COURSE OUTLINE / CALENDAR
Ethnographic Inquires in Writing = EIIW
Field Working = FW
Homework assignment = HW
Week 1:
8/27 – Syllabus review, introduction to course.
HW: Read EIIW chapter one (pg 1-18).
8/29 – Review Plagarism and discuss
Week 2:
9/3 – Discuss field working.
HW: Read EIIW “Literacy Practices” by Barton & Hamilton. Type up an
annotation for this article, especially mentioning the difference between a literacy
practice and an event. Due at the beginning of class on Thursday 9/5.
9/5 – Discuss Literacy Practice vs. Literacy Event, and six propositions of literacy.
HW: Read “Literacy in Three Metaphors” by Sylvia Scribner in EIIW
Week 3:
9/10 – Discuss Literacy Metaphors.
HW: Read “Literacy, Opportunity, and Economic Change” by Deborah Brandt in
EIIW. Write an annotation for Brandt’s article due by Thursday beginning of class.
9/12 – Discuss literacy sponsors.
HW: Write WA1. If you take your draft to the writing center you will receive extra
credit on your final grade. Also use the Top Ten Polishing Sheet to make sure your
writing is at its best.
Week 4:
9/17 – WA1 due. Discuss literacy practices, social meaning.
HW: Read FW 25-64.
9/19 – Discuss FW. Finalize research site.
HW: Write WA2. Get permission from your research site to conduct your
observations and interviews.
Week 5:
9/24 – WA 2 due. Discuss Introduction to Chapter three in EIIW.
HW: Read “The Belmont Report” in EIIW. Get permission from your research site
to conduct your observations and interviews.
9/26 – Discuss Ethics and Belmont.
HW: Skim Note-taking methods when out in the field in FW (74-78, 83-108). Read
“Seduction and Betrayal” by Thomas Newkirk in EIIW.
Week 6:
10/1 – Discuss note taking expectations. Discuss Newkirk.
HW: Read “Ethnographic Research Ethics and Amish Values” by Tabetha Adkins
in EIIW. Write down two questions after reading the article that you would
want to ask the author.
10/3 – Discuss Adkins.
HW: Write WA3. Also bring to class one “artifact” that represents something about
you (but do not bring anything that is too personal to share with the entire
class); it would really be great if your artifact related to a literacy practice that
is part of you and/or a discourse community you belong to.
Week 7:
10/8 – WA 3 due. Class activity with artifacts. HW: Write down a list of research
terms for your site (if you were studying literacy at a church, what key words
would you type into a database to research).
10/10 – Discuss researching at the library website. Sign up for conferences. HW:
FW 175-219. This weekend and during the week, go to your research site and
take observational notes. Use the double entry method of note taking (example
in FW 90-91) Go at least twice and bring those notes to next week’s
conference. This means you need to go at least once before we meet.
Week 8:
10/15-10/17 Midterm Conferences. You must bring to your conference your
observation notes, potential interview questions, and research articles you have
found. Be reading your research articles and writing up annotations and
highlighting or writing down important quotes from the articles.
Week 9:
10/22 WA4 due. Discuss research findings. Discuss MLA formatting of quotations.
HW: Pick on of the articles from EIIW that might relate to your site in some fashion
and read it.
10/24– Discuss Chap 4 articles.
HW: Type up three (3) annotations from your own research findings – this means
you may not use any of the articles from EIIW at this time. Write down your
interview questions.
Week 10:
10/29 – 3 annotations for bibliography due. Review annotations.
HW: Read FW 237-240, 244-271. Bring interview questions to class.
10/31 – Discuss FW and Interview Questions.
HW: Conduct interviews (at least one before next class). Write Annotated
Bibliography, all 10 entries.
Week 11:
11/5 – Annotated Bibliography due.
HW: Read EIIW Student Sample starting on page 252.
11/7 – Discuss Jacob Example.
HW: Read EIIW Student Sample pg 265.
Week 12:
11/12 – Discuss Springett Example.
HW: Read EIIW Student Sample pg 272.
11/14 – Discuss Lawley Example. Review format, answer questions. Write draft of
Ethnographic Essay.
Week 13:
Read over students examples, Chapter 5 in EIIW
11/19 – draft of final Ethnographic Essay due. Review Presentation posters. Sign
up for conferences.
11/21– no class. Get supplies for Poster and brainstorm ideas for poster. Come to
conference with a mock-poster.
Week 14:
11/26 - Review poster judging and answer last minute questions. Discuss Portfolio.
11/28 – Thanksgiving. Enjoy your break, see you next week.
Week 15:
12/3 – No Class. Complete final draft of Ethnographic Essay and Prepare Portfolio.
12/5- Final copy of Ethnographic Essay Due, and Research Portfolio Due,
Celebration of student writing - TBA