Course Syllabus
Course Details
| Instructor | Matt Price |
| Live Meetings | TW 8-9AM on Zoom (Passcode: IFP2021 ) |
| Sync Office Hours | Th 6-7AM (also on Zoom) (Password: 158142) |
| matt.price@utoronto.ca (weekdays 9-5, 24-48h turnaround) |
Description
This course examines the broad sweep of world history by focussing on the foods we eat and how they have transformed our lives, from pre-history to the present. Grain, alcohol, caffeine, spices, meat: throughout history, each of these has has profound impacts on social structures, economic development, art and literature, and even on peace and warfare. We will discuss themes of freedom and oppression, nationalism and globalism, personal identity and social belonging – all by looking at what we eat and how we came to eat it. Beginning with the origins of agriculture, we will pay special attention to the ways that food and drink shaped transnational connections in the waves of imperial expansion of the last 400 years, from the Columbian Exchange to the era of globalization. Lectures and discussions will take a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, with examples drawn from across the world, using approaches from anthropology, sociology, economics and cultural studies. Students will also have the opportunity to practice core academic skills by reading, writing, and discussing various academic sources, as well as practicing research skills and critical thinking.
Course Format and Requirements
Lectures: Synchronous and Asynchronous
Lecture material will be split between synchronous lectures, held Tuesdays from 8-9AM Toronto time, and asynchronous lecture material, which will be posted each week on Thursday and Friday. Beginning in Week 2, you will be expected to view those asynchronous materials and complete the week's readings in time for our synchronous class meetings.
Tutorials: Synchronous
On Wednesdays from 8-9AM toronto time, we will meet for a tutorial session. During this hour, you will be expected to attend and participate in our discusssions. You will often be asked to hand in small written assignments, which will generally be graded Credit/No Credit as part of your 30% Participation grade. These tutorials are mandatory. Before each tutorial you will need to read the assigned articles and sometimes watch documentaries. (See the lecture/tutorial schedule that follows for details). In tutorials we will have class and small group discussions about the readings and I will also introduce assignments and answer questions about them.
Written Class Discussions
Every week I will post questions about the tutorial readings for you to discuss in writing with your classmates. These questions can be found in the course website “Discussions” section. All students are expected to write at least one answer weekly to these questions and respond to other student’s comments in the discussion thread in Quercus. This will also count towards your Online Participation grade (30% in total).
Course Website ("Quercus")
For this course, we will be using the course website, hosted in Quercus, as a central site for all lectures, tutorials, class work and resources. The course website will be used for:
- posting all assignment handouts
- posting all lecture recordings
- posting links or pdf copies of readings
- accessing grades
- submitting assignments
- engaging in class discussions
- completing quizzes
- communicating with your instructor
Required Reading
Before every tutorial you will be required to read. The readings assigned will be available online via the course website. In order to be able to participate in the online class discussions and tutorials, you should write notes about the readings and try to identify main ideas and key points. You will also be tested on content from the readings in the weekly quizzes. (The reading schedule can be found in the Lecture Outline at the end of this document.) Let me know if you have any problems accessing any material.
Assessment Overview
| Assessment | Due Date | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Online Quizzes | Fridays, Weeks 2-6 (5x4%) | 20% |
| Essay Proposal | August 3 | 15% |
| Essay | August 18 | 40% |
| Online Participation | Weeks 1-6 | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
Online Participation 25%
Online class participation accounts for 30% of your total grade. You cannot make up this mark at the end of the course and it can mean the difference between passing and failing the course. This includes attending a nd participating in the weekly tutorials and participating in the weekly online discussions. The online discussion grade will be divided as follows:
- Weekly discussion participation (via the discussion thread) – 10%
- Tutorial participation – 15%
You will be assessed on the following criteria for your online participation grade:
- Preparation – how well you demonstrate you read and understood the readings/lectures
- Engagement – how effectively and thoughtfully you engage in class discussions (fo example, how you answer questions, ask questions, respond to other student’s comments, etc.)
- Critical thinking and comprehension – how well you understood the course lectures an readings in terms of content and ideas and how deeply and critically you thought about the material
Written Assessment (75%)
Quizzes (20%)
Beginning week 2, every week on Thursday before 5pm (EDT), I will post a weekly quiz based on content from the lectures and tutorial readings. These quizzes will include multiple choice and some short answer questions. You will have 24 hours to complete the quiz but are only able to complete the quiz once. Each quiz will be worth 4% (5 quizzes x 4% = 20%). Students can see their results immediately and check for correct answers after submission. Let me know immediately if you have any problems accessing the quiz.
Essay (15 + 40 = 55%) The main aim of this assignment is for students to practice research skills and essay writing by exploring major course themes relating to globalization. More details will be given in a separate handout and in lectures and tutorials. There are two parts to this assignment, as follows: I) Annotated Bibliography and Outline (15%) Due July 30 II) Final Essay (35%) Due August 18.
Course Policies
Late assignments
Because of the time constraints of a summer course, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS will be accepted. Contact me via email before the assignment deadline if you will have problems meeting the deadlines and wish to request an extension.
How to contact me if you have questions
If you have any questions about assignments or the course content, feel free to email me at (matt.price@utoronto.ca). You can also leave a message on the Quercus class website discussion thread named “General Questions and Help”. I will also provide time in the weekly tutorials for you to ask questions.
I will respond to emails within 24 hours during the week and 48 hours during the weekend; if you get no acknowledgement of your email after that time frame, please don’t hesitate to send a second message.
Students should frequently check the Course Website and their university email to ensure course information and updates are efficiently received. For privacy reasons, email communication will only be conducted via your university email (e.g. bill.wu@mail.utoronto.ca). Communication using other email addresses (like Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail) will be ignored.
Academic Integrity/Plagiarism
Academic integrity is fundamental to learning and scholarship at the University of Toronto. Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in this academic community ensures that the U of T degree that you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement, and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves. Familiarize yourself with the University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters found here. This is the rule book for academic behaviour at the U of T, and you are expected to know the rules. Potential academic offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
- Using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
- Copying material word-for-word from a source (including lecture and study group notes) and not placing the words within quotation marks.
- Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the instructor.
- Making up sources (citations) or facts.
- Including references to sources that you did not use.
- Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment including:
- working in groups on assignments that are supposed to be individual work;
- having someone rewrite or add material to your work while “editing”.
- Lending your work to a classmate who submits it as his/her own without your permission.
Misrepresentation:
- Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including doctor’s notes.
- Falsifying institutional documents or grades
The University of Toronto treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously. All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following the procedures outlined in the Code. The consequences for academic misconduct can be severe, including a failure in the course and a notation on your transcript. If you have questions about appropriate research and citation methods, seek additional information from me. If you are experiencing personal challenges that are having an impact on your academic work, please contact me!
Turnitin.com:
- For the purpose of identifying cases of possible plagiarism and infringements of academic integrity, all assignments will be assessed for textual similarity and housed by Turnitin.com.
Equity And Diversity At The University Of Toronto
The University of Toronto is committed to equity, human rights and respect for diversity. All members of the learning environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect where all members of our community can express themselves, engage with each other, and respect one another’s differences. U of T does not condone discrimination or harassment against any persons or communities. This includes in any online discussions or classes. Familiarize yourself with the university’s Student Code of Conduct here: https://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/secretariat/policies/code-student-conduct-december-13-2019
Academic Accommodation
The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This is a collaborative process that acknowledges a collective obligation to develop an accessible learning environment that both meets the needs of students and preserves the essential academic requirements of the University's courses and programs. For more information on services and resources available, or if you have a learning need that requires an accommodation, please register with the University of Toronto’s Accessibility Services at registration https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/service/accessibility-services-registration-and-documentation-requirements/ or consult me (matt.price@utoronto.ca) or other program officers.
Course Schedule
Week 1 (Starting 07/05): Grain, Sedentarism, and the Beginning of History
Schedule
- Tuesday: Course Introductions
- Wednesday: Grain, Sedentarism, The Beginning of Time
- Thursday: Discussion Questions posted for next week
Microlectures:
- Hello
- Accessing Readings
- Domesticating Ourselves
Readings (not required this week!)
- Scott, J. C. (2017). Against the grain: a deep history of the earliest states. Yale University Press. https://www-degruyter-com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/document/doi/10.12987/9780300231687/html, especially Chapters 1 and 3. Read only for your own interest!
Week 2 (Starting 07/12): Beer and Wine
Schedule
- Tuesday: Wine in Ancient Times
- Wednesday: Tutorial 1 – Grain, Wine and History (Discussion Questions Posted Previous Thursday)
- Thursday: Quiz 1; Discussion Questions posted for next week
- Microlectures:
- Beer and Civilization
- Wine as Cultural Capital
- Spotlight on Fermentation
Reading (Required for Discussion!)
- Duarte Alonso, A., & Northcote, J. (2009). Wine, history, landscape: origin branding in Western Australia. British Food Journal (1966), 111(11), 1248–1259. https://www-proquest-com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/docview/225133116?accountid=14771
Week 3 (Starting 07/19): Spice Trade and the Columbian Exchange
Schedule
- Tuesday: Silk Roads and Spice Islands
- Wednesday: Tutorial 2 – Columbian Exchange (Discussion Questions Posted Previous Thursday)
- Thursday: Quiz 2; Discussion Questions posted for next week
- Microlectures:
- Columbian Exchange: a Two-Way Street
- Tastes of Paradise
- Spotlight on the Tomato
Readings (Required for Discussion!)
- Freedman, P. (2008). Introduction. In Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination (pp. 1–18). Yale University Press. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/lib/utoronto/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=3421431
- Gentilcore, D. (2009). Taste and the tomato in Italy: a transatlantic history. Food & History, 7(1), 125–139. https://www.brepolsonline.net/doi/10.1484/J.FOOD.1.100639
Week 4 (Starting 07/26): Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate
Schedule
- Tuesday: Coffee Houses and Modernity
- Wednesday: Tutorial 3 – Tea and Chocolate (Discussion Questions Posted Previous Thursday)
- Microlectures
- Global Politics of Chocolate
- "Distinctions"
- The Coffee Bean
- Thursday: Quiz 3: Discussion Qustions posted for next week
Readings (Required for Discussion!)
- Kemasang, A. (2009). Tea — midwife and nurse to capitalism. Race & Class, 51(1), 69–83. https://journals-sagepub-com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/doi/abs/10.1177/0306396809106164
- Walker, T. (2007). Slave Labor and Chocolate in Brazil: The Culture of Cacao Plantations in Amazonia and Bahia (17th–19th Centuries) 1. Food and Foodways, 15(1-2), 75–106. https://journals.scholarsportal.info/details/07409710/v15i1-2/75_slacibiaabc1.xml
Week 5 (Starting 08/02): Sugar, Power, and Empire
Schedule
- Tuesday: Slavery, Sweetness, and European Empire
- Wednesday: Tutorial 4 – Cheap Food (Discussion Questions Posted Previous Thursday)
- Microlectures
- Oppression and "Reclaiming"
- Spotlight on Sugar Cane
- Thursday: Quiz 4: Discussion Qustions posted for next week
Readings (Required for Discussion!)
- - Patel, R., & Moore, J. W. (2017). Cheap Food. In A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things (pp. 138–160). University of California Press. https://www-degruyter-com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/document/doi/10.1525/9780520966376-007/html
Week 6 (Starting 08/09): Sushi, Noodles, and Global Cuisine
Schedule
- Tuesday: Sushi, a Global Cuisine
- Wednesday: Tutorial 5 – Kinds of Glabalization (Discussion Questions Posted Previous Thursday)
- Thursday: Quiz 5
- Microlectures
- What is Globalization?
- Fusion and Pluralism
- Essay Tips
Readings (Required for Discussion!)
- Bestor, T. C. (2000). How Sushi Went Global. Foreign Policy, 121, 54–63. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1149619
- Ritzer, G., & Malone, E. L. (2000). Globalization Theory: Lessons from the Exportation of McDonaldization and the New Means of Consumption. American Studies, 41(2/3), 97–118. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40643232
The syllabus page shows a table-oriented view of the course schedule, and the basics of course grading. You can add any other comments, notes, or thoughts you have about the course structure, course policies or anything else.
To add some comments, click the "Edit" link at the top.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|