Final answer:
Quarter Pounders, Big Macs, and Super Sizing are used to illustrate calculability, one of George Ritzer's elements of McDonaldization, indicating the quantifiable aspects of products and services in the fast-food industry model adopted in other sectors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Quarter Pounders, Big Macs, and Super Sizing are prime examples used in classrooms to illustrate George Ritzer's elements of McDonaldization, which are efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control. Ritzer's concept of McDonaldization refers to the prevalence of the fast-food business model extending into various social institutions, impacting not just dining but areas such as government, education, and more. In this context, fast food items like Quarter Pounders and Big Macs exemplify calculability, emphasizing the quantifiable aspects of products and services, such as size and cost, which are critical to the fast-food industry and are now ubiquitous in other facets of society.