Using the “Ways In” activity on page 439, Sheila McClain was able to sort through the notes she had made doing preliminary research for her essay “The Fitness Culture” (pp. 409–14). She began with the vague idea that she would examine why fitness has become a priority for many people. But when she did some research on the subject, she found industry statistics from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association showing a dramatic growth in health club membership. So she decided to narrow the focus of her analysis to why people are increasingly enrolling in health clubs.
Following is the list of possible causes and a few sentences she wrote analyzing each cause. Notice that in a few cases she refers to research she has already found. She also refers to anecdotal evidence from her mother, which she later decided not to use in the essay.
| Possible Causes | Analysis of Causes |
| 1. Sense of community in going to the gym | Positive peer pressure keeps people going—they are more likely to exercise on a regular basis and have a greater sense of commitment than if exercising alone. Also, going to a gym substitutes for social activities many people don’t have time for. My mom joined a gym because she said it was motivation for her to do something outside of the home and office. |
| 2. Variety of equipment and activities offered by gyms | Traditional exercises are boring and hard work. At a gym, people have the opportunity to work out as strenuously or as gently as they want, depending on the kind of equipment and classes they choose. Many types of exercise offered by gyms, such as aerobics and spinning, are actually fun. |
| 3. Desire to look better | An increasing emphasis on body image in the media is a predictable cause. But when I interviewed Prof. Harton, she said research is surprising; unrealistic goals people have for themselves may be discouraging rather than encouraging. (Research To Do note: Find the research she mentioned by Brudzynski and Ebben.) |
| 4. Greater awareness of the benefits of exercise | Government studies on the benefits of physical activity led to greater public awareness of health benefits. Employers have jumped on the bandwagon, encouraged by insurance companies. (See historian Marc Stern’s article on the advantages to business if employees stay fit and healthy.) |
| 5. Reaction to 9/11 | Definitely a surprising cause. Sisson shows an increase in the number of health clubs since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center for several reasons—stress leads people to want to be part of a group, working out can empower people feeling helpless, and the tragedy led people to reassess their lives and look for ways of improving themselves. |
| 6. Changing attitudes toward exercise | Inside and outside of gyms, more people are beginning to recognize the emotional benefits of exercise, the endorphin release known as “runner’s high.” As Glenn says, exercise is now seen as “a way to enjoy life.” (Combine with #2.) |
McClain decided she could use all of these causes, although they evolved a good deal as she did additional research and worked through a couple of drafts of her essay. She used cause 4 to introduce the general subject of fitness, but for the focus on health club membership, she began with cause 1—sense of community—because she found a number of sources that made the idea interesting as a cultural phenomenon. Beginning with cause 1 also made a smooth transition to cause 5—9/11—which she knew would surprise readers and could be supported by Sisson’s article. Next, she discussed cause 3—body image. This cause turned out to be rather complicated as she thought about it and discussed it with a classmate. McClain’s interview with her exercise physiology professor led her to a fascinating article that helped her refute this cause. The last cause she included is a version of 6, combined with 2.