Learning Buffet
To enhance your learning in this class, you’ll choose 4 side dish learning activities to complete on your own. Each side dish activity is worth 25 points X 4 = a total of 100 points (or 10% of your grade). Note: All papers must be typed in MLA format and are due the last day of the semester.
- WORTH 2 SIDE DISHES: Read Barron’s Painless Grammar (2011), by Rebecca Elliott. In 2 pages, talk about 5 new things you learned from the book. Give examples. Explain how you will use this new knowledge.
- WORTH 2 SIDE DISHES: Read Barron’s Painless English for Speakers of Other Languages (2012), by Jeffrey Strausser. In 2 pages, talk about 5 new things you learned from the book. Give examples. Explain how you will use this new knowledge.
- Attend the Salt Lake Greek Festival (September 5-7). Write a 1-2-page critical review in which you evaluate the food, the atmosphere, the service, etc. Would you recommend this festival? Did it meet your expectations? Why/why not? Include vivid description — invite your readers to the table.
- Bring in some food to share with the class that is associated with one of your papers or with something we’ve discussed in class. Write a one-page reflective response on the experience. Why did you choose this dish? What was the response? Any surprises?
- Go out to eat and play the role of food critic. Write a 1-2-page critical review in which you evaluate the food, the atmosphere, the service, etc. Would you recommend this restaurant? Did it meet your expectations? Why/why not? Include vivid description — invite your readers to the table.
- Take one of your papers to the Writing Center and work with a tutor to revise it strongly. Ask the tutor to sign a note recording your meeting. Include the note with your revised paper and a one-paragraph description of how you improved your paper.
- Try making a recipe from Julia Child’s cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Write a one-page reflection about the experience. How hard was it to make the recipe? How did it taste? How is it different from the food you normally eat?
- Research a topic of interest that involves writing or food (Genetically Modified Food, BPA, organic, food pyramid, etc.) Teach the class what you learned in a 5-minute mini-lesson. Be sure to schedule this with me beforehand. Write a one-page reflection on the experience..
- Try making lentils, using any recipe you want. Here’s a good collection of lentil recipes. Write a one-page reflection on the experience. How did they taste? How did they nourish you? What did you learn?
- Find an Op-Ed or Public Service Announcement that makes a strong argument involving food. Write a 1-2 page analysis of the rhetorical strategies used to make the argument.
- Watch any of the TED Talks from the "What's wrong with what we eat?" playlist, "Talks for foodies" playlist, or "Plantastic!" playlist. Write a 1-2-page response: What did you learn? What questions did it bring up for you? How can you relate this information to your life and the way you eat?
- Listen to any of the food-related podcasts. Write a 1-2-page response per podcast: What did you learn? What questions did it bring up for you? How can you relate this information to your life and the way you eat?
- Come up with your own idea for a “side dish” activity and submit your proposal to me. What would help you to enrich you learning in this class? Be creative! If I approve your proposal, this will become one of your “side dish” activities. You’ll need to complete the activity and turn in a one-page reflection.