"McDonald's - Controversies" Wikipedia, September 24, 2008. September 30, 2008.
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's > Pgs1-8.
I chose Wikipedia for my second source report because it is a reliable encyclopedia that provides detailed information on McDonald's and the controversies it has faced. In fact this website specifially sites one of the larger issues that McDonald's faced in 2004 regarding their food and the increasing obesity rate in the United States. "Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary film Super Size Me said that McDonald's food was contributing to the epidemic of obesity in society, and that the company was failing to provide nutritional information about its food to consumers" (4).
This article uses specific cases and court appeals to address issues that have arisen with the McDonald's corporation. I think this will be helpful to my research because these cases and other publisized events of the companies will have more of an impact because they present real scenerios regarding the resteraunt. Some, not all, will help to portray the reality of what I am trying to answer about McDonald's and their healthy options and not so healthy options. For instance according to Wikipedia, "McDonald's annouced on May 22, 2008 that, in the U.S. and Canada, it will be introducing cooking oil for its french fries that contains no trans fats. The company will use canola-based oil with corn and soy oils by year's end for its bakes items, pies and cookies" (4).
This is an informative article from an encyclopedia. It focuses on the companies history, legal cases, products, advertising and corporate overview in bold printed titles. It lists a page of references at the end of the article where the information ,that Wikipedia, uses came from. The format of the article is easy to navigate through and find relative information. I definitely plan on using this source in my article to back up my observations and findings.
I think that this article really targets anyone needing information regarding almost anything about McDonald's because it addresses every aspect of the company. It probably isn't an article for children that want to know about McDonald's because it sites a lot of specifics i.e. cases, dates, numbers, statistics. It isn't fun or colorful, just strictly for informative use. It seems to be designed for those doing research, like myself.
This article has also given me ideas to use for additional source reports that I can use because it shows journals, articles, newspapers and statistical information that has anything to do with McDonald's. I found this to be a really helpful and factual source!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Community:McDonald's - Source Report #1
"Nutritional Information and Managing Meals" McDonald's Food, Nutrition & Fitness, January
2007. September 29,2008.<http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/eat.html>.
I chose to visit McDonald's website, as one of my source reports, to see what kind of information it has to offer to consumers. When visiting their website I was genuinely surprised by the various and extensive information that they addressed in regards to health and wellness. They include multiple links regarding nutritional information, wellness, fitness, healthy meal suggestions and even health experts (Nutritional). Since I am gearing my research of the McDonald's community towards the nutritional aspect and the controversy that surrounds the increasing obesity rate in this country and the well known and ever expanding fast food franchise I think that the information on their website is very important.
The 'Popular McDonald's Meal Suggestions' link offers a variety of meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner for those consumers who are trying to eat healthy but are not sure how they can do that by eating at a fast food resteraunt. According to the McDonald's Meal Suggestions you can see the corresponding levels of calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium for every meal option that they give you (Nutritional). I definiteyl think that this is an informative type of article. These links on the McDonald's Nurtritional website offer a ton of information to conumers for both healthy options and renowned items that this fast food icon is known for i.e. Big Mac.
I would have to say that this entire website is geared towards anyone that is able to use a computer and wants to find out more about McDonald's. However, this particular link on McDonald's website targets anyone out there trying to lose weight, who is health consciense about what they eat and wants to be prepared in case they find themselves at a McDonalds and any Mom's out there who want to indulge their children in a trip to McDonald's but not overindulge in fattening options.
I think that this particular website helps to defend McDonald's against those that think that they just promote clogged arteries and obesity. It is very easy to navigate and offers the information in an easy to read format and font so no one has to be super computer savy to be able to find all of this valuable info. They do a really good job of focusing on alternative eating options and helping their consumers become more knowledgeable about the food that they provide. Ultimately it is up to the comsumer to decide what they will eat but I think that McDonalds shows that they have made the tools available for people to make an educated decision.
2007. September 29,2008.<http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/eat.html>.
I chose to visit McDonald's website, as one of my source reports, to see what kind of information it has to offer to consumers. When visiting their website I was genuinely surprised by the various and extensive information that they addressed in regards to health and wellness. They include multiple links regarding nutritional information, wellness, fitness, healthy meal suggestions and even health experts (Nutritional). Since I am gearing my research of the McDonald's community towards the nutritional aspect and the controversy that surrounds the increasing obesity rate in this country and the well known and ever expanding fast food franchise I think that the information on their website is very important.
The 'Popular McDonald's Meal Suggestions' link offers a variety of meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner for those consumers who are trying to eat healthy but are not sure how they can do that by eating at a fast food resteraunt. According to the McDonald's Meal Suggestions you can see the corresponding levels of calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium for every meal option that they give you (Nutritional). I definiteyl think that this is an informative type of article. These links on the McDonald's Nurtritional website offer a ton of information to conumers for both healthy options and renowned items that this fast food icon is known for i.e. Big Mac.
I would have to say that this entire website is geared towards anyone that is able to use a computer and wants to find out more about McDonald's. However, this particular link on McDonald's website targets anyone out there trying to lose weight, who is health consciense about what they eat and wants to be prepared in case they find themselves at a McDonalds and any Mom's out there who want to indulge their children in a trip to McDonald's but not overindulge in fattening options.
I think that this particular website helps to defend McDonald's against those that think that they just promote clogged arteries and obesity. It is very easy to navigate and offers the information in an easy to read format and font so no one has to be super computer savy to be able to find all of this valuable info. They do a really good job of focusing on alternative eating options and helping their consumers become more knowledgeable about the food that they provide. Ultimately it is up to the comsumer to decide what they will eat but I think that McDonalds shows that they have made the tools available for people to make an educated decision.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Reading Response
This reporter obviously researched Passaic County's population and ratio of people at or below the poverty line as well as the what the average person made an hour. He stated all of this information in the essay right at the beginning. He didn't research ahead of time - places to live and the cost, available jobs, transportation, the cost of food etc. However, that was what made up part of what he was trying to do. Had he researched all of that ahead of time, he would have had an unfair advantage and would have tarnished the experience. This reporter wants to experience life in Passaic County first hand and to see what the less fortunate have to do to survive. Anyone could get online or read a newspaper to get facts and statistical information but that is not what he wanted to report on. It was all about the "experience".
Tom, the reporter, is most definitely an outsider. With his blond hair, Caucasian appearance, ability to speak English and being a man he sort of doesn't fit the typical struggling worker in this community. Nevertheless, to become an insider he follows their lifestyle right down to the last detail. He only gives himself $424 to get started, the average monthly income, and he leaves all of his comforts at home. He has to live and even live with out on just $424 to start until he gets a job and starts making money.
This reporters experience was truly effective because he actually lived his story. However, he could have sacrificed even more, like many of these poverty stricken workers do, and not seen his girlfriend or talked to her on the phone. Those instances gave him something to look forward too and a reprieve from the stress and repetition of his life. Those workers rarely get that and most definitely not once a week. Also, to really live the life that these men and women do he should have gotten a second job. He even stated that many of them have to do that in order to survive but usually get run down with exhaustion.
Tom's audience for this story could really be a number of people, I think. This story really makes me appreciate my lifestyle and what I have. I'm thankful that I don't have to go thousands of miles away from my family or have my husband do that just to make such small wages to support our loved ones. So, this could definitely target those adults that take what they have for granted. This could also target the government and shed some light on how some people work themselves to the bone and still can't make enough money to survive. As well as some of the discriminatory acts that these businesses do to the workers.
This story brings many controversial aspects to light. The poverty that our country still has, discrimination, immigration, and the appreciation for how most of us are a lot better off then we think or will admit.
Tom, the reporter, is most definitely an outsider. With his blond hair, Caucasian appearance, ability to speak English and being a man he sort of doesn't fit the typical struggling worker in this community. Nevertheless, to become an insider he follows their lifestyle right down to the last detail. He only gives himself $424 to get started, the average monthly income, and he leaves all of his comforts at home. He has to live and even live with out on just $424 to start until he gets a job and starts making money.
This reporters experience was truly effective because he actually lived his story. However, he could have sacrificed even more, like many of these poverty stricken workers do, and not seen his girlfriend or talked to her on the phone. Those instances gave him something to look forward too and a reprieve from the stress and repetition of his life. Those workers rarely get that and most definitely not once a week. Also, to really live the life that these men and women do he should have gotten a second job. He even stated that many of them have to do that in order to survive but usually get run down with exhaustion.
Tom's audience for this story could really be a number of people, I think. This story really makes me appreciate my lifestyle and what I have. I'm thankful that I don't have to go thousands of miles away from my family or have my husband do that just to make such small wages to support our loved ones. So, this could definitely target those adults that take what they have for granted. This could also target the government and shed some light on how some people work themselves to the bone and still can't make enough money to survive. As well as some of the discriminatory acts that these businesses do to the workers.
This story brings many controversial aspects to light. The poverty that our country still has, discrimination, immigration, and the appreciation for how most of us are a lot better off then we think or will admit.
Community Proposal
I've decided to do my observations on the 'McDonald's' community. We are all obviously familiar with the fast food community, McDonald's in particular. Since McDonald's seems to populate every city, big or small I know that I definitely won't have a hard time finding one to sit in and observe. In fact, there is one in Spring Arbor that is relatively close to my home which will probably be the one that I visit. I'm sure as long as I buy a soft drink or coffee, no one will mind if I hand out in the sitting are for awhile. So, as a paying customer I don't think that I will need to get permission.
I think the community of McDonald's is an interesting choice because of all of the controversy that this renowned fast food chain has. I want to compare the 'type' of people that come through McDonald's: overweight, teenagers/college kids, families, single men. I want to really delve into the flow of people that eat here and address the stereotypical McDonald's patron - obese. Not only do I plan to sit inside but I will probably spend some time in my car out in the parking lot to observe the drive-thru traffic.
Three Questions:
1.) What is the typical McDonald's patron like? (appearance, attitude, manners, )
2.) Do most people order Big Macs and Super size their meals or is it Salads and Fruit & yogurt Parfaits?
3.) When do most people choose to eat at McDonald's - Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
*To be able to answer my last question, I will definitely need to break up my observation time to include these three times a day.
I think that I am pretty neutral when it comes to McDonald's. I do eat there occasionally and can understand the convience of it. I'm really just curious about seeing the facts about the type of people that eat there rather than believing what is said in the media about the abundance of overwright people who flock to fast food restaraunts.
I think the community of McDonald's is an interesting choice because of all of the controversy that this renowned fast food chain has. I want to compare the 'type' of people that come through McDonald's: overweight, teenagers/college kids, families, single men. I want to really delve into the flow of people that eat here and address the stereotypical McDonald's patron - obese. Not only do I plan to sit inside but I will probably spend some time in my car out in the parking lot to observe the drive-thru traffic.
Three Questions:
1.) What is the typical McDonald's patron like? (appearance, attitude, manners, )
2.) Do most people order Big Macs and Super size their meals or is it Salads and Fruit & yogurt Parfaits?
3.) When do most people choose to eat at McDonald's - Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
*To be able to answer my last question, I will definitely need to break up my observation time to include these three times a day.
I think that I am pretty neutral when it comes to McDonald's. I do eat there occasionally and can understand the convience of it. I'm really just curious about seeing the facts about the type of people that eat there rather than believing what is said in the media about the abundance of overwright people who flock to fast food restaraunts.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Source Report #2
'National Center for Health Statistics' Center for Disease Control. December 2007
September 8,2008.
I wanted to incorporate some valid statistics relating to obesity in the United States. I felt that the Center for Disease Control was a reputable website that would have vaild up to date information regarding health statistics. It is a goverment regulated website so I know that any information that I take from there would be accurate and thoroughly tested.
September 8,2008.
I wanted to incorporate some valid statistics relating to obesity in the United States. I felt that the Center for Disease Control was a reputable website that would have vaild up to date information regarding health statistics. It is a goverment regulated website so I know that any information that I take from there would be accurate and thoroughly tested.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
WE1
Article Subject: The 'Alli' weight loss supplement
Thesis/Focus: I will be analyzing the 'alli' product to determine how is compares to other weight loss supplements out there. As well as how the product works and all of the other hype around the product since it is FDA approved.
Conventions: The advertisement that I found in the magazine used personal testimony to connect with its viewers. It had a before and after picture to help you visualize the effectiveness of the product.
- Small 'before' picture
- Large 'after' picture, actually more than 4 times the size of the 'before' picture
Minimal color was used on the rest of the advertisement. The headlines were in red and the 'alli' name was multi-colored.
The before/after pictures were placed on the right hand side of the article and took up a large section.
I also noticed the before/after weight and total weight lost were in bold black font, other than the pictures that is what draws your attention second on the advertisement page.
Audience: The main audience I think that is addressed with this article is middle age woman (b/c women struggle more than men) who have struggled with weight loss and have tried and failed other programs out there. I found this article in a Redbook Magazine, which I think helps support my feelings on the audience. Of course, this product can really be directed towards anyone with weight loss problems, b/c it is over the counter and can be obtained easily.
My Questions I want to Answer:
-What exactly are the side effects of alli and is it worth it?
-How effective is this weight loss product?
-How committed do you have to be to use alli?
-What are the myths and what are the facts?
-Who should and who shouldn't use this product?
-How much does alli cost its users?
Source Report:
'Am I Ready?', Alli. GlaxoSmithKline 2008. <http://myalli.com/amiready.aspx>
This is the official website for the alli product. I felt that this would obviously be a reputable site to retrieve information on, especially to find out the answer to my question: How committed do you have to be to use this product? The website has a page dedicated to answering that and it even recommends that you take the quiz that they provide to see if you are ready for alli. It even offers assessments to better help people come to a decision and it breaks down the 'alli' plan to see if the program is something a person would be interested in.
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