Research Essay: Why Do We Garden? (200 Points) Length: 8-10 pages Check Canvas for Due Dates

The Task: Craft a thesis that explores and addresses the connections between the following questions: What is a garden (in other words—what makes a garden a garden, what defines it)? Why do we garden (what are we looking for in the art– the pastime, the pleasure, the challenge, the satisfaction, the escape, the sanctuary– of gardening)? Please note that it is absolutely essential that you specifically and thoroughly address and respond to these questions in your essay. In other words, your essay must provide possible answers to BOTH of these questions and show the inherent link between them. If you do not do this or you only do so vaguely, you will not have fulfilled the task.

Quick List of Assignments Required for the Project (Due Dates for Each Can Be Found on Canvas)
(1) Online Library Skills Workshops (See Canvas for schedule, links and due dates – Upload Badges to Canvas)

(2) Garden Visits (5 points) ? Upload to Canvas

(3) Garden Supply Stores Visits (5 points) ? Upload to Canvas

(4) Interviews (5 points) ? Upload to Canvas

(5) Prospectus (5 points) ? Upload to Canvas

(7) Annotated Bibliography (10 points) ? Upload to Canvas

(8) Final Draft (200 points) ? Upload to Canvas

Many of you more than likely have little or no experience with gardening. This is precisely why you will need to research what gardens are and why many choose to garden (and why many choose to stop gardening). Please keep in mind that you may not end up using all of your research. The advantage of completing all of these tasks is that they will help you to better understand what a garden is and why people garden. To best familiarize you with gardening and prepare you for writing this research essay, you must complete the following steps.

Step 1. Completing the Online Library Tutorials : Failure to complete them will result in a loss of your entire participation grade (25 points). The required workshops are listed on Canvas, where you will also find a link to the library website where the tutorials are offered (as well as links to upload your badges that prove you completed the workshop). Step 2. Garden Visits : Visit a minimum of two “kinds” of gardens (a public garden, a friend or acquaintance’s garden, a community garden, your own garden, a radically different kind of garden). As you visit these places, take notes about your observations and ask yourself, based on what you observe, “what a garden is” and “why we garden.” Then write a 3-page informal narrative (basically a free write) that explains how what you saw helps you address these questions (and provide some possible answers). The more detailed and informative your discussion, the more points you will receive. Your task is to begin writing your thoughts about how to answer these questions. Double spaced. Check Canvas for due date . (10 pts) Step 3. Garden Supply Store Visit : Visit at least one store that sell plants and gardening supplies ( e.g. Sloat Garden Center, Home Depot, Orchard Supply Hardware, a local nursery). As you visit this store (or these stores), take notes about your observations and ask yourself, based on what you observe, “what a garden is” and “why we garden.” Then write a 3-page informal narrative (basically a free write) that explains how what you saw helps you address these questions (and provide some possible answers). For this assignment, also include what you learned from visiting the two different gardens and how visiting a garden supply store has contributed to your further understanding of these questions. Double spaced. Check Canvas for the due date . (10 pts) Step 4. Interviews : Interview at least three people and ask them “what a garden is” and “why we garden”—as well as any other questions that you think will be relevant to your research. Note: try and talk to people who have gardens or gardening experience. (Hint: interview people at the gardens and garden supply stores that you visit; you can even interview me if you wish!). Then write a 3-page informal narrative (basically a free write) that explains how the answers to your interview questions help you address those questions. For this assignment, also include what you learned from visiting the two different gardens and a garden supply store and how these interviews have contributed to your further understanding of these questions. Double-spaced. Check Canvas for due date . (10 pts)

41 | P a g e

Step 5. The Prospectus : Sit down and prepare a prospectus that outlines what you intend to research/ write about. Your prospectus should introduce your basic working thesis, the research you intend to pursue, and the basic outline of how you plan to present it. You should already be coming to some conclusions about “what a garden is” & “why we garden” so that you will have something specific to explore. Check Canvas for due date. (5 pts) ? You are not bound to your prospectus. You are allowed to change your mind. However, if you do change your mind / direction significantly, please submit a new prospectus for my approval. ? Your prospectus must be more specific than, “I plan to do research and find out why people garden and what a garden is.” I am looking for the specific direction and an outline of at least several things you wish to research.

Step 6. Do Your Research Keeping in mind your specific focus, research everything you can about Gardens ( e.g. their history, practices, garden styles) Reasons why people garden ( e.g. spiritual, practical, relaxation, challenges, etc.) The specific direction you have chosen to research Note : You are required to use and quote William Fitzgerald’s “The Impermanence of Order,” Jim Nollman’s “The How-To Garden,” and Michael Pollan’s “Gardening Means War.”