Chapter 6 Toulmin Argument

Claim: Corn is going into everything, which is causing an obesity epidemic in America. Because calories are becoming cheaper, we are consuming more.

 Grounds: 3 of every 5 Americans is overweight, 1 out of every 5 is obese, since 1977, Americans daily intake of calories has jumped by more than 10%, UN reported that in 2000 people suffering from over nutrition (1 billion) outnumbered the people suffering from under nutrition (800 million)

 Warrant: Now that calories are much cheaper it encourages people to “supersize” and buy the cheap unhealthy food over the healthy expensive food.

 Backing: One dollar can buy 1,200 calories of chips and cookies, but only 250 calories of carrots. People would rather feel like they are getting a good deal, rather than feeling like they have spent too much money.

 Qualifier: People don’t want to spend a lot of money to get a little food, so people are going to continue buying junk food unless the price of healthier food decreases.

 Rebuttal: McDonald’s sells more French fries by having the Supersize option, because people would rather buy one giant serving of fries instead of 3 small servings. This is good for McDonald’s, but is it good for anyone else?