Research Paper

Final  Project  Description     Due  5/8     Deliverable:    5-­‐8  page  research  paper,  double  spaced,  12  point  New  Times  Roman   font,  (1250-­‐2000  word  research  paper  if  using  numerous  bullet  points/graphs/etc).     Must  include  at  least  5  citations  from  primary  and  secondary  sources,  using  proper   APA  format  for  citations,  footnotes/endnotes  and  bibliography.     This  paper  is  meant  to  be  a  synthesis  of  all  the  topics  discussed  throughout  the   semester.    The  topic  is  completely  open  to  student  choice  and  interest,  but  it  is   highly  recommended  to  get  the  subject  approved  by  the  teaching  staff.         This  is  a  list  of  examples  of  topics  that  would  fit  into  the  course,  feel  free  to  explore   one  of  these  topics,  or  create  a  topic  of  your  own  choosing  on  the  subjects  discussed.        

• Sustainability:    Should  we  eat  meat?  What  are  the   environmental/ethical  issues  around  meat  production  in  the  United   States  (or  other  countries)?      

• Is  there  a  place  for  Genetically  Modified  Organisms  in  a  sustainable   food  system?      

• Organic  vs.  Non-­‐organic.  Is  organic  always  the  best  choice?  What   factors  could  limit  the  environmental  or  nutritional  benefits  of  eating   “organic”?      

• Make  a  case  for  a  vegetarian  diet.  As  world  population  grows,  will  it   be  necessary  for  us  to  move  to  a  more  vegetarian  diet?    

• Do  insects  play  a  role  in  future  diets?     • Seafood  –  is  it  sustainable?  Can  aquaculture  feed  us  all?     • History:    What  is  the  history  of  the  term  “organic  agriculture”?  Or,  

conversely,  what  is  the  history  of  the  term  “conventional  agriculture”     • Look  at  the  history  of  one  of  the  world’s  great  cuisines  –  Chinese,  

Indian,  French,  Italian.  How  has  that  cuisine  changed  over  time?  What   factors  have  lead  to  that  change?  How  do  the  food  systems  of  the   wealthy  affect  food  systems  of  the  poor,  and  vice  versa?      

• Analyze  the  history  of  ethnic  foods  in  the  United  States.  -­‐  Research  the   history  of  restaurants  –  either  fine  dining,  or  fast  food.      

• How  did  the  “Columbian  Exchange”  affect  food  systems  throughout   the  world?    

• What  is  “authenticity”  in  cooking?    In  an  age  of  globalization,  are  there   any  “authentic”  forms  of  cooking  left?      

• How  do  cultural  identity  and  cuisine  relate?  Religious  identity  and   cuisine?  

• Foods  and  Nutrition:  -­‐  Choose  one  of  the  cooking  methods  we   discussed  and  look  at  how  that  cooking  method  is  expressed  around   the  world  (ie  the  technique  of  long,  slow  cooking  of  meats  is  

expressed  as  BBQ  in  America,  ragouts  in  the  Mediterranean  region,   hot  pots  in  Korea,  etc).      

• Analyze  a  specific  diet  –  cultural  (Mediterranean,  Okinawan,  etc.)  or   fad  (Atkins,  Paleo,  etc)  and  research  the  cultural  context.  How  did  the   diet  come  about,  was  it  a  result  of  current  scientific  thinking  or  was  it   a  reaction  against  current  scientific  thinking?  How  do  the  diets  hold   up  over  time?    

  This  paper  is  a  large  percentage  of  the  final  grade  of  the  course  and  as  such  research   should  begin  early  in  the  semester.    Research  should  meet  academic  standards   discussed  in  GWAR  (if  students  have  not  taken  GWAR  or  are  currently  taken  it).    The   project  is  very  open  to  student  interest  but  should  follow  set  standards  for  academic   writing,  using  peer  reviewed  sources  rather  than  non-­‐peer  reviewed  or  mass   market  sources  (ie  Wikipedia,  etc).         Grading  will  be  based  on  the  following:     20%  length  requirements   40%  content  (thesis,  supporting  evidence,  adequately  addressing  opposing   viewpoints)   20%  grammar,  syntax,  spelling   20%  proper  use  of  APA  citations,  proper  use  of  sources