Skilled Writing through Inquiry
WR090, Spring 2012
Essay One:
An Autobiography of your Life as a Consumer of Food
Due Dates
Section 98: Monday, April 9th
Section 04: Tuesday, April 10th
Essay Purpose
Because our inquiry topic is sustainable food, it’s a great idea to begin our WR090 journey
with getting in touch with our own lives as consumers of food. We will discuss our
experiences in class, and use what we know about the links between food and human health
on the one hand, and on the other, between food production and the health of the planet to
frame the course.
Assignment Description and Directions
You will write an essay of around 3-5 paragraphs in which you describe your life as a
consumer of food. You will follow the directions below.
Begin by freewriting or brainstorming your experiences as an eater. Then write an outline.
Follow the outline as you write your first draft.
Your paper will have a descriptive title, one that hints at or summarizes the content of the
essay.
Your introductory paragraph will provide an overview of your paper and will introduce your
thesis by presenting food themes in your life. Your thesis statement, which will be the last
sentence in your introduction, will clearly state how you regard food today, relative to your
life. Your introduction and thesis statement should be written only after you have drafted
the body of your essay.
Your body paragraphs will discuss your life from infancy onwards. You might want to
include information about whether or not you were bottle or breastfed, what your first
foods were and the like. You might want to begin with your earliest memories of eating,
including discussion of your favorite foods, who you ate with, foods you absolutely hated as
a child, etc. What were your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners like? Where did you eat? What
your family’s food traditions? Then thread food through your childhood, adolescence, and
adulthood. Please do feel free to throw in stories and anecdotes from your life
Mt. Hood Community College
Mary Kelly-Klein, Instructor
2
Your concluding paragraph will summarize your major points and reflect back to the thesis.
You will not introduce any new material or major points in your conclusion.
You will carefully re-read and revise your paper as necessary, taking care to correct
proofreading errors.
Essay Length and Formatting
Your paper will be between 1.5 and 3 pages in length, it will be typed and double-spaced
with margins of 1.25” on both sides, and will use a standard 10 or 12 point font. If you do not
know how to type, please see me. 
Your paper MUST be submitted in a two-pocket folder, with prewriting activities on the left,
and your final draft on the right. These directions will be inserted on top in the left pocket.
When I open the folder, I will see these directions on the left and the final draft of the paper
on the right. Behind these directions will be all of your prewriting and drafts.
What Must Accompany Your Essay (please check off)
 These instructions, with each box checked
 Your brainstorm or freewrite
 Your outline
 Your first draft
 Bring two copies of your essay to class with you.
And as always, call/text with your questions!
Remember, the only silly question is the one not asked!
Mt. Hood Community College
Mary Kelly-Klein, Instructor