A. Thinking Critically
With a partner, examine the eggs crates, milk cartons, cereal boxes, etc. I have brought to class. One member of the pair type what you both consider KEY WORDS to describe the product HERE. I will make a Wordle out of your key words for our discussion later.
2. Thinking about the Causes and Consequences of Our Eating Habits
On your own, watch the two videos below: "Potato or Tomato?" from Jamie Oliver's television show Food Revolution and "Old McDonald's Farm," an advertisement by Compassion Over Killing, an animal rights organization.
Once each video is over, write down the answers to the questions below on a piece of paper.
- What was the main idea of the video?
- Were you surprised by the harsh reality the video revealed? Why? Why not?
- Who/What do you consider responsible for this reality?
- Who benefits from this reality? Who suffers?
- Is this reality necessary? Could the situation be different? How?
B. Introducing the Food Unit and Class Discussion
Now check my introduction to the Food Unit HERE. On your piece of paper, write down any comments or questions that you may want to ask during the discussion.
C. Screening The Meatrix films and Writing Blog 9, Part I: Summarizing the Stories
Watch The Meatrix, The Meatrix: Revolting, and The Meatrix II 1/2 below. (Sometimes they are easier to watch on the original website: http://www.themeatrix.com ).
Write THREE 5-8 line paragraphs, the first summarizing the main points of The Meatrix, the second summarizing the main points of The Meatrix: Revolting, and the third summarizing the main points of The Meatrix II 1/2. If the dialogue is hard to understand, click on the Close Captioning symbol (CC) once the film begins to play.
1. The Meatrix
2. The Meatrix: Revolting
3. The Meatrix II 1/2
D. Blog 9, Part II: Responding to a Factory Farming Issue
Choose ONE issue connected to factory farming that interests you from The Meatrix website:
Additives
Animal Welfare
Antibiotics
Family Farms
Feed
Food Safety
Genetic Engineering
Organic
Pesticides
Waste
Water Pollution
Read about the issue and take notes. Then, write 250+ words arguing why this issue is significant. Your piece must have
- a CLAIM,
- at least TWO REASONS to support the claim, and
- at least TWO QUOTATIONS from the webpage where you got your notes. Use this format: According to The Meatrix website, _______________.
