This semester in Composition I courses, students will consider the topic of food in different ways. My colleague, Professor Allison Wright, does research, writing, and teaching connected to food studies, and after numerous conversations with and learning from her, I started asking my students to choose various topics under the larger umbrella of "food."
As the writers in these courses develop their topics and ideas, I become more excited about the scholarship they will produce (I also get pretty hungry).
Some topics under consideration include:
- Important foods
- Pupusas
- Atole
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Birthday Cake
- Tamales
- Important Memories
- A BBQ with friends
- Holiday celebrations
- A new food experience, such as a student visiting Thailand
- A family gathering
- Important People Making Food
- Grandmothers
- Fathers
- Friends
- Mothers
Food is a means of engaging with others, but also a way to connect to one's cultural, religious, or national roots. Though a seemingly simple overall topic, student scholars often draft and create incredibly touching and important pieces related to their food experiences and memories. When the writing is meaningful, the results are incredible.
