Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment is to stimulate student participation in the socio-economic conditions or political attitudes of the ethnography group being studied. By researching these philosophies of the community group being studied you will be able to develop a position of argument.  Additionally, this assignment will provide you with practice in the following areas: researching a topic, utilizing several outside sources to support your position, and writing  a formal research paper and citing your sources according to the proper MLA format. Moreover, you will become familiar with the definition and argumentation rhetorical methods of writing.

Prompt:

Let’s make our ethnographic study interesting for our reader! In addition to the introduction information and research methods about your group you will be using elements 3 and 4 to develop an argumentative position. By gathering research about the community group’s philosophies regarding their socio-economic conditions or political attitudes you will be able to create a thesis in which you can take a position and establish a non-biased argument. Correspondingly, you must select one (1) of the numerous themes of debate and thoroughly research the topic. Then, clearly define and argue your position on the issue in a 4-7 page essay. You must support your argument with at least three (3) reasons/points—each of which must be listed in your plan of development. In your position paper, you must also stress the opposing opinions of the argument. Please note that since this is a research project, you must use one (1) primary source and four (4) secondary sources to support your position (Wikipedia is not an appropriate academic source).

After our brainstorming discussion we will create a list of possible themes of debate for you to launch into this project.  The list as all class materials will be posted on Blackboard for your electronic access.  Below is an outline to format this assignment.

• Include basic headings such as Introduction, Research Methods, Discussion, and Conclusion.

• Within these headings, design sub-headings for your essay, like those in the Ethnography of Latino Street Gangs.

In your Introduction:

§  State the purpose of your ethnography. Why did you choose your community, and what initial research questions did you bring to the study? (This is your Proposal Statement)

§  Explain the first impressions, assumptions, or biases (either positive or negative) you held about your community before your study.

§  Describe your community. Who are the people who join this community? What is interesting or unique about them? (This is information from Element 1 & 2)

§  Give the research questions and areas you ended up focusing on for your study.

( Use the research questions from either element 3 or 4 depending on which area of focus you are using for your argument).

§  State the argument clearly and specifically.  Include the opposing opinion of the argument and why.  (This is your thesis statement which you create from a theme of either element 3 or 4).

In your Research Methods, give two sub-sections:

PRIMARY SOURCES: Discuss your process in conducting primary research.

§  Include a link to the raw data of your interview questions, both for members of the community and outsiders. For each person you interviewed, give the findings of that interview—what you learned, and how that person helped you to understand the community (think in terms of your questions). You might choose to insert photographs here.

OR

§  Include a link to the raw data of your observation notes. Give the times, dates, and places you observed. Again, consider photographs here.

AND

§   Include a link to texts produced by your community (if any).

SECONDARY SOURCES: Discuss your process in conducting secondary research.

§  Include a process description. Answer the questions: What process did you undergo in locating secondary sources for your community study? How were your research questions shaped by your secondary research—and how did your research contribute to your attempt to answer your research questions? Which sources were most helpful to your ethnography and why?

§  Include a link to your Works Cited or Bibliography page. On this page, link any internet-accessible sources to the actual source.

In your Discussion:

• Using a them from either element 3 or 4 create a few more sub-headings that further explain argumentative issues about the community that came from your research. These sub-headings will probably be directly related to your research questions. In each of these sections, discuss your findings about what the community members “know”, what they think and how they operate. Also, include paraphrases and quotations from your secondary research that helped the reader to understand more about the community: its evolution, concerns, pressing issues, larger-society connections. In short, answer the research questions you posed in great detail, or “thick description.” Use specific quotations from your interviews, observations, and secondary sources.

• Include in this section a link to a chart or table that helps people understand something “measurable” about your community. This might be directly related to one of your questions, and can also come from interviews and/or observations. We’ll talk about examples in class.

In your Conclusion:

• Discuss what your study might teach faculty, staff, or students at CC (for first year students in particular). What is important about what you discovered?

ó Required Elements

ó _____  Use of at least two prewriting approaches (listing, questioning, freewriting, clustering/mapping, outlining, annotating, and…etc.)

ó _____  Concentration on the following pattern of development: comparison/contrast

ó _____  A developed introduction and conclusion

ó _____ A clearly stated thesis and a logical plan of development that properly introduce the focus of your essay

ó _____  Use of either a subject-by-subject or point-by-point comparison/contrast strategy

ó _____  Convincing summarized, paraphrased and directly quoted evidence that support your main point

ó _____  Effective transitions

ó _____  Correct integration and citation of documented material (MLA is a must!)

ó _____  Careful use of diction

ó _____  Proper use of mechanics (grammar, punctuation marks, sentence structure, and …etc.)     

ó Required Work & Grading Rubric

ó All of the work listed below must accompany your final draft. Compile your work in the order that is presented below.

ó Work:                                                                                                              Completed:

ó Final Draft=50 points total                                                                         

ó Peer-evaluation Forms=25 points                                                                 

ó Pre-writes=15points