For my structure story I chose one about finding a safer way to make blue M&M’s.
This story structure followed Clark’s tool No. 27: revealing traits of character.
The piece started with the present. It talks about what alternatives are being researched and what the process looks like.
Then it jumps back in time to the turn of the 20th century. It brings up the Food & Drug Act of 1906 because of what was being done to food to make it seemed like it hadn’t spoiled.
The story then goes through the 60s and 70s and mentions a list of seven dyes that are still used today (as well as deemed safe). From there it goes through other legislation and mentions a case in 2007-08 where a researcher found a correlation between colored foods and hyperactivity in British children. Then the author brings in statistics about how Americans feel about colored dyes in their food over the latter half of the 21st century.
After a brief history lesson, the author describes the facility where the blue M&M’s are made. Micro algae is something they’re looking into to create a new blue hue. The author also makes a note that humans, in general, don’t like change. Especially when it’s something they’re used to. Some people assign color change to taste change and aren’t as accepting of it.
The author also gets to try some of the new blue-colored candies herself.
I liked how this was organized because it kept the reader interested. It started at the present, moved back to the past without being overwhelming and then followed that point in the past to present day.
The author’s experience trying the candies gave it a personal touch as well.