ENGH 484: RS: Writing Ethnography

ENGH 484-001: Writing Ethnography
(Spring 2021)

04:30 PM to 05:45 PM R

Online

Section Information for Spring 2021

LaFrance 484

Ethnographic research seeks finely grained understandings of people, their practices/work, their beliefs, values, and cultures, through the study of the everyday settings. “Writing Ethnography” explores the variety of methods used by those who study people, communities, and social groups. Readings and assignments will prepare students to design and carry out a semester-long study that entails observation, photography, mapping exercises, interviews, note taking, participatory involvement, analysis, interpretation, and the triangulation of data sources. Students will learn how to mix library and local research with their own primary observations to write engaging creative, but scholarly, pieces on people, culture, and activites. This semester’s writing assignments will include “My Pandemic Journal,” a digital photo essay/mapping of a location, and a lengthy final research paper.

ENGH 484 fulfills the capstone requirement in the English major.

ENGH 484 001 is a controlled section with synchronous and asynchronous components. Students should expect to be online at the scheduled class meeting times. Students must contact the instructor, Professor Lafrance (mlafran2@gmu.edu), for approval to register.

Tags:

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Study and practice of ethnographic writing. Students conduct ethnographic investigations and practice journal keeping, field note recording, interviewing, transcription, and interpretation. Includes introduction to current issues in ethnographic writing. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Capstone
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.