Proposal Essay Problem Statement
A person who cannot quite afford everything has to make certain choices due to their lifestyle. Sometimes they are forced to make tough decisions that can potentially hurt them or others around them. The price of food versus the amount of income to people greatly affects their decisions with food. Say I had $10 to spend for the whole week and I am walking down the aisle of a grocery store, I see there is a pound of oranges for $7, but right outside the window is a McDonalds advertising a hamburger for $1. This would lead me to buy the burger because even though they are not as healthy there is more food per dollar, which would keep me full, but keeping me unhealthy as well. Even though they cannot help it these actions hurt their health leading to many cases of malnourishment, obesity and diabetes. There are high regulations in every food making industry whether its produce, fast food or slow food they are all affected. These regulations specify which chemicals to use or how much they can be used. The regulations also affect many of the safety aspects such as the work done to prepare the food within the factories or on the crops. Regulations stand such as not being allowed to modify the seeds such as cross breeding with other plant seeds or using certain pesticides on the crops to protect them. There would be an increased cost to the farmer because they have to pay for certain seeds as well as paying more for certain pesticides. This could also be detrimental to a farmer because if there were a drought or pest attack that could have been prevented which would lead to the same demand but less supply, which means the price for the final product will be much higher. Right now there is an interest in increasing the regulations such as the FDA labeling whether the food is grown in genetically modified crops. Without proper eating habits people are led into malnourishment which is lack of nutrients in foods such as sugars, vitamins and minerals. Most of the products they buy are cheaper and filled with preservatives, dyes and added sugars which also contains higher trans fats. If these are the only four things people are consuming it will lead to fatigue, obesity and weaker bone structure. If this goes on for too long the health issues may become very serious. When this goes on for an elongated period of time it leads to these people needing treatment for the conditions caused by eating unhealthy. This is also something they have to pay for which is far more expensive than food. Most people have to pay a lot of money to visit a doctor or get testing done. The other side to it is when they apply for insurance with their health record they will have to pay more because they are more at risk. This also leads to people other than them paying higher insurance bills to compensate for their risk factor in the insurance industry.
1. What is the broader topic that the author proposes is a problem?
Over priced produce is a problem to society.
The definition talks about people not being able to afford these goods which affects everyone.
A person who cannot quite afford everything has to make certain choices due to their lifestyle. Sometimes they are forced to make tough decisions that can potentially hurt them or others around them. The price of food versus the amount of income to people greatly affects their decisions with food. Say I had $10 to spend for the whole week and I am walking down the aisle of a grocery store, I see there is a pound of oranges for $7, but right outside the window is a McDonalds advertising a hamburger for $1. This would lead me to buy the burger because even though they are not as healthy there is more food per dollar, which would keep me full, but keeping me unhealthy as well. Even though they cannot help it these actions hurt their health leading to many cases of malnourishment, obesity and diabetes. There are high regulations in every food making industry whether its produce, fast food or slow food they are all affected. These regulations specify which chemicals to use or how much they can be used. The regulations also affect many of the safety aspects such as the work done to prepare the food within the factories or on the crops. Regulations stand such as not being allowed to modify the seeds such as cross breeding with other plant seeds or using certain pesticides on the crops to protect them. There would be an increased cost to the farmer because they have to pay for certain seeds as well as paying more for certain pesticides. This could also be detrimental to a farmer because if there were a drought or pest attack that could have been prevented which would lead to the same demand but less supply, which means the price for the final product will be much higher. Right now there is an interest in increasing the regulations such as the FDA labeling whether the food is grown in genetically modified crops. Without proper eating habits people are led into malnourishment which is lack of nutrients in foods such as sugars, vitamins and minerals. Most of the products they buy are cheaper and filled with preservatives, dyes and added sugars which also contains higher trans fats. If these are the only four things people are consuming it will lead to fatigue, obesity and weaker bone structure. If this goes on for too long the health issues may become very serious. When this goes on for an elongated period of time it leads to these people needing treatment for the conditions caused by eating unhealthy. This is also something they have to pay for which is far more expensive than food. Most people have to pay a lot of money to visit a doctor or get testing done. The other side to it is when they apply for insurance with their health record they will have to pay more because they are more at risk. This also leads to people other than them paying higher insurance bills to compensate for their risk factor in the insurance industry.
1. What is the broader topic that the author proposes is a problem?
Over priced produce is a problem to society.
2. How does the author define that topic? State that definition here.
3. Is there a readily identifiable thesis statement which states the problem and reasons in a because claim?
Yes.
How is the problem contextualized? (e.g. when the problem began, what has already been done regarding the problem, the consequences of the problem, etc.
The consequences of the problem brought up obesity, disease, safety, and impacting the economy.
Is the problem topic specific and located in the smallest possible category? (e.g. cats > feral cats on UF’s campus)
Yes it refers to a specific class of people.
Is the problem unique? If the topic is popular (e.g. obesity, gun control, abortion), does the problem statement offer a new interpretation of the common problem?
Is the problem unique? If the topic is popular (e.g. obesity, gun control, abortion), does the problem statement offer a new interpretation of the common problem?
The problem is unique because nobody has created a proposal about lower class people being affected by high priced foods which leads to a bad economy.
