Ethnography Research Paper
Upcoming Events:
1. Philippine Independence Day in Carson
2. Japanese festivals (search the calendar)
Description
Ethnographic research project requires first person observation by the researcher (you). You may observe Asian Americans in a variety of settings including restaurants, shops, ethnic enclaves, museums, events and festivals, etc. Then, write an ethnographic paper that connects your observations to our academic study of Asian American communities. You will write about this event through your personal experience and analyze how the event connects to issues of cultural pluralism and Asian Americans as discussed in class.
Objectives
- Purpose:
? To conduct original research and write an ethnography of a local community event or institution to understand specific issues connected to an Asian American community and its relationship to the wider society.
- Connection to Course Objectives:
? to understand the diverse contemporary issues concerning Asian American communities and the historical, social, economic, political and cultural factors underlying those issues.
Format
- 3 pages, 12 point font, 1" margins, References Cited page, MLA preferred
- Due date, see BB; No late papers in summer session unless you take an Incomplete.
- Upload to Turnitin Link on the contents page "Final Paper"
- The paper for 20% of your final grade.
Places to conduct research:
- Do a longer interview with one or more Asian immigrants. Compare their stories.
- Churches with a sizeable Asian American presence
- Businesses such as restaurants, nail salons, and groceries (ask permission please)
- Cultural organizations and events (several coming up!!)
- Various "towns" in the L.A. area: Little Tokyo, Little Saigon, Chinatown, Thai Town, Historic Filipinotown, Little India...
- Non-profit organizations (get permission!)
- Cultural Shows on college campuses (Filipino Cultural Night for example)
Research Questions before you go:
- Why did you choose this place or event?
- What were your assumptions before you did your project?
- What did you discover from your actual experience? --How did your experiences compare to the usual stereotypes about Asian Americans?
- Focus your questions on something specific! How did this event provide an answer to one of your questions?
What to observe:
- Observe what is going on around you:
? Where is your research site?
? Why is it taking place?
? Who is the audience? Who are the organizers or leader?
? What is the purpose of the event?
? What importance do you think this place or
event has on the local community?
? What is your personal experience?
? WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
? Support your thesis with your observations.
Introduction
Your first paragraph introduces your essay to the reader.
- Briefly describe the event/place you researched, and its importance in relation to issues examined in this course. State your argument about the importance of this event.
- When you are finished writing your essay, go back and rewrite your thesis to reflect your findings. Don't wait to present your argument at the end! You want to put this in the beginning. "I argue that Carson's Philippine Independence Day event is important for Filipino Americans because it acknowledges their contributions to U.S. history and allows them to share pride in their identity with others. I observed many Filipino Americans expressing pride by speaking Tagalog, etc..."
Final Projects
Body of Paper:
- Each paragraph should go towards supporting your thesis, and last sentence in paragraph should connect the information to your thesis.
- Describe your experience but also analyze this experience commenting on it.
- You must demonstrate knowledge of the course material and course objectives. Find 1-3 direct quotes from the reading to incorporate into your paper.
Final Projects
Conclusion:
Summarize your paper. Reiterate your research question and how your supported your thesis. State how the experience added to your knowledge of Asian American lives, Los Angeles' diversity, and U.S. history (i.e. the course material from this class).
Proper Citation of Sources
- Use 1-3 relevant quotes from the readings to support your points.
- If you are citing demographics, make sure it is from an up-to-date and reputable source.
- Any dates or statistics need to be cited. Anything that you did not personally research or witness should be cited.
- When you quote someone during an interview, this should be cited as well: (Interview with Mr. Allen Lee, 2015).
- If a source is just throwing numbers out there, how can the reader verify that this information is true or that the person using these statistics is accurate? Always question where someone or an organization gets their information. You have to be able to make up your own mind about their interpretation of the information.