Research Paper Assignment:
The purpose of a research paper is that you explore a topic, learn something new about it (perhaps challenge your own ideas), and then present those new ideas in a paper.
In this paper, you will explore and build on a topic similar to the topic of your narrative and/or 6 paragraph essay. But this time the topic will be more broad.
This paper will answer the same question that you answered for the 6 paragraph essay, which means that you have the scaffolding and my comments to help you to improve. Now, you will expand its focus and add research.
Here is the question:
What is the cultural significance of the food/meal that you have written about, and how does that relate to your culture? End your paper by relating this to your narrative by answering this question: How is this food and what you’ve discovered about it reflected in/by your family?
You may find your topic by asking yourself the following questions:
1. What is the food about which I have been writing?
2. Is there enough research to do a paper about that specific food? (origins, manners, etc)
3. If yes, then what would I like to know about this food? Its origins? History? Cultural meaning? How it has changed over the years?
If there is not enough information, then continue with the next two questions.
4. Expand your food idea: what kind of category does it fall into? For example, is it Southern? Italian? Northern?
5. What would the reader like to know more about this category? This could be its origins, the cuisine of that region, how it has changed over the years, the manners of that region, the traditions around that food and how these traditions developed, etc.
Here is are some examples:
• One student who is German wrote about German beers and how they developed over the years. Then she related it to her family and why they choose the beers they drink.
• Another student wrote about goulash, where it came from, how it developed from the ingredients available, and what it means to the culture.
• Another student wrote about soul food and how it developed from the food given to the slaves.
You will then make a statement about your topic (thesis) and write your essay using research to support and inform what you say.
Why are we using the same topic?
First, you are already knowledgeable about the topic because you’ve written about it.
Second, in your writing, you may have come across some ideas that you’d like to explore.
Can I choose a different kind of food/cuisine to research? As long as you check with me before the research/sources are due.
Research Idea: You may do some family research such as interviews. You might find recipe cards or notes to which you refer. However, you must also meet the research requirements.