I wanna this to be reviewed ASAP..!!

10/06/2017 Discourse Community Order of Business

1. Freewrite/ brainstorm ways you could gather the info you need/ who you could interview/ observe

2. Observations/ Shadowing

b. First, email the person you would like to observe. Let them know who you are, what you are doing, why you are doing it, and when you would like to observe them. Let them know you will be taking notes for an assignment.

i. Find a person that is in your field already to shadow

i. Ask a faculty member

i. Find a documentary or video that would be the equivalent of shadowing someone

1. Next, set up a time that is good for you both. Be sure to confirm this time with the other party and send a reminder the day of or the day before.

1. Shadowing and observations should be pretty low key. Nothing to stress over. You are simply observing what is done in your field and writing it down.

3.)  Interviews

 a.) Again, first email the person you would like to interview to give them some information and ask if they would be willing to let you ask them a few questions. Let them know what kind of assignment this is for and that you truly appreciate them taking time out of their day.

b.) After confirming a day, time, and location that is best for you both, brainstorm a list of questions you will be asking the other party. It may be a good idea to send this list of questions ahead of time. This way the party will know what to expect and will be prepared to answer your questions.

c.) You can record the answers by either bringing a tape recorder (this may be easiest) or writing it all down in your notes.

d.) If an answer sparks new questions for you, then branch out and ask them :).

4.) Other Research

        c.) Spend some time finding what you can about your major online to supplement the other info you will be using. This is not required, but could be helpful.

5.) Annotate and analyze the data you have gathered.

        a.) Find a theme or connecting element that seems to run through all writing in this field. Develop your analysis around this.

Helpful Questions:

1. What kind of genre are used (reports, assignment sheets, arguments, proposals, research, etc.)

2. Why are these genres used? What do they offer that others don’t?

3. What is the main purpose of writing in this community?

4. How is writing shaped by that?

5. Does collaboration ever happen? In what circumstances and how is it carried out?