What has this experience suggested to you about how you observe people or about doing ethnography?

Overview
For this assignment, you will undertake an off-campus ethnographic observation. It doesn’t matter so much what you observe, but the situation should be of interest to you. The main requirement is that there be social interaction of some kind. I encourage you to be adventurous and to enjoy yourself. If you play it too safe, you might not learn very much, and that will be apparent in your finished draft. At the same time, of course, culture, as we conceive of it, takes place everywhere, even in the most routine daily interactions. Can you depict your cultural scene with fresh eyes? The main criterion is that there be human interaction that you can observe, describe, analyze, interpret and reflect upon. The presentations, readings, and activities in Modules 1-3 should help you to undertake this assignment.
The assignment itself should comprise two parts.
Part A: Observation:
This section’s suggested length is 2-3 pages. Depending on the situation, you can adopt one of two strategies:
Sit and observe while taking notes. Note as many details as you can. Focus on how the “natives” behave and what they say (if you can hear them). If appropriate, you may interact or ask questions. This approach focuses more on observing.
Participate yourself in a situation. If you cannot write down notes, make mental notes. As soon as possible afterward, sit down and write down your thoughts as accurately as possible. You may, of course, combine the two approaches.
This option may constitute more of a challenge because you will be reconstructing your observation from memory. If you wait too long, the details will begin to fade and your description may be too vague.
Afterward, use your notes to type out a more polished observation.
Part B: Analysis/Interpretation:
“Hmm, what do I think is going on culturally?” This section’s suggested length is 1-2 pages.
In a concluding section, analyze and interpret your observation from an anthropological or cultural perspective. I’ll be particularly impressed if you are able to draw on course readings. If you cite these refer to author and page in parentheses: (Bohannon, p. 25).
What can you say, culturally about the particular situation you have observed? What questions does this raise in your mind?
Do not indulge in sweeping generalizations.
(i.e., “Everybody in the bar was a drunken fool,” but rather, “The three groups I observed watching the sporting event displayed very different behaviors.”).
How can you relate your analysis or what you have observed back to class readings or discussion? (This is key.)
What have you been able to see, and what haven’t you been able to see?
You might also reflect on your experience as a “participant-observer.” How did you feel while undertaking the observation? What has this experience suggested to you about how you observe people or about doing ethnography?

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