ENGL 1158 – Fall 2016 – Food-based Research Essay

The end goal of this assignment is a research essay that involves food in some way. You have a choice about you write about in this assignment, but the essay must revolve around some specific question about food – its marketing, consumption, diets, nutrition, science, psychology, anything at all concerning issues of food. For example:

• Why is Gordon Ramsey such a popular TV personality?
• What is the legacy of William Kellogg on today’s diets?
• What are some examples of food as aphrodisiacs? What is the history of these foods?
• Is the Atkins diet safe?
• What are the reasons for the popularity of the TV show “The Biggest Loser?”
• Why is sushi so popular in America today?
• What are the differences between artificial sweeteners (Sweet ‘n Low, Splenda, etc.)?
• What is the most popular pizza delivery chain in America today and why?
• What is the reason for the increasing popularity of Microbreweries in America?
• What is the history of whisky in America.
• What is a theme of food in a specific film (such as Big Night, Chocolat, Julie and Julia, etc)
• Why are food eating competitions so popular today?
• What are the origins of some famous New Orleans food traditions (i.e.: King Cakes; Po’ boys)?
• What are the FDA requirements for a food to be labeled “natural” and how do product manufacturers get around this labeling requirement?
• What is the history of Special K cereal, and how reasonable are its recent health claims?
• Has the rise of corn and soybeans as crops really been as disastrous as some authors such as Michael Pollan suggests?
• The changing history of butter vs. margarine – which is really the better choice?
• Are artificial sweeteners really that bad for you?
• What is the history of McDonald’s marketing campaigns and how has that company changed the food industry and American culture?
• Research about a favorite food (bananas, Chow Mein, Popeye’s Chicken) – what is its history, how it has affected the world, etc.
• New food research – test tube meat: is viable?.
• The history and effects of radiated food: is it safe?
• School lunches – should food franchises such as Wendy’s be allowed in high schools?
• Should food that is bad for you (i.e. sodas, fast food) be taxed at a higher rate to discourage consumers?
• What does it actually mean when a food is labeled “Organic” or “Natural” in the United States?
• What makes California wines so popular?
• Food competition TV shows (i.e. Top Chef, Master Chef, Chopped) – why are they so popular? How are they produced?

Works Cited / Length:
As part of this assignment you will include a Works Cited page correctly formatted in MLA format and the paper must conform to MLA standards (see our text for guidelines). You must reference and include a minimum of five sources for this essay, and the sources should be acceptable for an academic paper (We will discuss this, and our text will also guide us). To adequately cover your research question, this paper must be a minimum of 5 full pages double-spaced.

There are two parts to this assignment:

1. As part of the inquiry process for this assignment, you will first write a proposal to me in which you explore what you would like to write about in this assignment. Tell me why you would like to write about your subject, what you might want to learn from it, and some initial plans on what you might include (some basic first draft ideas and examples). You must also include a list of five preliminary sources that you are researching as possible final sources for your paper. This proposal will be due on October 14, 2016 and will count as Journal #14.

2. The first draft / outline of this assignment is more of a “rough draft” representing your best work, and incorporating a rough outline of how the paper will be organized, and a preliminary “Works Cited” page. You will include a letter of introduction attached to the draft where you describe your experiences in writing the assignment and any questions you may have (including any difficulties, surprises, challenges, pleasures, etc)