The purpose of your final assignment is to study and write about a particular literacy group, community, or subculture. Keep this assignment in mind as the course progresses.
1. Your role in this assignment is that of a primary researcher. The point of ethnography is to watch, to try to understand what’s going on, and to ask questions to test your observations.You will become an expert on the community and how it works.
2. Choose a space/place/community where literacy is happening. I had chosen Migrant Education, Speech and Debate Tournament, they work at the Community Learning Center at Brawley Elementary School District. This could be a library where people are reading, working on computers, or writing. Or, you could choose a classroom, hallway, bedroom, living room, work place, etc. This space could also be online. For example, you could study a literacy community like Dungeons and Dragons or KPop or a fan site online. This should be a space where the literacy practices are ones you want to learn more about or one you are already a part of and want to share. This can be a group that meets face-to-face or it can be an online group. Here are some examples of the kinds of things students have studied in the past:
Literacies of KPop, Van Life, the identities of Starbucks’ baristas, national women’s soccer, spiritual communities, greek life, chefs, family literacies, gaming, TikTok, counseling support services, and LBGTQ+ communities.
3. Determine your interview and research method you have learned about during this course to describe and analyze how reading and writing operates within the space. Use our readings and our discussions to guide your use of terms and concepts.
4. Closely observe your space/group for a week.
Your mini-ethnography will also include a short in-person, Zoom or email interview with one person connected to this literacy space.
You will set up an interview with your interviewee and record their responses. The interview is an opportunity to gain another perspective on the literacy practices that shape or take place within the space. Record and/or transcribe the interview. You often don’t know what’s an important detail until later. Then read and reread your notes, noticing what seems most important or interesting.
Focus on making a claim about your group, a claim that might consider (but not be limited by) the following questions:
What “work” does literacy do in the group?
How is literacy learning sponsored?
What genres are used? Why? To what extent is the new media a component of the work?
What does “literacy” in this group look like? What is its purpose?
What is the role of literacy for newcomers? How does literacy facilitate or inhibit membership in the group? What role does literacy play in leadership? How does literacy support the structure of the group? To what degree is the group’s organization hierarchical or egalitarian (or in between)? How does literacy create, support, or maintain that organization?
You will write up your findings from your observation and interview using details from your field notes and your interview transcriipts.
Composing the Ethnography Essay:
Although there is no one “correct” way of composing ethnography essays, you are being asked to follow this basic structure for yours:
Introduction: What is your topic/big question? Why did you choose this site, culture, or group? What do you hope to learn? What is the relevance of this inquiry? You may include secondary sources in this section if appropriate.
Assumptions & Early Hypotheses: How did you feel about it going in? What assumptions did you make about this site, culture, or group? What does research say about this topic? How does this research inform your assumptions? Include secondary sources in this section.
Methodology: What methods did you take in this inquiry? What was your process for gathering information? How did you make observations? Where did you go? What did you notice? Who did you speak with? Did you conduct formal/informal interviews? What did you photograph?
Data Analysis: Here is where you analyze and make sense of your observations and all of the information you collected. What is significant about your observations? How did the interviews give you insight into your research? How did the data as a whole contribute to your understanding of this topic? Are they to some extent aligned with the research that you read? Were you surprised by any discoveries?
Conclusion: Ultimately, what were your findings? Do any of your questions or thoughts remain unclear? Would deeper examination on this topic be relevant? If so, why?
Your final submission should include the following:
Apply MLA format: Times New Roman, font size 12, with one-inch margins on all sides and double-spaced.
Include section titles (introduction, methodology, conclusion, etc.) aligned left, in bolded font.
Include at least three outside sources in your introduction and/or assumptions/early hypotheses sections. Make sure to include a works cited page at the end.
Include at least three photographs and your field notes in the essay. It is up to you whether you would like to place the photographs within and throughout the essay (like the samples we’ve seen) or attach them all at the end. Include a short caption describing each photograph. Please attach your field notes at the very end as well.
Your essay should consist of approximately 4-6 (longer is fine) typed pages and include generous literacy examples from the group/space you are studying and the person you interviewed. Please draw from our readings to support your analysis.
