Fast Food Nation

Eric Schlosser's argument is that fast food industry not only changed how Americans eat but also that its methods and values have become the country's chief export. Schlosser uses several different methods to support his argument  He believes that by using several different methods and topics it creates a "balance" that most essays need.

He begins "What We Eat" by using the description method. Schlosser describes the fast food industry in american society. He describes how Fast food restaurants have grown in our society exponentially; these restaurants are evident in "stadiums, airports, zoos, high schools, universities, on cruise ships, trains, airplanes, K-marts, and Wal-marts." He then uses the example method to explain the experience of going to a fast food restaurant. the typical experience at a fast food restaurant starts with you "pull[ing] open the glass door,feel[ing] the rush of cool air, walk[ing] in, get[ting] on line,study[ing] the black lit color photographs above the counter, plac[ing] your order, and hand[ing] over a few dollars, [etc]" .Schlosser uses the cause and effect method throughout his essay. He states the causes of the fast food rapid growth in the united states. One of the causes was "the fundamental changes in american society." Many women entered the work force, which in turn "greatly increased demand for the types of services that housewives traditionally perform," cooking being on of them. 

 Schlosser essay benefits from using several different methods because it clearly identifies his argument and persuades the audience to side with him. He uses many descriptions, examples, statistics, and stories. I personally enjoyed his writing style it logically went toward in history and explained the many facets of the fast food industries. I believed he had a strong argument but at times some of his facts didn't seem reliable. For example when he stated "the golden arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian cross." I feel like proof is needed for such a strong statement  it seems like an exaggeration just to emphasize his point.