Pagett
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17 October 2020
Research Paper Outline
Claim: Processed food is harmful to one’s health, and the quality of one’s life is improved by avoiding it.
Intro: Hook — personal story of youth group kids’ diets; preview of topic; claim
I. Background: What is processed food? (About.com)
Definition: “Processed foods have been altered from their natural state for safety reasons and for convenience.”
Processed foods can be good or bad.
Milk is processed through pasteurization, which kills bacteria and makes it safe (according to many sources).
Pastries made with white flour and refined sugar have been stripped of nutrients through processes, making them “bad.”
II. Reason 1: Refined sugar is very different from natural sugar and has negative effects.
The refining process is complex (Farr).
Sugar comes from sugar beets and sugar canes in its original state.
Refiners process it through boiling, filtering, bleaching, and more.
B. Both good sugar and bad sugar exist (Fallon).
Complex carbohydrates, found in natural sugar, are better because they are bonded with nutrients and take longer to digest.
Sugar goes from complex carbs to simple carbs through the refining process, and this adds no nutrition to the body and also causes the system to be flooded with sugar too fast.
C. The negative effects of sugar are numerous.
Diabetes is caused from constant floods of sugar and an inability to control sugar high levels (Fallon).
Mental illness is connected to refined sugar because sugar decreases elements the brain needs, like vitamin B (Dufty).
Indigenous people with “primitive” diets are healthier than people with refined sugar in their diet (Dufty).
Dental records back up this claim.
The amount of degeneration in indigenous people is smaller.
III. Acknowledgement/Response: Those opposed to avoiding sugar might say sugar is unavoidable.
A way to avoid it is to watch labels for words that end in “ose” (Fallon) (Arterburn).
One can also avoid items with over 4g. of sugar (Arterburn).
Refined sugar can be replaced with alternatives like honey or sucanat (Gregg).
Refined sugar can be replaced with whole foods that have natural sugars (Arterburn) (Fallon).
IV. Reason 2: Trans fats are widespread and have negative repercussions.
It’s made through a hydrogenating process to vegetable oil (Reader’s).
The negative effects of trans fats are serious.
A Harvard nutrition expert said it was the “biggest food processing disaster” (Reader’s).
It’s a major cause for heart disease, and heart disease is a leading cause of death (Reader’s) (FDA).
C. Why is it bad?
It increases bad cholesterol (LDL) and decreases good cholesterol (HDL) (Reader’s).
It increases lipoprotein which clogs arteries (Reader’s)(FDA).
D. Trans fats are used in many places (American Heart Association).
Fast food restaurants use it, primarily because it’s inexpensive and can be reused.
It’s found in deep fried food: donuts, pastries . . . etc. These items are dipped in the trans fat oil and then fried.
Margarine is made from hydrogenated oil.
40% of trans fats are found in pastries like “cakes, cookies, crackers . . .” (FDA).
21% of trans fats are in animal products.
V. Acknowledgement/Response: Opposition to removing trans fats from diet says it is inconvenient and expensive.
Fast food is convenient, and I’m in a hurry.
Plan ahead by packing a lunch, or prepping a dinner in advance when you have time (My Solution).
Carry a healthy snack with you so you won’t be tempted.
B. Fast food is cheaper.
Vegetables and whole grains can be found at inexpensive prices (interview).
Even if the cost was slightly lower, are the physical repercussions worth it? (FDA).
The cost in medical bills for physical problems, like heart disease are steep.
The quality of life is better when one is in good physical condition.
VI. Conclusion: Living without processed food is better on many levels.
Physically, you will have an easier time keeping weight off and avoiding heart disease (FDA).
Mentally, you will have more nutrients and vitamins that improve brain function (Dufty).
Processed food is addictive, and once you’re off, it is easier to stay off of it.
Word Count: 650
Outline Criteria:
This assignment is to turn in a detailed outline of your argument. It should follow the format of a formal outline. Look at the tips and requirements below and see the Sample Outline in Unit 2 for an example.
1) Use double spaced (great for adding comments if being reviewed — or for you to add comments)
2) Start with your claim (which may change as your write your paper)
3) Choose either complete sentences or partial sentences for your outline (not both!)
4) Use Roman numerals for the big points in your essay and capital letter for sub-points, etc.
5) If you have a I, you must have a II. If you have an A, you must have a B. If you have a 1., you must have a 2., etc. (See Sample Outline)
6) Include your evidence for assertions, not just your ideas in parantheses.
7) Your outline must have a word count of at least 350. Be sure to include the word count at the end of your outline.
8) Final draft of outline will be submitted at time of final paper turn-in.