Food Project Reflection
For our food project, we could decide on any topic covered in our previously completed food unit and research it relentlessly. With this research, we were to compile a professional research essay, including correctly formatted citations and references. Interestingly, we paired this project with a Digital Arts task, which was to create a visual art representation of the thesis statements of our writing pieces. The combination of both literary and aesthetic work contributed to the greatness of the food project, which was put on show at our final Humanities exhibition.
When the project began, I was very obstinate in the underestimation of local food’s importance. Aside from supporting the community, I greatly questioned what made it significant. Only after this project could I see that in a society lacking any trace of a food culture, or any limitations on what we could eat and when we could eat it, we are fundamentally met with the omnivore’s dilemma. Part of navigating this quandary is instating a food culture, which is so effectively accomplished by local food systems. With the absence of mass production, genetical modification, and widespread distribution, these systems assist in narrowing down the choices of a community. That being said, the primary eating goal that I hope to pursue coming out of this process is to eat local as much as I can.
What I found most challenging about this project was deciding on a research topic. Originally, I tackled much too broad an idea for my paper, which eventually needed to be cut down to a more manageable size. This resulted in me gathering an unnecessary range of research. While the experience of collecting so much information was enriching, it did not serve me well, as it ultimately contributed to the difficulty of managing my time. I think if I had realized the magnitude of my topic earlier, I could have made the entire process easier by using the time I devoted to such extensive research for improving the quality of my actual drafts.
Looking back, my personal writing process for composing such a formal piece largely revolved around color coding. I found that to avoid the pressure of processing a scattered array of information into a proper, predetermined format, I would use that same format to structure my data collection. With my information sorted based on the paragraph I intended it be in (as well as on source and quotation matter), it was much easier for me to plug my findings into my drafts. Color coding did hinder me on one front, though, as it discouraged me from taking digital notes. Physically highlighting a piece of notebook paper was extremely hard for me to resist, but, looking back, I wish I had resisted. Computerized notes would have vastly improved the organization of my research. Besides that, when tackling future large writing assignments, what I would change about my writing strategy would be my amount of completed peer critiques. Since our papers were so long, I often found myself caught in the middle of a critique when class ended, with my partner in the same situation. To really improve my essay quality, I should have followed up with finishing critiques, as the final parts of my piece were somewhat neglected.
The essential question we started the project with (How does one navigate their own personal omnivore’s dilemma in a world of abundant eating choices?) frustrated me at first, but now I have formulated an answer. To navigate our omnivore’s dilemma, we must eliminate our said dilemma by ridding ourselves of “abundant eating choices.” While that may sound a bit extreme and harsh, I believe it is of extreme importance to adopt our own food culture by trying to eat what is locally and seasonably available to us to eliminate other options. I recognize that, especially in more urban areas, this may be difficult. However, it starts with eliminating the obvious— the processed, unwholesome, subsidized junk food so tantalizingly available to us. In doing this, we can narrow our focus on what provides us with nutrients and overall better health.
When the project began, I was very obstinate in the underestimation of local food’s importance. Aside from supporting the community, I greatly questioned what made it significant. Only after this project could I see that in a society lacking any trace of a food culture, or any limitations on what we could eat and when we could eat it, we are fundamentally met with the omnivore’s dilemma. Part of navigating this quandary is instating a food culture, which is so effectively accomplished by local food systems. With the absence of mass production, genetical modification, and widespread distribution, these systems assist in narrowing down the choices of a community. That being said, the primary eating goal that I hope to pursue coming out of this process is to eat local as much as I can.
What I found most challenging about this project was deciding on a research topic. Originally, I tackled much too broad an idea for my paper, which eventually needed to be cut down to a more manageable size. This resulted in me gathering an unnecessary range of research. While the experience of collecting so much information was enriching, it did not serve me well, as it ultimately contributed to the difficulty of managing my time. I think if I had realized the magnitude of my topic earlier, I could have made the entire process easier by using the time I devoted to such extensive research for improving the quality of my actual drafts.
Looking back, my personal writing process for composing such a formal piece largely revolved around color coding. I found that to avoid the pressure of processing a scattered array of information into a proper, predetermined format, I would use that same format to structure my data collection. With my information sorted based on the paragraph I intended it be in (as well as on source and quotation matter), it was much easier for me to plug my findings into my drafts. Color coding did hinder me on one front, though, as it discouraged me from taking digital notes. Physically highlighting a piece of notebook paper was extremely hard for me to resist, but, looking back, I wish I had resisted. Computerized notes would have vastly improved the organization of my research. Besides that, when tackling future large writing assignments, what I would change about my writing strategy would be my amount of completed peer critiques. Since our papers were so long, I often found myself caught in the middle of a critique when class ended, with my partner in the same situation. To really improve my essay quality, I should have followed up with finishing critiques, as the final parts of my piece were somewhat neglected.
The essential question we started the project with (How does one navigate their own personal omnivore’s dilemma in a world of abundant eating choices?) frustrated me at first, but now I have formulated an answer. To navigate our omnivore’s dilemma, we must eliminate our said dilemma by ridding ourselves of “abundant eating choices.” While that may sound a bit extreme and harsh, I believe it is of extreme importance to adopt our own food culture by trying to eat what is locally and seasonably available to us to eliminate other options. I recognize that, especially in more urban areas, this may be difficult. However, it starts with eliminating the obvious— the processed, unwholesome, subsidized junk food so tantalizingly available to us. In doing this, we can narrow our focus on what provides us with nutrients and overall better health.