Jason Konefal and Maki Hatanaka the authors of our textbook pose some really powerful questions in the Introduction. These are the questions that you will be pondering for this assignment. You will take an in-depth look at the who, what, where, when, why, and how of your food choices for 3 days during January 14-20.  When journaling about your food, your journal entry should be approximately 500 words in length for each day.

During the days that you choose to track your food, keep a list of food choices that you have made, why you made the decision to eat the foods you did, who you were with/if you were alone, what things influenced your choices, etc. Then, think about the following questions while composing your journal entry for that day:

How did you decide to eat what you ate?
In deciding what to eat, what factors influence your decisions?
Did you take into consideration cost, convenience, taste, quality, nutrition, and/or health?
How did you decide what foods are nutritious and which are not, or whether a food is safe?
When different factors came into conflict, how did you decide which to prioritize?
Where does your food come from?
Does it come from farms near where you live, or does it come from farms in Mexico, Chile, or China?
Who gets your food from the farm to your plate?
Who are the farmers who grow it, the workers who harvest and process it, the truck drivers who transport it, the stockers who place it on supermarket shelves, and if you are eating out, the cooks who prepare it?
Who are the businesses that employ all these workers from farm to plate? Are they small businesses or multinational corporations?
What practices and technologies are used to produce your food? Was it farmed with synthetic chemical inputs or organically? Does it include genetically modified ingredients? Did it undergo irradiation to reduce microorganisms?
How did your food choices make you feel?
Who were you with when you ate (e.g., friends, family, alone, strangers)?
Where did you eat (e.g., at home, dining service, restaurant)?
When journaling you do not have to answer every question, but you do need to synthesize your answers to these questions within your journal entry each day. Please remember to be professional in your writing paying attention to spelling, grammar, etc.

Each journal entry will be worth 20 points for a total of 60 points. To receive full credit on each journal entry, you must take into consideration the list of questions above and address the questions of your choosing. Each journal entry should be a synthesis of the days food choices and should be approximately 500 words in length.

Following your three days of journaling you will then reflect on your overall eating experience for those three days in a final journal entry that is approximately one page in length (20 points). Within this final reflection please think about:

What do you tend to consume?
Globalized Food
Corporate Food
Standardized Food
Processed Food
Disconnected Food
Why do you consume what you consume?
Choice Editing
Brands and Labels
Food Marketing and Advertising
Shelving and Tracking Data
Can you transform the food and agriculture system?
Ethical Consumerism
Reference:

Konefal, J., & Hatanaka, M. (2019). Introduction. In J. Konefal & M. Hatanaka (Eds.). Twenty Lessons in the Sociology of Food and Agriculture). New York, NY: Oxford.

Researched Response Instructions.
Write a 1 – 2 page summary of Jonathan Swift’s essay, “A Modest Proposal”
Write a brief discussion of an economic topic of interest arising from Swift’s essay (this will be the topic of your “Economics Essay”.
Summary:
Summarize the essay in your own words.
Present the main ideas/arguments
include its merits (e.g. content, argument, contribution)
Further Studies
Economic issue of interest to you (for Economic Essay)
write in a formal, professional style using correct grammar and spelling
complete a peer review and have a student peer review your work
follow APA style, including full title page and “References” section on a separate final page.
The link of the article: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1080/1080-h/1080-h.htm

Step 1: Background Research (“Recognize the problem,” Ch. 1 of your Engineering Economic Analysis textbook)
Read/watch/listen to/view the resources provided for you on the Canvas Page: “Microplastics Problem Background Information” (linked here, in an announcement, and available in the “Pages” section of Canvas). Familiarize yourself with the microplastics issue, and the 2019 study on microplastics in Tampa Bay. You should conduct additional background research as you see fit, but ensure that you use only credible sources.
Broad definition of the problem: In 2-3 sentences, broadly define the problem as you understand it.
The microplastics problem as specifically related to Tampa Bay: In 2-3 sentences, specifically define the problem as it relates to Tampa Bay.
Step 2: Research Global Approaches (“Assemble the relevant data,” Ch. 1 of your Engineering Economic Analysis textbook)
This is where you will begin to assemble the relevant data (see the “Decision-Making Process” section of your economics textbook). You will continue to assemble the relevant data, including cost analyses, in future assignments; for now, focus on the questions below.
Conduct research to find out how the microplastics issue is being addressed globally. Find answers for the following questions:
What kind of research is being conducted on microplastics across the world? (Think about fields of research, research on cleanup and prevention, etc.)
What kinds of inventions or solutions have been or are being developed to address the issue of marine plastics and microplastics?
From a policy/governmental perspective, what are some examples of how non-US countries are trying to deal with the plastics and microplastics problem? (Include regulations, bans, task forces, cleanups, prevention, etc.)
Briefly describe examples in two US states other than Florida that show how state governments are attempting to address the microplastics problem
What cleanup or prevention steps have been taken by government in the Greater Tampa Bay Area
(Links to an external site.)
(focus on Tampa, Saint Petersburg, and Clearwater) that might address the microplastics issue? How were the initiatives received? How are the initiatives being actualized?
Based on your research, what are your thoughts on how the microplastics issue is being addressed globally, nationally (US), and locally?
Step 3: Determine Your Preferred Project Approach
The microplastics problem is extensive, and through your research, you have heard and read about a variety of ways that it is being addressed. Which approach would you prefer to take for this project: prevention, or cleanup?
Explain why you think your preferred approach (prevention or cleanup) is the better choice
Specifically describe your idea or ideas for this project.
Remember: Engineering students are frequently asked to think about or solve real-life problems in their classes, and sometimes students come up with amazing solutions that are actually adopted and implemented into the big-wide-world.
Step 4: Define the Goal or Objective (“Define the Goal or Objective,” Ch. 1 of your Engineering Economic Analysis textbook)
Here, you will define a preliminary goal or objective. For this assignment, your goal or objective must be clear and concise, reflect careful attention to the problem, and align with the problem approach. You should read and expound upon the section in your textbook titled “2. Define the Goal or Objective,” and specifically attend to the specific requirements of this assignment.
With your team, you will revise and refine your goal or objective to something that you and your team agree on in principle and achievability.
Step 5: Summary
Offer a summary (1-2 paragraphs) of the above information. Summarize your thoughts on the microplastics problem, and how it is being addressed globally, nationally, and locally. Connect your approach to your goal or objective, as well as to instances around the world where countries and people are taking action. You will present this part of your assignment to your team during your 1st meeting.
Step 6: Submission
Formatting:
Format your submission so that you use each heading above (“Step 1: Background Research,” […] “Step 4: Define the Goal or Objective,” etc.), with your findings included below each heading. Your findings should be well organized and clearly defined, as demonstrated below (the example below is intended to demonstrate formatting, NOT answers, wording, specific countries, etc.). Include your name, date, and the course number and section at the top of your document.

Microplastics Overview
NOAA: What are Microplastics?
(Links to an external site.)
(watch/read)
NOAA: Diving Deeper Podcast: Episode 66, Microplastics
(Links to an external site.)
(listen)
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
(Links to an external site.)
(watch)
Microplastics in Tampa Bay
Study: Science Direct Article (read)
McEachern, K., Alegria, H., Kalagher, A.L., Hansen, C., Morrison, S., Hastings, D. (2019). Microplastics in Tampa Bay, Florida: Abundance and variability in estuarine waters and sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 148, 97-106
(Links to an external site.)
Tampa Bay Times Article: 4 billion particles of tiny plastics pollute Tampa Bay, study finds
(Links to an external site.)
(watch/read)
USF & Eckerd College: “New Study Reveals Four Billion Particles of Microplastics in Tampa Bay Waters
(Links to an external site.)
(read)
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Ocean Cleanup: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
(Links to an external site.)
(watch/read/view)
National Geographic: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
(Links to an external site.)
(read/view)