Revisiting Super Size Me

Super Size Me movie poster [Fair use]

Freshly updated video-activity based on a classic fast food exposé

The news of Morgan Spurlock's death at the age of 53 prompted me to revisit this video activity we created some 15 years ago with a former British Council colleague, Charlotte Brander. I thought it was also appropriate to update the activity for the 20th anniversary of one of the most successful documentaries of all time. Additionally, the film has finally been uploaded to YouTube - legally - by the production company. Now, 20 years since its release, has it held up well? 

The activity is suitable for both teen and adult learners at B1-B2 level and up. Scroll down for the worksheet.

About the film

If you haven't seen the film, Super Size Me follows filmmaker Morgan Spurlock as he embarks on a McDonald's-only diet for a month. Through his journey, Spurlock explores the effects of fast food on his physical and mental health as well as its broader implications for society. You can watch the whole documentary here youtu.be/mlWzDV_0hnU; you only need to show the first 5 minutes in class.

Note for teacher trainers

The lesson procedure described below can also be used with teacher trainees as an example of a classic PWP (Pre-While-Post) lesson framework: with a Pre- activity aimed at arousing interest (and introducing new language), two While-watching activities - first for gist and then for specific information - and a Post-watching discussion.

Click HERE if you would like to access an editable version of the worksheet on Canva (sign-in required)

Procedure

Pre-watching

Put students in pairs or groups to discuss the questions and then the quotes. Some language you may have to clarify includes:

• basically
• junk food
• get a craving for
• (be) out with friends
• balance it with (this is later recycled in the Post-watching activity)

The main focus of the activity, however, is on discourse markers (in bold) commonly used in spoken language: that said (or having said that), though and mind you. What they all have in common is that they are used to qualify or soften the previous statement, adding a new fact or opinion that changes what you have just said. In this way, they are similar to however or nevertheless in written language. Point out that though is used at the end of a sentence/clause.

Ask students to make their own similar comments about fast food using these three spoken discourse markers. If they are struggling to come up with ideas, first elicit a list of positive and negative aspects of fast food, for example:

Negatives	Positives
Unhealthy Full of calories Full of trans fat Greasy Lack of fresh ingredients Can't compare to good restaurants Can't compare to home-made / traditional food	Tasty A quick option Convenient Fast and affordable You wouldn't eat it all the time There are healthy fast food options these days

Then have students make statements by first mentioning one of the negative aspects, followed by a positive comment with a discourse marker (or vice versa: first positive, then negative), for example:
Burgers and fries contain lots of trans fat, which is not good for your health. Mind you, you wouldn't eat them all the time. 

While you watch

Tell students that they're going to watch the opening of a documentary that came out in 2004. The year is important to mention, but you don't have to tell them (yet) that the filmmaker is dead. This 'big reveal' can be saved for later - see Follow Up. You may also have to clarify the meaning of the title. Play the first 5 minutes of the film (until the opening credits) twice.

Answers

The answers to the 2nd watching/listening (for specific info):

• Mississippi is a state with the highest obesity rate in the US ("the fattest state in America [...] where one in four people are obese")
• The number of people that eat McDonald's every day is more than the population of Spain    (McDonalds "feeds more than 46 million people worldwide every day. That's more than the entire population of Spain")
• His mother always cooked at home ("my mother cooked dinner every single day. Almost all my memories of her are in the kitchen. And we never ate out, only on those few, rare special occasions.")
• Two teenagers, who are extremely obese, took McDonald's to court ("did what we do best: they sued the bastards. Taking aim at the fast-food companies and blaming them for their obesity and illnesses, a lawsuit was filed in New York on behalf of two teenage girls...")
• More than 60% of Americans are overweight ("Nearly 100 million Americans are today, either overweight or obese. That's more than 60% of all U.S. adults.")
• 43% is McDonald's share of the fast food market ("McDonald's accounts for 43 percent of the total fast-food market. They're everywhere.")
• 300,000 Americans die each year as a result of being obese ("Obesity is now second only to smoking as a major cause of preventable death in America, with over 300,000 deaths per year associated with related illnesses"). Students might confuse it with 30,000 - another figure mentioned by Spurlock - which is the number of McDonald's restaurants worldwide ("McDonald's alone operates more than 30,000 joints in over 100 countries")

After you watch
Put students in groups to discuss the questions. Draw their attention to the use of "has changed ... since 2004 / over the years" in questions 1,2 and 4 and encourage correct use of the pattern.

Follow up activities (not in the worksheet)
Home viewing: Students can watch the documentary in full at home. You can then revisit the last question in the While you watch section: What do you think is going to happen to him?

Research: Students can also investigate how the McDonald's menu has changed over the past 20 years and present their findings in class. 

Debate: Split the class into two groups. One group argues that fast food companies are responsible for the obesity epidemic. The other group argues that personal responsibility is the main factor.
Deeper dive: Watch THIS VIDEO for a critical analysis of Super Size Me's claims. It exposes the controversies surrounding the film and encourages critical thinking. Suitable for higher levels (B2+/C1).

Phew! I could murder a burger now!