Second Essay Assignment: Food-Centered Life History
- Due May 25 by 11:59pm
- Points 20
- Submitting a file upload
- Available Apr 1 at 2:30pm - Jun 13 at 11:59pm
Write a food-centered life history inspired by Counihan’s use of this methodology in Around the Tuscan Table. It can be about yourself, a friend, or a family member. You may not be able to include everything in just 5 pages, so be selective in narrating what you think are one or two most significant “episodes” in a life. Describe the “food view” that emerges from the story that you tell. What attitudes and values about food are revealed? How do they compare with the Italian food view described by Counihan? Do these attitudes and values change over time? What kind of connection (or lack thereof) does it suggest to where food comes from?
5 pages (approx. 1250-1500 words), double-spaced, 12-point font Times Roman, standard margins.
Due Date: Sunday, May 25, by midnight.
The paper assignment is constructed to give you some creative latitude in composing your essay. You are welcome to incorporate personal experience in your discussion if you would like to, but you are also expected to use material from the course materials and critical concepts presented in class in developing your ideas. The essay is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you have learned and to integrate the course materials by making thoughtful connections.
Grading Rubric
- The essay makes connections to discussions in the readings of the links between food and memory, community, history, ethical selfhood, gender, and cultural identity.
- It utilizes the concept of a food-centered life history to frame episodes in a life that are revealed through attitudes about food.
- It cites readings and films (all of the readings up to now are relevant to use) to develop the argument. It uses well selected quotes that are well embedded in the flow of narrative.
- Grammar, organization, and style.
Rubric
Criteria | Ratings | Pts | |
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• The essay uses Counihan’s methodology of a “food-centered life history” to tell a personal story or a story from someone who was interviewed for this assignment.
threshold:
pts
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pts
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• It uses the critical concept of “food view” as a frame to explore the attitudes and values about food revealed in the story.
threshold:
pts
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pts
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• It cites readings and films from the class to develop the argument but especially Counihan, Leitch, and Trubek. It uses well selected quotes that are well embedded in the flow of narrative.
threshold:
pts
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pts
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• Grammar, organization, and style
threshold:
pts
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pts
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Total Points:
20
out of 20
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