Anthropology as a discipline is distinguished by its use of ethnography, the intense, intimate study of a small section of human society. This method brings with it both advantages and challenges. It allows anthropologists (and, by extension, their readers, project teams, and employers) to look into human motivations, concerns, hopes, and joys – in short, to see the fine detail of life behind the numbers of government reports, economic trends, opinion polls, and other statistics. At the same time, there is an intimate relationship between researcher and researched (individuals called informants, collaborators, partners, and often friends) that does not always exist in other fields. This course will chart the emergence of anthropology as a fieldwork science, and the changing features of ethnographic practice over 100 years of disciplinary history. We then engage with emerging trends and theories related to new fieldwork contexts like corporate and design applications, and digital anthropology.

Over the course of the semester we will survey and apply a broad range of anthropological methods. This course is structured as a practicum, emphasizing learning by doing. Each student will develop one project for the whole semester. Practicums will involve trialling, sharing, debating, and brainstorming applied anthropology in real world contexts.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. discuss and critically evaluate the history and significance of ethnography within anthropological research methods;
2. identify and formulate original anthropological questions as the basis for a range of fieldwork scenarios;
3. draw upon and apply a broad array of anthropological research methods to an independent ethnographic project; and
4. evaluate research design and develop advanced skills in communicating ethnographic findings to diverse audiences.

Field Trips

This is a research practicum, which means that students will be responsible for self-organising several independent fieldwork projects and workshopping their methods and data in the weekly practicum. No formal excursions or field trips will be organised.

Recommended Resources

A field notebook. Lots of pens.

Students enrolled in ANTH8059 postgraduate version of this project will read Decolonizing Ethnography: Undocumented Immigrants and New Directions in Social Science (Duke University Press, 2019). eBook copies will be available through the ANU library. If you would like to have a physical copy, it is recommended that you order it online before the course begins.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	What is Ethnography?
2	Going to the Field
3	Deep Hanging Out	Assessment Task #3 (Project 1: fieldnotes)
4	Thinking About Ethics
5	Talking to People	Assessment Task #2 (Book Club)
6	Sitting Still, Going Along	Assessment Task #3 (Project 2: interview)
7	Visualising
8	Digital #Anthropology
9	Object Analysis	Assessment Task #3 (Project 3: student choice)
10	Organisational Ethnography
11	Writing Up
12	Wrap Up	Assessment Task #3 (Project 4: student choice)
13	Final group projects	Assessment Task #4

Tutorial Registration

The mandatory practicum is required for all enrolled students

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Practicum Participation (weekly engagement with workshops 10% and one workshop facilitation 10%)	20 %	1,2,3,4
Book Club	15 %	1
Ethnographic Projects	50 %	2,3
Final reflective essay	15 %	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Practicum Participation (weekly engagement with workshops 10% and one workshop facilitation 10%)

Weekly “practicals” will engage students in hands-on learning. These 2-hr lab-based activities will ask students to understand and interpret the tutorial readings and apply concepts to original research topics.

Your participation in the practicums will be assessed according to (10%):

1. Engagement in individual and group tasks;
2. Comprehension and discussion of the readings, including asking questions;
3. Critical analysis of the readings using specific examples from your own fieldwork.

Each student will facilitate discussion during one workshop (10%). This will include:

1. Am 8-10min synthesis of the assigned reading(s)
2. Preparing discussion questions and/or activities for ~30min of group-based learning.

Assessment Task 2

Book Club

Students will be assigned to a group of 4-6 students as a “book club” to read the principal ethnography, to be read independently over weeks 1-6. They should organise to meet independently with their group during this time – a recommended 4 meetings, but at the discretion of the group.

Group assessment (10%):

Each group should audio and/or video record two short reflections that:

1. Define decolonial ethnography and assess its significance within the text
2. Analyse an ethnographic method employed by the research team and explain its most important theoretical insight

The total bookclub assessment should not exceed 20min.

Individual assessment (5%):

Write an analytic memo (no more than 500 words) evaluating their contribution to the “book club” and reflecting on a discussion topic that developed their understanding of ethnographic methods. The word limit does not include the bibliography.

Assessment Task 3

Ethnographic Projects

Students will be required to complete four (4) small project assignments. In addition to providing practice in the use of common ethnographic methods, these assignments are designed to encourage students to reflect on the value and limitations of individual methods.

Part A. Fieldnotes.

1. Take one event that has happened in the field and, if you haven’t already, write it up as full descriptive fieldnotes (this will be practiced in class in Week 3). This should be approximately 350-500 words.

2. Write an ‘analytic memo’ of 300-500 words reflecting on your experience of taking fieldnotes. This is a mini-analysis of what you think you have learnt during your experience, including what you have learned from the data as well as any limitations in your approach.

Word Count: 750-1000 words

Part B. Interview

1. Prepare an Interview Guide (we will practice this in class in week 5)

2. Conduct and record (using audio or video) a short key informant or group interview. Please see the lecturer if you want to check about the ethics of this sort of interview.

3. Transcribe 5-10 minutes of relevant discussion in the interview – include pauses, mumblings, important background noises, as well as time-stamps.

4. Draft a short analytical memo (1-2 pages, 500-750 words) that analyses what you have learned from the interview, as well as your reflections on the process.

Part C. Students should choose two (2) of the following projects (most relevant/feasible to your interests):

a) Survey:

i. Prepare a survey instrument. Feel free to email the survey protocol to the instructor before carrying it out.

ii. Present the results of the survey along with a 500-750 word analytic memo on how you administered the survey, what you learned from the exercise, and what would be similar/different about your approach in future survey contexts.

b) Archival Research

Archival research can include information found on official websites or other documentation produced by an organisation, a collection of news reports on specific events or organisations, library collections, databases, government documents, or other private collections. Email the instructor if you would like to discuss possible archive sources for your project and what types of questions to ask of that source.

i. Prepare notes summarising your archival research.

ii. Reflect on your notes to write a 750-1000 word analytical memo.

c) Object Analysis

Ephemera are objects created to be temporary and can include and can include letters, old boxes, advertising, leaflets, posters, packaging, birthday cards, book marks, brochures, invitations, magazines and periodicals, menus, pamphlets, programs, tickets, timetables, or postcards, among many others! Possible questions that can guide an ephemeral analysis include: what is the message/purpose of this object? Why/how was it produced? How can we think of it as a form of representation? What is the intended audience? What does it say about the time/space/context/condition of its production? How does it shape the social context you are studying?

i. Take photographs of the ephemera you have collected for analysis.

ii. Analyse the ephemera in a 750-1000 word analytical memo.

d) Digital Analysis

Participate and observe a digital platform, such as Twitter, Facebook, website, forum, game, Listserv, blog, etc. Consider the intended community of users, the forms of representation, and layout/design elements (affordances) of the digital platform. Consider deepening your analysis with formal or informal interviews about its use in daily practice. i. Prepare a 750-1000 word analytical memo reflecting on your participant observation.

e) Photo/Video Analysis

i. Analyse a photo or video you’ve taken for your field project or found through your research.

ii. Submit your notes, the photo with a caption, and a 500-750 word analytic memo using the photo as data.

f) Mapping Exercise

i. Draw a map (cognitive, community/participatory, GIS, Google, or otherwise) of a space, place, intersection, process, practice, event, or flow.

ii. Draft a 750-1000 word analytical and interpretive memo analysing the map. 

Assessment Task 4

Final reflective essay

Final individual reflective essay: (15%)

The final reflection essay will be based on analysis of activities and fieldnotes collected throughout the semester. Students will be expected to consider their successes and the conclusions they drew, but also to analyse how and why they would change their methodologies, and what questions they would investigate more carefully. The total word count of the should not exceed 2,000 words.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students