Language in Society
Unit 3: Ethnography of Communication
"Studying Communities and Cultures Through Language"
Student Syllabus
Unit Information
Dates: March 8 - April 22, 2011
Graduate Teaching Fellows
Allina Mojarro
Chris VanderStouwe
Audrey Lopez
amojarro@education.ucsb.edu
cvanderstouwe@umail.ucsb.edu
audreylopez@umail.ucsb.edu
Description
"I rode up, grabbed the lip, smacked the barrel, and got pitted, dude, so pitted!" Throughout this
class, we have seen examples of how one community of people (maybe a group of surfers) speaks
differently than another community of people (maybe a group of hip-hop fans). How did the
community members learn this language? How is it related to their group identity, practices, and
culture? In this course, you will work with team members to explore language through the design
and completion of an original ethnographic research project on a community in Carpinteria. At
the end of the course, you will participate in and share the findings of your ethnography in a
presentation for SKILLS Day, to be held on campus at UCSB. In addition, class activities and
discussions will focus on exploring and understanding linguistic diversity in your community.
("What's an ethnography??" - There will be an additional handout with details of this project.)
Requirements
Attendance and Participation:
Class Assignments (5 @ 2% each) (Checked-off, no letter grade)
Group Ethnographic Research Project:
1) Field Assignment 1: Field Notes
2) Field Assignment 2: Photos
3) Field Assignment 3: Linguistic Field Notes
3) Field Assignment 4: Video Interview/Interaction
4) Group Powerpoint Presentation
5) Individual Final Report and Reflection
20%
10%
10%
10%
10%
15%
15%
10%
Attendance and Participation
Due to the team nature of this unit and project, it is important that you attend all classes. Your
participation in class discussions is also important, because we want to hear and learn from your
thoughts and ideas. :)
Final Project, Field Assignments, and Class Assignments
The main assignment in this class is to carry out a mini-ethnography on a specific community in
Carpinteria. This project is comprised of three (3) Field/Project Assignments, a PowerPoint
presentation, and a final report and reflection paper. Guidelines for each individual Field
Assignments will also be distributed later.
Throughout this unit, you will be assigned five class assignments. These assignments are much
shorter than the Field/Project Assignments, and will normally be due the following day in class.
They will usually consist of a 3-4 page reading and a few reading comprehension questions, an
online research task, or a short writing assignment. These will not be graded with a letter grade,
just marked off for completion. So if your're absent, please ask what you've missed, and you will be
able to make it up.
Week 1: Community and Culture Through Language
Mar 7 MON: Community, Culture, Ethnography
Mar 8 TUES: Speech Communities
Mar 9 WED: Finding a Field Site and Getting In/Ethics in the Field
Mar 10 THURS: Field Notes: People and Interactions
Mar 11 FRI: Group Research Check-In
March 7- 11
Week 2: Spaces: Observing Culture and Language
Mar 14 MON: Documenting Spaces and Settings
Mar 15 TUES: Documenting Spaces and Settings at CHS
Mar 16 (Block) WED: Possible Field Trip Through Carp OR
Presentation of CHS Spaces
Mar 18 FRI: Reflection and Research Check-In
**Due** Field Assignment 1: Field Notes from Field Site
March 14 - 18
Week 3: Asking About Culture and Language
Mar 21 MON: Documenting Language/SPEAKING Grid
Mar 22 TUES:
Mar 23 WED: Example Ethnographies, Patterns
Mar 24 THURS: Language In Our Fieldsite
Mar 25 FRI:
**Due** Field Assignment 2: Photos and Reflection
March 21 -25
SPRING BREAK :)
March 28 - April 1
Week 4: Putting It All Together
April 4 - 8
Apr 4 MON: Group Research Check-In, Review Interview Questions
**Due** Field Assignment 3: Linguistic Field Notes Developing Questions and Group Check-In
Apr 5 TUES: Group Workshop: Practice Interviews
Apr 6 (Block) WED: Lab Session: iMovie and PowerPoint OR
Possible Field Trip Through Carp
Apr 8 FRI: Group Research Check-In, Final Project Outline
Week 5: Presenting Research Findings
Apr 11 MON: Lab Session: iMovie and PowerPoint
**Due** Field Assignment 4: Ethnographic Interview/Interactions
Apr 12 TUES: Lab Session: iMovie and PowerPoint
Apr 13 WED: Lab Session: iMovie and PowerPoint
Apr 14 THURS: Lab Session: iMovie and PowerPoint
Apr 15 FRI: Final Report and Reflection Workshop Day
April 11 - 14
Week 6: Final Presentations and Reports
Apr 18 MON: Practice Presentations
Apr 19 TUES: Final Presentations
**Due** Assignment 5: PowerPoint Presentation
Apr 20 WED: Final Presentations and Feedback Block Day
Apr 22 FRI: End of Unit Celebration, Teacher and Course Evaluations
**Due** Assignment 6: Final Report and Reflection
April 18 - 22