Synopsis: Students will explore food justice and availability as it relates to their communities. They will research different topics that impact access to healthy food, write expository essays that lead them to write an argumentative essay, and conduct debates in front of an audience, about the food choices they think would benefit their community the best. Using the anchor text “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan, watching video clips on the related topics, listening to podcasts, and their own independent research findings, students evaluate the authors’ motives, purposes and points of view, before choosing their stance for their claim. Examining food choices, availability and where our food comes from, will help students make informed decisions to present their argument effectively. This unit aligns with the North Carolina English Language Arts standards to delineate and evaluate the argument and claims in a text, and support claims with relevant evidence and clear reasoning. The summative assessment requires students to conduct short research projects to answer the question “What does food justice and availability mean to them and their communities,” and defend their stance during a debate. Writing essays, and participating in a debate, while drawing from several sources, and generating additional related focused questions, students will have multiple avenues of inquiry for extended learning beyond what we do in the classroom.