For their final project, second semester Northern Virginia Community College Composition students (ENG 112) work in groups to create presentations that introduce, analyze, and draw a conclusion about a significant American cultural artifact, (a trend, a celebrity, or anything that significantly impacts American culture). Students work together to build a persuasive argument using a combination of text, multimedia, and visual design. Students develop a claim about the negative or positive impact of the artifact on the demographic of American culture it affects. Alternatively, students may discuss what the artifact says about our culture. These students are asked to explore a cultural artifact and determine its significance and/or role in our society. Students are encouraged to present their findings using any media they wish to implement.

1. By: Brandon Tibbs,
Joe Canlas, Cindy
Gomez, & Sergio
Lozano

2.  McDonald’s BBQ opens in 1940
 Drive-in restaurant
 Large menu
 McDonald’s is founded in 1948
 Small menu
 $0.15 Hamburger
 First McDonald’s opens in 1955
 Red & White tile building with golden
arches

3.  Expansion leads to widespread
consumption.
 Started with one location
 Today there are over 14,000 in the US
 Introduction of new menu items and
attractions lead to increase in consumption.
 Drive Thru
 Happy Meal
 Ronald McDonald
 Playgrounds

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce2iHTal54o
Current Media

5. “Using toys to sell Happy Meals has been
extraordinarily successful. In 2003 sales in
Happy Meals amounted to $3.4 billion and
made up about 20% of McDonald's overall
sales. According to the Associated press.”

6.  McDonald's runs a very
successful series of marketing
and advertising campaigns to
make sure all of its customers
are aware of their offers,
promotions and good work that
McDonald's is involved in.
 Adults in American culture
mostly care about budgeting.
 McDonald's provides ads that
show off cost efficient meals.

8.  Increased chance of obesity
 “On any given day of the year, nearly one out of every four
Americans eats at a fast food restaurant and McDonalds
contributes to that by serving more than 43 percent of the fast food
eaten daily in the US.”
 High amount of fats and calories that overflow the American diet.
*Big Mac nutritional fact for example.

9.  Although the McDonald's Corporation is
often viewed by it’s negatives, there are
some advantages.
 For Example McDonald's Corporation
heavy donations to Charities
 ”McDonald's is known for donating heavily
to Ronald McDonald House
Charities(RMHC). This charity offers lodging
to parents so that they can be close to a
child who is receiving medical treatment far
from home”.

10. The popularity of McDonalds has made it a
major impact in American culture. The
popularity stems from the corporations
meals that easily fit into the American
culture now, which is fast paced and cost
efficient.

11. Jacobson, Michael F. "Stop Tempting Kids With Toys." Nutrition Action
Health Letter 37.6 (2010): 2. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1
May 2015.
Lemonick, Michael D. "The Year Of Obesity." Time 164/165.26/1 (2004):
195. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 May 2015.
McDonald, David. "Challenging Ronald: Mcdonald Versus
Mcdonald's." Journal Of Paediatrics & Child Health 48.2 (2012): 103-
105.Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 May 2015.
"Nutrition Choices." :: McDonalds.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2015.