Your research should come from a combination of primary and secondary sources. Shoot for a 50/50 ratio, and if anything provide more primary than secondary sources.  This is not intended to be the same kind of library-centered reports that you've done since middle school.  It must include primary source research.

The paper should attempt to connect food history to one or more of the themes of this course.  How food has changed purely for food's sake defeats the notion that the history of food in America has anything to say about food in general.  While comparisons or ramifications that deal with the present are welcome, try to restrict them to the last page of the paper.  This is, after all, a history course.

The topic is your choice.  However, it should be specific enough so that you can cover your subject in some depth.  For example, a history of dessert in America is too broad.  However, a history of ice cream  consumption is probably a good choice.  Attempt to write a history of vanilla ice cream consumption in America and you will probably have trouble finding sources.

Should you begin with a topic and end up with few sources on it, you will have a very difficult time completing this course.  Therefore, it is extremely important that you begin reading your sources as as early as possible to help you better focus your research.  While you can narrow the focus of your study after submitting your topic, you will not be allowed to change to a completely different subject.

You are required to use Zotero, a research note database, in the course of this effort so that I can track both the sources that you acquire, and your progress in excerpting material.  I will examine your database twice over the course of the semester.  The first time in order to see how many sources you've acquired.  The second time will be to see how many notes you have from those sources.

Failure to keep up with the preliminary stages of this assignment may result in my failing you on this assignment before the final product is even done.  As you have to pass the paper in order to pass the course, that means that you better keep up with all the preliminary stages of this assignment.  I generally adopt a two strikes and your out policy.  I can understand why someone might miss the due date for a single step in this long process.  Missing two due dates strongly suggests to me that you will not produce an adequate final product, so it will likely result in a failing grade for the project and course.

Step 1:  Topic Due

• A question that your research will seek to answer.  Imagine that this assignment was not open-ended and write the the question that the professor might ask.  This is a way to make sure that there is value to your work.  By asking a good question, you can connect your subject to broader historical trends and attract readers.
• A list of primary and secondary sources that you think you might use presented in proper Turabian format (bibliographical entries).  As it is good strategy to review far more sources than you will need for your final paper, I want to see at least ten sources at this stage.  At this stage, it would be good if your list included 5 physical books and 5 useful websites where you've found media.  This list will change by the end of the writing process.
• A brief outline of the topics you might cover over the course of your Scalar with an explanation of why discussing this topic will help you answer the question that you have set out above.  This list too will undoubtedly change by the end of the writing process.

• A paragraph explaining why you framed your question the way you did.  While you are not required to keep the same question throughout the research process, if you plan on changing questions after handing in the second prospectus, please drop me an e-mail with the old one, the new one and an explanation why.
• A potential thesis.  [A thesis for a Scalar is not the same as a written argument for a history research paper.  Imagine your Scalar thesis as the most important general point you want the reader to take away about your subject after they visit your site]. 
• Twenty, rather than just ten, potential sources presented in proper Turabian format (bibliographical entries).  Approximately half of those sources should be secondary sources.  Approximately half should be media.
• At least a sentence (if not more) describing ten pages that you expect to include in the final Scalar book.