Project Two: Ethnography
Seth Kahn says in his article "Putting Ethnographic Writing in Context," "Ethnographic writing challenges you to consider everything that's interesting and difficult about writing; it pushes you to generate, collect, analyze, and synthesize more material than you've probably had to work with in one paper before" (175). Are you up for the challenge? Ethnographies, more than any other piece of writing, highlights and improves your understanding of people and their ways of thinking, talking, and acting. The goal of your ethnography is to explore and understand your discourse community and all it has to offer through observations (participatory and unobtrusive), interviews, surveys, photography, and videography. Below are the guidelines for the entirety of Project 2 and what is required for your ethnography.
Important DatesFebruary 17- 1st draft/community check-in
Print out at least 600 words and an outline with your discourse log (in progress). Entitle draft as "1st Draft" March 5- 2nd Draft You should have at least 1800 words written in a rough fashion. Print this out along with your discourse log (near completion). Entitle draft as "2nd Draft" March 12th- Peer Review Draft You should be within 200 words of the 2800 word minimum. We will be doing an in class peer review session for feedback. Print two (2) copies as well as your completed discourse log. Entitle draft as "3rd Draft/Peer Review" March 19th- Final Draft Due with Portfolio All of the drafts should be saved under different folders on GoogleDrive to show the different stages of your writing. |
RequirementsAs always, the heading should be in MLA format. (Page 403 & 445 in Writing in Action) or APA format (455-458 in Writing in Action). Make sure to update the word count and date on each draft!
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What are the goals of the ethnography?
The way in which you create your ethnography is entirely up to you, but there are certain criteria or goals you should have in mind:
- Swales' "Discourse Community" - Did you talk about all eight (8) of the criteria in your discourse log? The log has information associated with the structure, function, and unique elements to the community, so make sure you touch on all eight (8). You decide on how much time you want to spend on each criteria.
- Is the ethnography unbiased? It is important for you to represent the community in a fair and balanced way, so make sure you do not bring biases to your writing. It is fair to have a little background in your introduction as to why you chose this community and what you may have thought to expect, but the rest of the ethnography should be an unbiased representation of the community.
- Does the community feel real? Does it exist beyond you? If you include photography, interviews, an observation notes, then the community should feel real and alive. You are observing and interacting with people, so make sure you treat them as such. You aren't just writing about your experience, you are talking about the community as it exists. It is important to make that distinction.
- Is the ethnography unique? You should be using "I" and talking about what you observed in the community and what events you participated in, so it shouldn't read like a dry summary. As alive as the community is, your composition needs to be as well.
Detailed Explanation of Requirements
Discourse Log (required)This acts as the artificial outline for your paper. There are eight (8) criteria listed out which should be the backbone of your ethnography. Start by filling in a couple bullet points, but as you get more involved and do more research, you should turn it into sentences. When you are ready to write your ethnography, turn the sentences into ordered paragraphs. You will be using interviews, surveys, observations, and photography to help explain the intricacies of the community, so don't expect to know it all in the first week. It will take time and you will still have questions when you are done.
Interview (required)You must conduct at least one (1) interview with someone affiliated with your community.
Ethnography: You must include at least one (1) quote from your interview in your ethnography. Portfolio: Your interview write-up should have at least five (5) open questions with fully transcribed answers. The heading should include the interviewee, as well as the date and location of interview. Photography (required)Make sure the photos you take are important moments/members in your community that cannot be explained completely in words. Do not take a picture of grass and say "Field."
Ethnography: You must include three (3) original photographs of your community or members in your composition. Portfolio: You must have at least ten (10) original photographs of your community or members included in your portfolio. You don't need to print these pictures, an email would suffice. |
Process Log (required)You will be required to keep weekly entries based on your experience with research, writing, and presenting your work. Don't think of this as busy work, but instead think of it as a way to track your progress. When taking on a large project, it is good to reflect on the steps you are taking to complete it. Do you want to write about a new method of research you learned? Citations? An event you participated in? How is the process going for you? Can you use anything you are learning in another class? These are all basic questions you can ask yourself each week.
Survey (optional)Unless otherwise noted, surveys are for extra credit. You may conduct them on paper or through a service like surveymonkey.com. You should have at least five (5) questions in your survey with at least five (5) responses (the more the better).
Ethnography: You should reference at least two (2) questions in your paper with their corresponding results. You can reference the data by typing out the results or creating graphs. Portfolio: Make sure to provide a full list of the questions and the results. Include the time frame the survey was open for and a short reflection as to how you decided who should take the survey. Video (optional)The easiest way to include your video would be by uploading the video to a streaming service, such as youtube. The video should be at least 30 seconds and should be taken by you or have you participating in the video in a way you see fit.
Ethnography: You should make a reference to your video (with a link) and explain its relevance to your community. Portfolio: You should include a link to your video and write a short reflection speaking to the importance and relevance of this video to your community. Make sure you include the time, place, and event depicted in your video. |
Recommended Readings
The following readings are both readings from class, as well as recommended readings that could help with writing an ethnography, conducting primary research, or composition studies.
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Research Help
Research is an important aspect of ethnographies. Both Primary and Secondary research are being used for this project. Below are resources to help you with your research efforts:
- Your class texts, Writing in Action, has a section on research starting on page 150. You will find everything from questions about audience to evaluating sources.
- Explanations for research methods can be found in your textbook Understanding Rhetoric on pages 181-216.
- Several articles listed above will hep with both Primary and Secondary research.
- You may also go to the University Writing Center for help or speak to a librarian in the Academics Project Center for research help!
Grading Rubric
Ethnographic Experience: Is the author inserted into the community through participation and observation? Is there first hand understanding? Is the Process and Discourse log filled out?
Primary Research: Are interviews, photography, and observations essential and unique to the experience?
Discourse Community: Are all DC criteria touched upon? Is the community fully explained?
Development: A logical, natural flow and articulated topic. Keeps the attention of the reader without confusion. Strong transitions. Doesn't appear to answer questions.
Correctness: Well-Written. The piece follows the guidelines of at least 2800 words, 1 inch margins, headings, citing, and readable. Proper grammar and spelling is used. Works Cited.
Invention Portfolio: Everything is organized according to the table of contents. Everything is stapled, labeled, and has student's name. Reflection letter meets requirements.
Homework/Groupwork: Were homework and groupwork assignments turned in on time and completed to the assignment specifications? Participation/Presence: Student was in class and attentive, and tardiness/absences under control.
Primary Research: Are interviews, photography, and observations essential and unique to the experience?
Discourse Community: Are all DC criteria touched upon? Is the community fully explained?
Development: A logical, natural flow and articulated topic. Keeps the attention of the reader without confusion. Strong transitions. Doesn't appear to answer questions.
Correctness: Well-Written. The piece follows the guidelines of at least 2800 words, 1 inch margins, headings, citing, and readable. Proper grammar and spelling is used. Works Cited.
Invention Portfolio: Everything is organized according to the table of contents. Everything is stapled, labeled, and has student's name. Reflection letter meets requirements.
Homework/Groupwork: Were homework and groupwork assignments turned in on time and completed to the assignment specifications? Participation/Presence: Student was in class and attentive, and tardiness/absences under control.
Reflection Letter
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Portfolio
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The Reflection Letter should be an honest reflection about your process for the Unit 2 project as well as what you learned. It should contain the following criteria:
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Your portfolio must include the following:
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