Introduction
The article “Don’t Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko is not an academic work in which the author conducts in-depth research and describes a specific problem with an open mind but rather a social appeal. The raised topic of the dangers of fast food and severe health outcomes in the case of addiction to such high-calorie meals is revealed through vivid speech turns and emotional language. Numerical statistics are supplemented by personal reasoning, which indicates the author’s concern about the existing problem. The main writing methods that make the article under consideration relevant and acute are include using set lexical expressions and original comparisons designed to increase the impact on the reader.
Unique Writing Methods
Set lexical expressions designed to reinforce the author’s key message emotionally are powerful writing techniques. For instance, when discussing the inevitability of overweight in children addicted to fast food, Zinczenko notes that many of them have already “crossed under the golden arches to a likely fate of lifetime obesity.” Such pretentious language is intended to draw the attention of the audience to the problem under consideration. In addition, writing manner indicates an unambiguous position: the attachment to high-calorie food poses a severe threat to the health of the younger generation, and for many, the way back is difficult.
Another approach implies comparing specific aspects of the issue in question with other examples from life in an absurd and, at the same time, effective form. For instance, when Zinczenko mentions lawsuits against McDonald’s, he notes ironically that such a position is tantamount to complaining about a vehicle for speeding. By resorting to this technique, the author strives to show that the responsibility for personal health lies with people themselves, who deliberately aggravate their well-being while ignoring all possible recommendations. Another example is evaluating the availability of fast food compared to other, healthier products.
Zinczenko states that the McDonald’s chain is so vast that a child is likely to buy a junk lunch that contains the daily calorie intake than find a grapefruit at the nearest store. All these comparisons have the same and uniquely expressed goal. Zinczenko wants to develop in people a sense of responsibility for their future and draw attention to the urgency of the problem of obesity as one of the likely outcomes of fast food addiction.
Author’s Individual Position
The article is written in the first person and is not an observer analysis but rather a call. Zinczenko brings an individual experience of fast food addiction and cites his childhood eating preferences. At the same time, the author’s background allows him to reason about the problem objectively, and calls to change the existing practices of control over the policy of selling junk food fill the article. Zinchenko expresses individual requirements unambiguously: to oblige McDonald’s and similar companies to label their products accordingly, tighten state control over the activities of such companies, and expand people’s knowledge of potential threats. As a result, all the aforementioned writing techniques make “Don’t Blame the Eater” an article that puts the idea of impact above that of enlightenment.
Conclusion
As the main writing methods utilized in the article by Zinczenko, one can highlight set lexical expressions and vivid comparisons. In addition, the author applies to individual experiences when describing the issue of fast food threats, which is another technique. Zinczenko’s position is clear regarding the need to tighten control measures against McDonald’s and other similar companies to improve public health and, in particular, minimize the threats of childhood obesity and related health issues.
Work Cited
Zinczenko, David. “Don’t Blame the Eater.” The New York Times. 2002. Web.