Writing a persuasive essay is a common homework assignment in both high school and college. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to write about or how a persuasive essay should be formatted.
Make sure to pay attention to the facts in the article that support the main points in the article. The facts are what make the article persuasive. Without them, there would be nothing backing up the argument the essay is trying to make. When writing a professional persuasive essay, focus on facts that support your argument rather than facts that distract from –or go against– the point you are trying to make.
Many essays use a five-paragraph model, but as this essay is about 600 words long, we’ve decided to use an eight-paragraph essay instead. In this essay, the first paragraph is our introduction, with the last few lines laying out what the essay will be about. We used the second and third paragraphs to establish a foundation of facts on to base the rest of our essay. The fourth-seventh paragraphs were used to go into detail and explain what the argument of the essay had to do with the facts. By showing our facts, we improved our ethos, which basically means that we’ve made ourselves a more believable author. Lastly, the eighth paragraph was the conclusion. We summarized the essay and tied it off nicely. We answered the main question of the essay, “Do our brains need cheeseburgers?” Our essay says, “Yes.” Of course, there are arguments for and against this, but the point of the essay is to persuade, so that’s what we focused on.
Below is a sample essay about fast food. You can feel free to use the references we have cited below to write a similar essay of your own. Remember to cite your sources, so you don’t get in trouble for plagiarism!
Do Our Brains Need Cheeseburgers?
Do our brains need cheeseburgers? It may sound like a silly question, but it’s a question that needs to be answered. Cravings for fast food, like cheeseburgers, are common. Obesity is on the rise, in part because of the affordability of fast-food restaurants and the expenses of eating fresh foods. Could obesity and food cravings be a sign that our brains need cheeseburgers and similar foods? This essay will look into why people crave cheeseburgers and what this means about our brains.
Foods are made up of chemicals; this is true whether the foods are grown in an organic garden or if it is somehow genetically engineered. The chemicals in food interact with our brains. Some of these foods have better interactions than others. Giving in to cravings often leaves people feeling satisfied. So, if you are craving cheeseburgers, should you give in? Is it a sign that your brain needs them?
According to a Women’s Health article, craving meat, cheese, and salty food are common, and it may point to a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals. It may also point to other health conditions. For example, craving salty foods could mean you are stressed; craving red meat could mean you are low in iron; craving cheese could mean you are low in fatty acids.
While stress is something that can be resolved without eating cheeseburgers, eating cheeseburgers may be able to help. While it’s not healthy to eat fatty and sugary food all of the time, eating it every once in a while may help to reduce stress levels. According to research done by the University of New South Wales, which took place in 2008, animals who ate sugary and fatty foods tended to be less anxious and stressed than animals who had diets low in sugar in fats. The study suggested that some people may also eat junk food, like cheeseburgers, to relax. Therefore, eating a cheeseburger when you are stressed may help relieve the stress and the food craving.
Iron needs to be taken in by eating foods or taking iron supplements. Most women need to take about 18 mg of iron daily, while most men only need around 8 mg. The average burger patty is rich in iron; a 3 oz. The burger patty contains about 2 mg of iron. This is 25% of a man’s daily iron requirement and 11% of a woman’s daily requirement of iron.
Omega-3s are a type of healthy fatty acid which is related to cheese cravings. Lucky for cheeseburger lovers, omega-3s can be found in both beef and certain types of cheeses. Grass-fed cattle produce beef which is higher in omega-3s than other cattle. A 3.5 oz. The burger can have between 40-80 mg of omega-3s, depending on the age and diet of the cow that produced the beef. Cheese is much higher in omega-3s than beef. Gruyere, gouda, and cheddar are some of the cheeses with the highest levels of omega-3s, while Colby, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese are lower on the list, but they still contain high amounts of omega-3s. No matter what cheese is put on the burger, it is sure to resolve the cause of the craving.
Bodies regularly crave a certain food, and sometimes that food is a cheeseburger. Knowing that cravings can signal your brain tells the body they are low on a certain vitamin, mineral, or another necessary component. Whether someone is craving something salty, cheesy, meaty, or cheeseburgers in general, they are likely to satisfy their craving by eating a cheeseburger, which can provide them with iron, omega-3s, and possible stress relief. Do our brains need cheeseburgers? Keeping in mind that brains send us signals to crave certain foods, the answer seems to be “yes.”
References:
- Barnard, N. (2009, February 10). Iron: How Much is Enough? Retrieved from https://www.vegetariantimes.com/health-and-nutrition/iron-how-much-is-enough.
- Berkeley Wellness. (2015, January 7). Grass-Fed Beef for Omega-3s?. Retrieved from http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/food/nutrition/article/grass-fed-beef-omega-3s.
- Bruso, Jessica. (n.d.). Meat That Contains High Iron. Healthy Eating | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/meat-contains-high-iron-4454.html.
- Carroll, L. and Fernatrom, M. (2014, May 22). Cheap Food Blamed for America’s Obesity Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/better/diet-fitness/cheap-food-blamed-america-s-obesity-crisis-n112141.
- Jaehnig, J. (2017, September 29). What Are Food Cravings and Why We Crave For Food? Retrieved from https://www.goodlivingsecrets.com/what-are-food-cravings-and-why-we-crave-for-food/.
- Scott, S. (2008 January 29). Junk food may lower stress: research. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-01-29/junk-food-may-lower-stress-research/1026550.
- SELF Nutrition Data. (n.d.). Foods highest in Total Omega-3 fatty acids. Retrieved from http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-001140000000000000000-w.html?maxCount=45.
- Women’s Health. (2013, January 29). What Your Food Cravings Say About Your Health. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19964893/food-cravings-1/.