Prompt for Essay : For your first essay, please write 3-4 (or 5) pages double spaced size 12 font (Times New Roman, Calibri, some clear font) analyzing and answering the following question:
Q: So far through this course one of the more dominant themes we’ve explored has been that of “us and them,” or the ways in which food culture has created divisions between people along gender, class, race/nationality, or other identity lines. Discuss and analyze this phenomenon over at least two different cultures/lectures.
As you think about this theme consider questions like, in what ways has food culture (the food eaten and how it is eaten, prepared, etc) created or reinforced separation in society? Which groups benefited the most from this system? In contrast, which groups lost out and what was the consequence? Finally, do you see a pattern in this “us and them” division as you look through the various cultures and time periods? I.e. is it the same groups benefiting or losing out? ***Optional additional thought point –How do these patterns compare to “us and them” divisions in the modern world? (Do we still see food as a dividing or separating factor along class/race/national(ity)/gender lines)?
Elements to Include/ Common Deduction Points
1. Page Length: Is your paper at least 3-4 pages long double spaced? (not including heading/title page or any works cited page–optional)
2. Sources/Citations: Do you have at least 2 citations? Ideally you will have at least one citation per era/lecture you reference–i.e. if you look at the ancient world and South/Mesoamerica as your two examples you should then have at least one citation for each of these regions/eras.
3. Content: Do you bring information in from the course materials? Do you cover material from at least two different lectures? (This just means, please don’t write all of your essay using only one era/lecture)
use it!!!!!!!
4. Thesis/Essay organization: Do you have a strong, clear thesis? (See my writing guide video or OSU’s writing center if you need help with this) Do you use paragraph form (indenting, no page-long paragraphs) through your essay? Are each of your paragraphs organized? Ideally paragraphs should begin with a “topic sentence” that explains your main argument for that paragraph, followed with supporting evidence based statements that back up this argument (though, you are free to write this essay how you feel is best, this is just a suggestion).
5. Prompt Adherence: Do you answer the questions posed in the prompt? Make sure that your essay is on topic and that you are writing it specifically to address prompt questions/themes more than simply writing a “book report” style essay that simply reports and summarizes the food cultures of the two civilizations you look at.
Please keep in mind that these are historical essays and thus the majority of your content (examples, arguments, evidence, etc.) should come from or be influenced from our class materials. I bring this up because I always have a few students who will write their first essay on something like the various contemporary comparisons between say, Europe and America or America and China. While interesting, this is NOT the point of this essay–but rather you should be looking at these historic eras to explore the concept of “us and them.”
