TCF Canada writing · task 3
Fast food: the task 3 topic, and how to handle it
What it really asks, a plan, the vocabulary and the pitfalls, explained in English. No model answer to copy: you write the text yourself.
At a glance
The prompt, as candidates report it (in French, as on the exam)
La restauration rapide
Document 1. Catherine «Je suis complètement contre les chaînes de fast-food, car on ignore souvent quels ingrédients sont utilisés dans leurs plats. Selon moi, la qualité de la nourriture y est faible. Manger ce type d’aliments peut provoquer des maladies, comme le montre le documentaire américain « Supersize Me ». Certes, les hamburgers, sandwichs et frites sont très pratiques et bon marché. Mais, à mon avis, il est important de faire d’autres choix pour rester en bonne santé.»
Document 2. Bernard «Je soutiens la restauration rapide. Je travaille pour une chaîne célèbre, je pense qu’on peut y trouver des repas équilibrés. Les menus comprennent des légumes, des salades, du pain et de la viande. Chaque client est responsable de ce qu’il mange : choisir plusieurs sandwiches et trop de sauce n’est pas un repas sain. Ces restaurants sont aussi très propres et faciles d’accès pour les familles ou les groupes d’amis.»
Translation
Fast food
Document 1. Catherine: “I am completely against fast-food chains, because we often don’t know what ingredients are used in their dishes. In my view, the quality of the food there is poor. Eating this kind of food can cause illness, as the American documentary Super Size Me shows. Admittedly, hamburgers, sandwiches and fries are very convenient and cheap. But in my opinion, it is important to make other choices to stay healthy.”
Document 2. Bernard: “I support fast food. I work for a well-known chain, and I think you can find balanced meals there. The menus include vegetables, salads, bread and meat. Each customer is responsible for what they eat: choosing several sandwiches and too much sauce is not a healthy meal. These restaurants are also very clean and easy to get to for families or groups of friends.”
Word counts: France Éducation international, the body that designs the TCF Canada. Reports: a public archive of topics reported by candidates since 2023, explained in the study of 642 topics.
What the prompt really asks
- Present Catherine: against fast-food chains (unknown ingredients, poor quality, health risks), while admitting they are convenient and cheap.
- Present Bernard: you can eat a balanced meal there, everyone is responsible for their choices, the restaurants are clean and accessible.
- Notice that Bernard works for a chain: pointing it out, without attacking him, shows critical reading.
- Take a position on the place of fast food, in your life or in society.
Who you are writing to. The prompt names no addressee: an argued text in a neutral tone, without « tu ». « À mon avis » or « pour ma part » make your position clear.
A plan in six steps
About 155 words, for a range of 120 to 180. The numbers for each step are guides; the word range itself is part of the instructions, and every point asked for must be covered. Suggested split: about 40 to 60 words to present the two documents, 80 to 120 for your opinion.
- Catherine. Her criticisms, and what she concedes. about 30 words
- Bernard. His arguments, and where he is speaking from. about 30 words
- Your position. One clear sentence. about 15 words
- Your argument. An argument of your own: price, time, children. about 35 words
- The concession. What the other side gets right. about 30 words
- Conclude. A common-sense rule, or a proposal. about 15 words
Vocabulary for this topic
B1 to B2 words and phrases to use in your text, not to pile up.
- la restauration rapidefast food
- une chaîne de restauration rapidea fast-food chain
- un repas équilibréa balanced meal
- la qualité des ingrédientsingredient quality
- la provenance des produitswhere the products come from
- la malbouffejunk food
- nuire à la santéto harm one’s health
- bon marchécheap
- être responsable de ses choixto be responsible for one’s choices
- un conflit d’intérêtsa conflict of interest
- avec modérationin moderation
- de temps en tempsfrom time to time
- faire des choix éclairésto make informed choices
Three pitfalls on this topic
Ignoring where Bernard is speaking from
He works for a well-known chain. That is no reason to dismiss his arguments, but noting it (« Bernard, qui travaille lui-même pour une chaîne… ») shows you read critically.
Forgetting Catherine’s concessions
She admits these meals are convenient and cheap. A summary that makes her an opponent without nuance is inaccurate.
Constructions
« nuire à la santé », « être responsable de ce qu’on mange », « faire attention à ». And « bon marché » never takes an « s ».
B2-level sentences to inspire you
Two or three sentences, not a full answer: borrow the idea, not the words, and write the rest yourself.
- Catherine rejette la restauration rapide, dont elle juge la qualité médiocre et les effets sur la santé inquiétants, tout en reconnaissant qu’elle est pratique et bon marché.Catherine rejects fast food, whose quality she finds poor and whose effects on health she finds worrying, while admitting that it is convenient and cheap.
- Bernard, qui travaille lui-même pour une grande chaîne, affirme au contraire qu’on peut y manger équilibré et que chacun est responsable de ses choix.Bernard, who himself works for a big chain, argues on the contrary that you can eat a balanced meal there and that everyone is responsible for their choices.
- Selon moi, ces deux positions ne s’excluent pas : un hamburger de temps en temps ne nuit à personne, à condition de savoir ce qu’on mange.In my view, these two positions are not mutually exclusive: a hamburger from time to time harms no one, as long as you know what you are eating.
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