Your Third Exercise Asks You To Produce Ethnography
Your Third Exercise Asks That You Produceethnographyethnography Is A
Your third exercise asks that you produce ethnography. Ethnography is a genre of writing that uses fieldwork to provide a descriptive study of human societies. In this instance, your ethnography will help you see your idea in a real-world setting. For this exercise, you will do the following: Choose a setting related to your word picture and scene where people go and where you can sit and observe uninterrupted for at least an hour; some choices to consider might be McDonald's, a restaurant, a gym, etc. Write down your observations.
Try to be objective as you look for manifestations of the idea with which you’ve been working. Under your objective observation, write an analysis informed by the texts we've read thus far. Be sure to bring a notepad and take notes. After your observation, you will write the ethnography report. Length: 800 Words
Paper For Above instruction
Ethnography Assignment: Observing Human Behavior in a Public Setting
The purpose of this ethnography exercise is to engage directly with a real-world environment to observe human behavior, social interactions, and manifestations of specific ideas within a community. Ethnography, as a qualitative research method rooted in anthropology, emphasizes detailed, descriptive observations obtained through fieldwork. This approach allows the researcher to gain a nuanced understanding of the social dynamics and cultural patterns that shape behaviors in particular settings. The assignment requires selecting a place where one can observe uninterrupted for at least an hour, such as a fast-food restaurant, gym, café, or any similar venue that attracts diverse patrons.
The core of this exercise is objective observation. As you sit and observe, aim to record behaviors, interactions, and environmental details that reflect the idea you have been exploring in your writing or class discussions. It is crucial to set aside personal judgments and biases, focusing instead on what is observable—spoken words, gestures, spatial arrangements, dress codes, and other measurable aspects. This disciplined approach ensures that your ethnography accurately captures the lived realities of the environment.
Following the observation, the analysis should connect your findings with relevant theoretical texts and concepts discussed so far in your course. Consider how the behaviors observed exemplify, challenge, or expand upon ideas of social norms, identity, authority, community, or other themes pertinent to your study. Use quotations or references from course materials to support your interpretations, demonstrating a critical engagement with the literature alongside empirical observation.
During your time in the setting, bring along a notepad or recording device for taking detailed notes. Record descriptions of what you see and hear without enhancing or editing the narrative. These notes will form the basis for your ethnography report, which should comprehensively describe the setting, participants (without breaching confidentiality), and noteworthy behaviors or interactions. The report should be approximately 800 words, well-organized with an introduction, body, and conclusion, integrating your observations with analytical insights.
References
- Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures. Basic Books.
- Hammersley, M., & Atkinson, P. (2007). Ethnography: Principles in Practice. Routledge.
- Spradley, J. P. (2016). Participant Observation. Waveland Press.
- Foster, C., & Fine, G. A. (2015). Doing Visual Ethnography. Sage Publications.
- Emerson, R. M., Fretz, R. I., & Shaw, L. L. (2011). Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. University of Chicago Press.
- Liamputtong, P. (2010). Research Methods in Health: Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice. Oxford University Press.
- Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Sage Publications.
- Pink, S. (2007). Doing Visual Ethnography. Sage Publications.
- Sedgwick, E. K. (1997). Epistemology of the Closet. University of California Press.
- Van Maanen, J. (2011). Tales of the Field: On Writing Ethnography. University of Chicago Press.