Instruction
your argument through detailed analysis . The research question you develop will guide your research project as a whole, and your thesis statement will be the “answer” to this question. Your research question can draw from whatever inspires you, including social and cultural trends, social, political, or global issues, film and literature, digital media, etc. I encourage you to be creative here but, of course, do your research. A FEW SAMPLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS: 1) Does one’s upbringing and or/socioeconomic standing affect their relationship to food and food culture? Thus, is “food culture” inherently classist? 2) In the age of social media, does the concept of “dining” even exist? How has social media and digital culture affected our relationship to food as a means to create social bonds? 3) How important is “authenticity” when considering ethnic cuisine? Should diners be informed about the origin(s) of what they’re eating, and whether or not credit is being given?
For this essay, you will be graded on a variety of criteria, but one thing that should take precedence for you is the use of primary and secondary research. Since this is a research paper, I expect you to take time doing
your research, and I will provide resources for you all to understand this process in the coming weeks. You will be expected to both include appropriate sources and utilize them in a way that advances your argument. Additionally, you will be graded on the following: the strength of your research question and thesis, use of appropriate academic language including paraphrasing and citation formatting, organization, and clarity.
You will need to find and make use of 10-12 research sources in this essay, including at least one book-length source. Encyclopedia articles (i.e., Wikipedia), Google Answers, and other non-scholarly sources will not be allowed. You may incorporate internet sources, but only 1 internet source will count towards your 10-12 sources. It is important to emphasize that this is not simply a research report; instead, you are constructing your own argument and drawing upon evidence from various sources to support it. Your essay should follow MLA citation and reference list format, and any essay turned in without appropriate citations will not receive a grade.