledsince1980,andthenumberofoverweightkidsyoungerthan13
hasmorethandoubledduringthesameperiod.”
Childhoodobesityisknowntoincreasethechancesofheartdiseaseanddiabeteslaterin
life.Diabetesisadisorderinwhichthebodydoesn’tproduceenoughinsulin.Thatisa
hormonethathelpsthebodyusethesugarinfoodforenergy.
Page 11
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.
BigAdvertising
Ifeatingalotoffastfoodisbadforaperson’shealth,whyaresomanykidsrushingoffto
McDonald’s,BurgerKing,KFC,TacoBell,PizzaHut,andWendy’s?Therestaurantsallhave
tasty,low-costfood,forsure.ButHarrissaysthatadvertisingalsoplaysabigrole.
“Thecompaniesputoutalotofads...directedtowardkids,”shesays.
Accordingtothereport,6-to11-year-oldssaw3.5adseachday.Mostofthemappearon
television,butmanynowalsoappearontheInternetonkids’sites,saysHarris.
In2006,themajorfast–foodcompaniessignedavoluntaryagreementtohelppromotetheir
healthiermenuselections.Topromoteistohighlight.
Inane-mailtoWRNews,NeilGolden,McDonald’sseniorvicepresidentandchief
marketingofficer,saidthathiscompanyhaskeptthatpledge.“Weprimarilyadvertise
ourpopular375-caloriefour–pieceChickenMcNuggetHappyMeal,whichincludesApple
Dippers,low-fatcarameldip,andajugof1percentlow-fatmilk,”hewrote.“We...remain
committedtoofferingourcustomersawidevarietyofqualityfood[choicesthatinclude]
fruit,juice,anddairyoptionsinourHappyMeals.”
TheSpiritoftheAgreement
Harrisbelievesthatfast–foodcompaniesneedtodomore.“Iftheyhaddonewhattheysaid
theyweregoingtodo,”shetoldWRNews,“theywouldshowonlyAppleDippersandmilkin
theiradvertisingtochildren....Theadsusuallyonlyshowthe[HappyMeal]boxorthetoy
thatcomeswiththeHappyMeal.”
Oncekidsareintherestaurant,shesays,moreoftenthannottheybuyHappyMealsthat
containsfries,notAppleDippers.“Parentshavetospecificallyaskforthehealthy
alternative,”shesays.“Andoftentheyjustacceptwhat’sinthebox.”
Page 12
Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 1
Name: ___________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
Burger Battles Assignment
I. Write “S” if the words form a complete sentence. Capitalize and punctuate the sentences. Write “F” if the words are a sentence fragment. Change the fragments into complete sentences.
1. F eating fast food
Eating fast food can lead to obesity./ Many young people enjoy eating fast food.
2. S childhood obesity is on the rise Childhood obesity is on the rise.
3. F high in sodium Fast food is unhealthy because it is high in sodium.
4. S yale university conducted a study on fast food Yale University conducted a study on fast food.
5. F fast food restaurants Fast food restaurants are offering healthier alternatives on their menus./ Many families eat in fast food restaurants each week.
II. Rearrange the words into a sentence. Add correct capitalization and punctuation.
(Hint: The first word of the sentence is in bold.)
children to take food many their parents out eat
Many parents take their children out to eat fast food.
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 2
III. Write about the topic of fast food using each of the four sentence types. 1. Statement ( . )
Eating fast food can be harmful to your health.
2. Question ( ? )
Why do so many continue to eat fast food?
3. Exclamation ( ! )
Fast food can be dangerous!
4. Command ( . or ! )
Stop eating fast food! / Eat healthier!
IV. Complete the given sentence stem using because, but, and so.
Eating fast food can be harmful …
Eating fast food can be harmful because it can lead to obesity./ it could result in increase one’s risk of developing diabetes and heart disease./ it is high in calories and saturated fat.
Eating fast food can be harmful, but many young people continue to eat it./ but parents continue to take their families out to eat fast food on a weekly basis.
Eating fast food can be harmful, so young people should choose a healthier alternative./ so parents should request the healthier menu items./ so parents should limit the amount of fast food that their children eat.
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Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 3
V. Complete the sentences about fast food.
1. Although people are aware of the health risks of eating fast food, they continue to
eat it./ they often ignore the warnings.
2. If young people eat less fast food, the rate of childhood obesity will decrease.
VI. Combine the given sentences into one sentence.
Fast food is high in sodium.
Fast food is high in saturated fat.
Fast food poses serious health risks.
Combined sentence:
Since fast food is high in sodium and saturated fat, it poses serious health risks./ Fast
food poses serious health risks because it is high in sodium and saturated fat.
Page 15
Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 4
VII. Expand the kernel sentence.
Kernel: It has tripled.
What: rate of childhood obesity (or, # of overweight teens)
When: since 1980
Why: more young people eat fast food
Expanded sentence: Since 1980, the rate of childhood obesity has tripled because
more young people are eating fast food.
VIII. Complete the following sentences by adding additional information and examples.
1. Several diseases have been attributed to eating too much fast food. For example,
diabetes, a disorder in which the body does not produce enough insulin, has been
linked to a fast food diet.
2. Fast food restaurants are facing pressure to promote good nutrition. As a result,
chains like McDonald’s and Wendy’s now offer healthier options on their menus.
Page 16
Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 5
IX. Improve the following paragraph by using at least three of the strategies from the
box. Check off the strategies you used.
Fast food can be harmful. It is unhealthy. Families eat it. It
can cause health problems. Restaurants have made changes.
• improve T.S.
• expand sentences
• add a transition
• combine sentences
• vary sentence starters
• vary vocabulary
• provide examples
• add a C.S.
Page 17
Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 6
Write the improved paragraph here:
While many Americans enjoy eating fast food, it can be very harmful. Fast food is
unhealthy because it is high in calories and contains a lot of sodium and saturated fat.
Regardless, many families eat it every week, and some eat it every day! Eating fast
food can pose serious health problems, especially to young people. Specifically, young
people can become obese, which increases their risk of developing diabetes and heart
disease as adults. As a result, fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s and KFC now
offer menus with healthy alternatives. For example, parents can substitute apple slices
for fries in their children’s meals. In the end, Americans need to make better choices
when it comes to their nutrition.
Page 18
Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 7
X. Convert the following sentences into key words, phrases, abbreviations, and symbols.
1. McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s are some popular food chains.
McDonald’s + Taco Bell + Wendy’s = pop. food chains
2. Childhood obesity leads to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Childhood obesity → é risk/ heart disease + diabetes
3. Several fast food restaurants offer healthier menu items, such as apple slices, low-fat milk, turkey and yogurt.
fast food restaurants/ healthy menu = apple slices + turkey + yogurt
XI. Identify the topic sentence (T.S.). ________ Fast food is high in calories and saturated fat.
T.S. Fast food is an unhealthy choice.
________ Eating too much fast food can lead to obesity.
________ Young people who consume a diet high in fast food run the risk of developing diabetes.
________ Heart disease can result from eating fast food on a regular basis.
Page 19
Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 8
XII. Complete the following Single-Paragraph Outline by creating four details and a concluding sentence. Use the cues on the side of the details as a guide. Remember to use key words, phrases, abbreviations and symbols on the dotted lines. Convert the Single-Paragraph Outline into a paragraph on the following page;
Single-Paragraph Outline
T.S. Eating fast food can pose serious heatlh risks to young people.
problem 1. fast food = high in calories + sodium + sat. fat
problem 2. many kids eat each weekà obesity/ # of overweight teens 3x since 1980*
problem 3. obesity à diabetes + heart disease
solution 4. restaurants offer healthy solutions/parents request healthy alternatives (give ex.)
C.S. Even though fast food is inexpensive and tasty, Americans need to make better
food choices.
Page 20
Copyright © 2017 The Writing Revolution 9
Convert the Single-Paragraph Outline into a paragraph here.
Eating fast food can pose serious health risks to young people. Fast food is high
in calories, sodium and saturated fat. Many American children eat fast food every
week. As a result, obesity has become a serious problem. According to the article
“Burger Battles,” the number of obese young people has tripled since 1980. This
development is alarming because obesity has been linked to the development of
diabetes and heart disease later in life. As more Americans become aware of the
dangers of fast food, restaurants like as McDonald’s and KFC now offer menus with
healthy alternatives. For example, parents can substitute apple slices for fries or low-
fat milk for soft drinks in their children’s meals. Since eating fast food can be
detrimental to one’s health, families need to make better choices when it comes to
their nutrition.
