Ethnography Assignment about the benefits of social media(4 pages)

Research Writing, Spring

Ethnography Assignment Guidelines

Throughout your ethnographic journey you’ve created a research plan, recorded notes, observed, listened and questioned, collected material culture, initiated a relationship with an informant, reflected upon and analyzed data, synthesized layers of research, looked for gaps in your research and identified themes in your data.

Now, it’s time to write the ethnography. So…what do you want your readers to know about your subculture?

I want them to know that the social media is very beneficial in these days

From Fieldwriting to the Ethnography:

There is no one or right way to write your ethnography. But there are some steps you may want to consider to help guide you on your way.

1. Sort through your data to figure out what you have and what you need.

a. Look for patterns or “themes” that have emerged in your fieldwriting. Look for memorable quotes or notes that caught your attention—even early on.

b. Consider what emerging theme best captures the essence of your subculture.

2. Consider how you will tell your tale.

a. Which parts of your data will you include and which parts will you leave out?

b. How will you write yourself into your ethnography?

i. Will you write using “I”?

ii. What stance will you take as the researcher?

c. Consider that an ethnography can tell two stories—one story about the culture through the eyes of an informant and the other about YOU and how you conducted your research.

d. How will you capture the voices of others?

i. Through dialogue? (See p. 305—“Dialogue on the Page”)

ii. Through summarizing a story told to you by another?

e. To elicit emotion or perhaps to persuade, will you incorporate alternate forms of cultural representation into your ethnography? For example, will you use photographs, quotations from your fieldnotes, poetry, or metaphors?

3. Think about organization

a. Once you have a theme/focus—you’ll want to consider into what categories this theme can be divided. In other words, what subheadings (analytic section headings) will you use to help you organize your data? (See p. 379—“Analytic Section Headings”). For this assignment, using subheadings is required.

Evaluation: Final Ethnographies will be evaluated according to the following criteria.

Evaluation Category: Point Value:

Draft submitted on 11/5 ____/30

Introduction: ___ / 20

The writer presents a compelling introduction that effectively catches

the reader’s attention and draws the reader into the ethnography’s subject.

Discussion of ideas: ___/50

Ideas or experiences are presented in an in-depth manner. The writer

discusses each of his or her ideas fully. The writer explores ideas thoroughly in order to

answer any questions that readers (classmates) may have about the subculture.

Use of supporting examples and details: ___ /30

The writer uses specific details and examples to explain each idea or experience that he or she presents about the subculture.

Organization: The ethnographic essay is organized in a manner that allows readers to ___ / 20

follow the writer’s progression from idea to idea. Sub-headings are used to divide the

ethnography into sections by theme. Remember: Within each section, give each idea its own paragraph.

Incorporation of outside research: ___ 30

The writer incorporates (does not just drop in) material from outside research (whether from live sources, such as interviews, or published sources such as books, articles, or websites). The writer balances material from outside sources with his or her own ideas and discussion.

Conclusion: ___ / 10

The writer ties his or her ideas together at the end of the ethnography and makes clear for the reader what final or overall message to take away from the essay about the subculture.

Professionalism and Integrity: ___ / 10

The writer meets the guidelines for the assignment. The writer presents an essay that is free from spelling and typographical errors and free from grammar or language usage errors that impede meaning. When print or electronic sources are used, material from these sources is cited and documented properly according to APA or MLA style.

Total: ____ / 200 points