English 1A
Gavilan College
Seminar 7, Schlosser, Fast Food Nation

Note: Your seminar grade will be determined by the quantity of your responses (how many questions you answer and how many other students you respond to) and the quality (how well you demonstrate an understanding of the ideas you're responding to, how detailed your responses are, how coherent and in-depth they are, etc.)

Directions:

1. Read Fast Food Nation, pages 224 - end

2. Respond to one question with a 3-5 paragraphs response. Include quotes and/or specific references to the text to back up your response.

Make sure you discuss whether you agree with Schlosser’s assessments and claims, and why.

McWorld: In Chapter 10, "Global Realization", Schlosser discusses the effects of the global exporting of American culture. What does he mean when he writes "The values, tastes and industrial practices of the American fast food industry are being exported to every corner of the globe, helping to crate a homogenized international culture than sociologist Benjamin R. Barber has labeled 'McWorld.'" What are some of the factors that influenced the rise of "McWorld"? What are the results of this homogenized international culture, and why does Schlosser feel it's a problem? How have some of the members of other cultures tried to combat the threat of a "McWorld"?
Ethical Fast Food: In the Epilogue, Schlosser discusses some of the ways in which we can create sustainable and humane fast food enterprises. What must happen to address the conditions he decries in this book? What must the government do? The corporations? The consumers?

3. Save your work as a .doc or .rtf document and submit your response to the Assignment Chamber by midnight on Monday, 4/2.

4. Post your responses to the appropriate forum by midnight on Monday, 4/2.

5. Read all the other students' posts throughout the seminar period.

6. Respond to at least two other student's posts from the discussion topic of your choice (more is better). You will have until midnight, Monday, 4/16, to read and respond to the other students' ideas in the website.