Assignment

1. What meal(s) that you participate in are you thinking about researching and why? What do you hope to learn during research that might strengthen or change your understanding of this meal? Why are you excited to explore this meal to find out why it is or should be important in your life?

2. What's your research strategy? What type of information do you think you'll look for, and where do you think you'll go to find it? Do you have any concerns about not being able to find information? Do you have any questions about this search? Have you had any trouble with your search online (library databases, web search engines, etc.)? What advice can you provide other searchers?

3. What is a working bibliography (what are the many forms it could take) and what are the benefits of keeping one as you work on a research project? Do you have any questions about MLA citation formats (either parenthetical or source)? Are there any resources you hope to use that you're not familiar with citing? Where can you find help to let you know how to cite these resources in your project (please share your favorite "go-to" places)? (You're welcome to post drafts or ask specific questions about how to handle web sites, etc. that you want to use here.)

4. When you before you begin drafting your essay, what is the one-sentence thesis statement you anticipate using to organize your Research Essay? Does the statement clearly indicate what the writer feels the significance of the meal is to him or her? What interests you about the topic? What questions do you have about the significance of the meal that you hope will be answered by the writers paper? Etc.