Ethnographic Assessments
Order Description
Ethnographic Assessments
Multi-cultural ethnographic assignment: The ethnography provides a framework for delivering culturally competent social work services. The ethnography assessment assists students in learning an
advanced strategy to address the tri-cultural complexity in rural social work practice. Students will complete an ethnographic assessment of a family or social situation to gather information on
multi-cultural norms and values. The student will assess and identify the cultural meanings and functions of the interactions that they observe during their assessment and compile the information
that they obtain in a 5 page APA formatted paper. More instructions will be provided in canvas.
Background:
Common wisdom tells us that there are in general two kinds of writing: creative and expository. Creative writing tells about feelings opinions points of view things that originate inside the
writer. Expository essays tell about facts things outside of the writer. Essays on literature examine a literary text a thing outside the writer. Lab reports describe experiments with chemicals
and other stuff that really exists and can be measured. Research is factual; fiction poetry and the personal story are emotional.
Wrong. Writing is not that simple. The farther you go in your academic or professional career the less you are able to simply report what you see. The more you know about your chosen field the
more you realize that the researcher argues for his/her point of view even as he/she reports the facts. When we ask how to provide medical care how to enforce the law how to work in the legal
profession how to do science how to educate children when we ask how any profession should be done there is always more than one possible answer. We have to decide which answers work best
and the research almost always provides some evidence for both (or many) sides. Facts mean nothing without interpretation we have to decide what the facts mean what their consequences are. So we
need to get used to using facts not just reporting them.
Ethnography is a science that allows for this kind of writing. Ethnographers study social communities (cultures) from the inside out the researcher lives in and among the people she studies for
months or years speaking the language participating in daily life. He or she takes copious notes on the details of everyday life. He transcribes thousands of hours of taped conversations. The she
or he writes articles or books finding patterns and lessons in this massive data.
But what kind of data is it? The researcher is part of the situation being studied. He/she cannot possibly observe a social situation without being part of it. The researcher cant pretend he has
objectivity. Most ethnographers admit their own feelings points of view and social roles in the community. They are participant/observers in the culture. By admitting their human point of view
they allow their readers to second-guess them if necessary. They allow us to read their results in a more informed way.
Goal: We will do a mini-version of an ethnographic observation with this goal: to practice a form of research that mixes facts and observations with a personal point of view. We will practice
writing in a researchers voice one that reports the facts but also uses them to interpret and even to argue.
Background of the Group (This should be a heading in your paper)
You will find any group that shares an interest or an identity. This must be a group that has something in common so that you can treat them as a culture to study. You will observe them for
approximately an hour taking notes on as many details as you can. The goal is to observe as closely as possible; below Ive given some ideas for what and how to observe.
Youll need a group that meets at a particular place at a particular time (so you can actually observe). Meetings of clubs or interest groups sporting or academic events workplaces religious
services classes and social gatherings all provide a location and a time to observe Youll need to make sure there really is a group the customers at a fast food restaurant are probably too
public and anonymous to share much in common but the customers of some restaurants or stores do share tastes or values that could make them a group. The employees of a fast food restaurant may or
may not share something in common. At a sporting event a club or a religious event there are clear sets of tastes interests or values that define a group.
There are several steps to this project. The pre-writing steps in this case are crucially important. It will be easy to write the paper if you have a wealth of detailed observations to write
about.
Observations: (This should be a heading in your paper)
Its best to take notes during the observation. If that is impractical take notes immediately afterward. Summarizing your memories of an event is not what ethnographic observation calls for
(though its okay in journalism or memoir). You want to get down detailed specific observations on details such as:
examples of speech (see the warning below about privacy)
clothing
ways of greeting initiating conversation beginning and ending an event
body language gestures
the physical environment (the room decorations facilities draw maps write descriptions)
social environment (Describe the community this group is a part of and where they fit in that community.)
timelines (You can write down what happens every five minutes for instance. Or you can write down a time next to each observation.)
any other concrete physical detail of behavior speech or the environment
PRIVACY WARNING: Use common sense. Be aware of privacy issues. You are writing a public paper. If you are observing a public setting remember that your subjects didnt give permission and avoid
using real names or reporting anything personal. If you are observing a private setting let people know you are writing a paper. Dont report private conversations; report typical examples of
speech and snippets of conversation.
Reporting the experience: (This should be a heading in your paper)
The first part of your paper will report what you saw.
The introduction can identify who this group is where and when you observed them and what connection you have to the group. Your thesis statement will sum up the interpretive section (the
second part of your paper). You may not be able to write the thesis in this first draft that may wait until youve worked on the interpretation section more.
Make sure that language is at least one of the things you observe
The first part of the body will report your observations. What did you see and hear?
Interpreting the experience: (This should be a heading in your paper)
The second part of your papers body will try to find patterns and lessons in what you observed. You should try to bring up as many questions about your observation as you can think of such as:
How does the group use spoken language?
How does the group use written language?
Why does this group meet? What is their purpose? What does one get from being a member?
What beliefs values or tastes does this group share? Do their specific actions demonstrate those beliefs values or tastes?
How does this group act towards each other? Do they treat each other differently than they would in other circumstances?
How does this group see its place in the larger community? How do they define themselves in relation to other groups?
The questions are endless; any question is good that draws a pattern or a lesson from your observation.
Remember that as you interpret you are conveying your own thoughts. There is no absolutely objective way to measure the truth of what you say but it will be well supported if you can point to
detailed observations to back up your thoughts. It is okay to say I think or to discuss your impressions and feelings. Just use examples to show why you arrived at that thought.
Please also include a Conclusion section (and use heading) in your paper.
Include at least 3 scholarly* reference. References and in-text citations are to be done in correct APA 6th edition style.
Required Text(s):
Shulman L. (2011). The Skills of Helping Individuals Families Groups and Communities (Seventh Edition). Belmont CA: Brooks/Cole.
Multicultural Ethnographic Assessment Paper Rubric
Background of the group: Description of the group that shares an interest or an identity. This must be a group that has something in common so that you can treat them as a culture to study.
High Quality: Describes the group in detail. Describes what type of group it is; when they meet; what they share in common; what the culture of the group is; where they meet; what values and norms
or beliefs that they may share; how the group is defined.18-20 points
20.0 pts
Observations: You want to get down detailed specific observations on details such as: examples of speech (see the warning below about privacy) clothing ways of greeting initiating conversation
beginning and ending an event body language gestures the physical environment (the room decorations facilities draw maps write descriptions) social environment (Describe the community this
group is a part of and where they fit in that community.) timelines (You can write down what happens every five minutes for instance. Or you can write down a time next to each observation.) any
other concrete physical detail of behavior speech or the environment
High Quality Observations: Includes detailed and specific descriptions of the observations of the group such as: You want to get down detailed specific observations on details such as: examples
of speech (see the warning below about privacy) clothing ways of greeting initiating conversation beginning and ending an event body language gestures the physical environment (the room
decorations facilities draw maps write descriptions) social environment (Describe the community this group is a part of and where they fit in that community.) timelines (You can write down
what happens every five minutes for instance. Or you can write down a time next to each observation.) any other concrete physical detail of behavior speech or the environment. 18-20 points
20.0 pts
Reporting the Experience: The introduction can identify who this group is where and when you observed them and what connection you have to the group. Your thesis statement will sum up the
interpretive section (the second part of your paper). You may not be able to write the thesis in this first draft that may wait until youve worked on the interpretation section more. Make sure
that language is at least one of the things you observe The first part of the body will report your observations. What did you see and hear?
High Quality: The introduction can identify who this group is where and when you observed them and what connection you have to the group. Your thesis statement will sum up the interpretive
section (the second part of your paper). You may not be able to write the thesis in this first draft that may wait until youve worked on the interpretation section more. Make sure that language
is at least one of the things you observe The first part of the body will report your observations. What did you see and hear? 18-20 points
20.0 pts
Interpreting the Experience: The second part of your papers body will try to find patterns and lessons in what you observed. You should try to bring up as many questions about your observation as
you can think of such as: How does the group use spoken language? How does the group use written language? Why does this group meet? What is their purpose? What does one get from being a member?
What beliefs values or tastes does this group share? Do their specific actions demonstrate those beliefs values or tastes? How does this group act towards each other? Do they treat each other
differently than they would in other circumstances? How does this group see its place in the larger community? How do they define themselves in relation to other groups? The questions are endless;
any question is good that draws a pattern or a lesson from your observation. Remember that as you interpret you are conveying your own thoughts. There is no absolutely objective way to measure the
truth of what you say but it will be well supported if you can point to detailed observations to back up your thoughts. It is okay to say I think or to discuss your impressions and feelings.
Just use examples to show why you arrived at that thought.
High Quality: The second part of your papers body will try to find patterns and lessons in what you observed. You should try to bring up as many questions about your observation as you can think
of such as: How does the group use spoken language? How does the group use written language? Why does this group meet? What is their purpose? What does one get from being a member? What beliefs
values or tastes does this group share? Do their specific actions demonstrate those beliefs values or tastes? How does this group act towards each other? Do they treat each other differently
than they would in other circumstances? How does this group see its place in the larger community? How do they define themselves in relation to other groups? The questions are endless; any question
is good that draws a pattern or a lesson from your observation. Remember that as you interpret you are conveying your own thoughts. There is no absolutely objective way to measure the truth of
what you say but it will be well supported if you can point to detailed observations to back up your thoughts. It is okay to say I think or to discuss your impressions and feelings. Just use
examples to show why you arrived at that thought. 18-20 points
20.0 pts
Conclusion: The conclusion of the experience includes your personal reflection on the experience itself-how you felt what you thought how your ideas or perceptions of the group may have changed
or been altered based upon your experience.
High Quality: Student writes a conclusion of their experience and includes their thoughtful reflection of the experience. 4-5 points
5.0 pts
Technical Crieria: APA format was used for paper-including title page references page if applicable citations if applicable double spaced headings were used. Spelling grammar and word usage
are correct. Meets criteria for length of 5 pages.
High Quality: Paper has less than 2 APA format errors. paper has no more than 3 spelling grammar or word usage/punctuation errors 15 points
15.0 pts
Venice beach California skateboard park or Venice beach California basketball courts Or you can pick a area or place in Orange County California or in Los Angeles California I uploaded some
chapters that may help you dont have to use them. I also uploaded the assignment and rubric also. I uploaded a example PDF file on what they gave us.
Every case must have some form of conclusion. Merely answering the questions and not deciding what your recommended course of action is not a complete case. Many times there is no one right answer
so the defense of your answer will determine the suitability of the conclusion i.e. defend your answer.

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