Schools should replace soda machines with healthy alternatives to lower sugar consumption in children. Children consume large amounts of sugar from soda in schools instead of nutritious options like milk. American corporations have played a role by providing funding to schools for soda sales. Schools need strict mandates on foods and drinks sold due to high obesity and health issues in children, and existing federal guidelines are insufficient as they allow some unhealthy options.

1. I. Introduction:Get the readers attention by using a \"
hook.\"
Give some background information if necessary. Half of all American elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar.Thesis statement. Schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthy alternatives in order to lower the sugar consumption of school age children.II. First argument or reason to support your position: Topic sentence explaining your point. Children are consuming a large amount of sugar on a daily basis in school instead of something more nutritious.Support for your topic/argument In 1970’s, children consumed 2x as much milk as they did pop (American Medical Association)Consumption of soft drinks in schools has quadrupled! (Soft Drinks)Sugar consumption from beverages between meals in school more than doubles the odds of being overweight (Dubois)III. Second argument or reason to support your position: Topic sentence explaining your point. American corporations have played a major role in the obesity epidemic among school age children.Support for your topic/argumentCash-strapped schools buy into soft drink companies (Engler)In Texas, soft drink corporation give $54MILLION a YEAR to schools to sell their crap in vending machines (Engler)Corporations are changing the way cities are laid out and now fewer than 10 percent of children walk/bike to school which is down 66 percent only 30 years ago (Engler)IV. Third argument or reason to support your position: Topic sentence explaining your point. Schools need to fight obesity through strict mandates on the food and beverages sold in schools.Support for your topic/argumentFederal guidelines are insufficient – they don’t allow jelly beans or popsicles bc they lack nutritional value but allow Snickers and Dove bars in schools bc they contain SOME nutrients ( Martin)19 percent of children age 6 to 11 are considered overweight and are developing high blood pressure, cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes (Martin)Rapid growth of food sales in schools NEED standards to go by bc sales from vending machines, fund-raisers, and school stores support PTA’s, sports, and clubs (Martin)V. Opposing Viewpoint: (This is optional, however highly recommended, so that the reader will know you have considered another point of view and have a rebuttal to it.)Opposing point to your argument.Your rebuttal to the opposing point.Support to back your rebuttal.VI. Conclusion:Summary of main points or reasonsRestate thesis statement.Personal comment or a call to action.