"Staking a Claim" Activity

1. "SUV owners should be required to pay an energy surcharge." arguable
2. "Charter schools are an alternative to public schools." verifiable; Charter schools are a better alternative than public schools. 
3.  "Ronald Reagan was the most charismatic president of the twentieth century." arguable
4. "Requiring students to wear uniforms improves school spirit." arguable
5. "The terms global warming and climate change describe different perspectives on this complex issue." verifiable; Global warming and climate change are not related.
6. "Students graduating from college today can expect to have more debt than any previous generation." verifiable; Students should not attend college because it puts them in debt.
7. "People who read novels are more likely to attend sports events and movies than those who do not." verifiable; People who read novels enjoy sports more than those who do not. 
8. "Print newspapers will not survive another decade." arguable
9. "The competition among countries to become a site for the Olympic Games is fierce." verifiable; There is more competition for nations to become a site for the Olympic Games than there is to win the games. 
10. "Plagiarism is a serious problem in today's schools." verifiable; Plagiarism is hazardous because it prohibits the natural discourse of education. 

Fast Food Activity

Domini dismissed the fast food movement as being short sighted or elitist when she stated:

1. "For instance, in Greece, burgers and pizza are supplanting the traditional healthy Mediterranean diet of fish, olive oil, and vegetables." (the author is implying that fast food is not healthy).

2. "Another area of concern is fast food packaging, which causes forest destruction and a creates a lot of waste." (Not only is fast food unhealthy, Domini does not hesitate to point out its negative effects on the environment).

Domini finds common ground and promotes dialogue with her audience through means of acknowledgement. She sympathizes with the consumer's position by admitting, "Although we favor local, organic food, we recognize it isn't available in every community, and is often prices above the means of the average household. Many of us live more than 100 miles from a working farm." She also goes on to say that, "While my heart will always be with Slow Food, I recognize the fast-food industry can improve and that some companies are ahead of others on that path." Dominic's consideration of non-slow food buyers grants her credibility as a person who is trying to improve fast food conditions and not just disregard her opponents' view. It changes the argument form her attack on fast food to the ways in which we can all improve it.