Essay 3
| 102_essay_3_online_class.docx |
Digital Community Ethnography Essay #3: The Interview and Annotated Bibliography
This third draft is actually a two part essay that will combine two levels of research as you continue to explore your community/culture and answer the questions that a good ethnographer goes after.
Part I. Interview
For some people this is the hardest part of an ethnographic study. Rather than just sitting back and looking at things, you need to actually talk to at least two people in the culture you are researching. This is where you will be “stepping in” and no longer be just an observer. You should, prior to your interview, do a mini-assessment of the work that you have done. Start to make some preliminary decisions about what makes this culture a culture: what their story is and then you should prepare some questions to ask at least two people that you think will a) be willing to be interviewed and b) will give you information that you can work with. A good interview will include the following:
Given the current health pandemic, I expect that these interviews will be contacted over video chat, the phone, or email. I would highly encourage video chat if it is possible. This is the best method as you can see the person's reactions and have an immediate back and forth conversation with them. Phone would be second best as it allows for back and forth immediate conversation, although you cannot get body language. Email is really a last resort.
As always you may not use everything in the final piece but write what you think is important at the time. Try to avoid setting up your essay as a Q&A. Rather, use quotes and paraphrases as examples and evidence throughout your essay.
Crafting a Thesis: As with any essay you should develop a thesis statement that you prove throughout your essay with evidence and support. A thesis statement in this case might state what you notice to be important about this place and this group through what you have heard going on and from the opinion of those you interviewed.
Audience: You audience for this essay, as with each of the essays forming the ethnography, is two-fold: First, it is the people at the site you are observing and second, it is your peers as you will be sharing parts of this writing with them.
Brass Tacks: Your interview paper should be 4-5 pages long, not including any images.
Part II. Annotated Bibliography
As with any research project primary observation and sources alone are not enough. You must conduct secondary research to see what others may be saying about this culture and do find more information on things that are relevant to the theories and ideas you are developing. For part II of this assignment you will create an annotated bibliography with at least 6 viable secondary sources. We will discuss in class what a viable source is, how to evaluate them, and how to create an annotated bibliography. Basically an annotated bibliography contains the following:
Brass Tacks: Your annotated bibliography should be 2-3 pages long.
This third draft is actually a two part essay that will combine two levels of research as you continue to explore your community/culture and answer the questions that a good ethnographer goes after.
Part I. Interview
For some people this is the hardest part of an ethnographic study. Rather than just sitting back and looking at things, you need to actually talk to at least two people in the culture you are researching. This is where you will be “stepping in” and no longer be just an observer. You should, prior to your interview, do a mini-assessment of the work that you have done. Start to make some preliminary decisions about what makes this culture a culture: what their story is and then you should prepare some questions to ask at least two people that you think will a) be willing to be interviewed and b) will give you information that you can work with. A good interview will include the following:
- Questions/answers that follow up on some of the observations you already been making
- Questions/answers that tell us about the people that you are interviewing- so we can know them. Visualize them, etc.
- Questions/answers that allow the interviewee to go off on possible new ideas/new sources of information/new tangents/new stories.
Given the current health pandemic, I expect that these interviews will be contacted over video chat, the phone, or email. I would highly encourage video chat if it is possible. This is the best method as you can see the person's reactions and have an immediate back and forth conversation with them. Phone would be second best as it allows for back and forth immediate conversation, although you cannot get body language. Email is really a last resort.
As always you may not use everything in the final piece but write what you think is important at the time. Try to avoid setting up your essay as a Q&A. Rather, use quotes and paraphrases as examples and evidence throughout your essay.
Crafting a Thesis: As with any essay you should develop a thesis statement that you prove throughout your essay with evidence and support. A thesis statement in this case might state what you notice to be important about this place and this group through what you have heard going on and from the opinion of those you interviewed.
Audience: You audience for this essay, as with each of the essays forming the ethnography, is two-fold: First, it is the people at the site you are observing and second, it is your peers as you will be sharing parts of this writing with them.
Brass Tacks: Your interview paper should be 4-5 pages long, not including any images.
Part II. Annotated Bibliography
As with any research project primary observation and sources alone are not enough. You must conduct secondary research to see what others may be saying about this culture and do find more information on things that are relevant to the theories and ideas you are developing. For part II of this assignment you will create an annotated bibliography with at least 6 viable secondary sources. We will discuss in class what a viable source is, how to evaluate them, and how to create an annotated bibliography. Basically an annotated bibliography contains the following:
- The source cited in proper MLA format
- The main argument of the source
- The primary evidence the source uses to support the main argument
- Context surrounding the source that makes it relevant and significant (i.e. author, publication venue, etc.)
- Why the source is relevant to your own research
Brass Tacks: Your annotated bibliography should be 2-3 pages long.
