Ms.

Elizabeth Geib, ENGL 106

Project #3: Autoethnography

Objective:
This project asks you to create an autoethnography web page or blog that represents a particular culture, place,
language, ethnicity, race, gender, etc. that has meaning to your life. For examples, you may choose to study a
place of tradition within your family or a place that means something to you personally. You may look back at the
history of your language and create an autoethnography that reflects how your language makes you who you are
in relation to the rest of the world. You may reflect on your religion, gender, ethnicity, or culture through your
family history. The point of this assignment is for you to relate a facet of your life to that themes representation in
society. For example, you may choose to study old letters given to you by your great grandmother. You might
study a particular place close to home such as a church, a museum, a park, a garden, a house, etc. that represents
your family history. It is important to not so much tell a story, but illuminate a culture through its impact on you
and others through the lens of that event.

Starter Question:
Is there a particular place that has cultural significance to your family and/or yourself?
Where did you grow up? What restaurants, stores, parks, etc. did you go to as a child? What is memorable
about those places and how do those places effect who you are today?
What languages do you speak? How are your experiences with your native language different from any
other language you may speak? Were there challenges in learning a new language? How do all languages
effect who you are?
How is it adapting to a new environment (moving from home to college)? How does your ethnicity,
religion, gender, etc. fit into your identity as a college student?

Focus:
Creating an autoethnography can be difficult, especially if you focus on too much at one time. If you were to
explain your entire life, or maybe even the key moments in your life, we would need much longer than 5 weeks to
complete this project. With that said, you will need to find a focus; a topic that will guide you through the
ethnographic process. The questions above are to aid you in thinking what aspect of your life that you would like
to narrow in on. Keep in mind that your topic must speak to the larger, socio-economic global sphere. For
example, if you decided to talk about your gender, you will also need to have an understanding for how gender
relates to the world at large.

Research:
In order to complete your final product, you will need to do some outside research, outside of what you already
know. In order for an autoethnography to be complete, you will need decided what type of research is best for
your particular project/ topic (Ex: primary research, evaluating sources, archival research, etc.) This research (just
all other components of this project) should be represented on your website and analysis/reflection. We will go
over many examples of research. For most autoethnographys, interviews are an effective research method. Many
times when you study a particular place, that place has people connected- therefore, interviewing the people who
alter the environment in which you studying will be helpful.

Audience:
Your audience will depend on the focus/ topic of your autoethnography, but for the most part, your project should
adapt to the general public. You want the piece of your life that you are capturing to relate to the world in some

Ms. Elizabeth Geib, ENGL 106

way. For example, avoid using jargon that you do not have the space to discuss. Testing your communication is
essential for the overall effectiveness of this project. What may seem obvious to you, many not be obvious to
others.

Medium:
You are asked to create a web page that represents your research. Im giving you the option to use whatever
website you feel comfortable using. Even if you feel like you are not experienced with web design you probably
know more than you think you do. We will go over many good and bad examples in class throughout the next few
weeks. Please note that you will be writing much of what a typical autoethnography consists of, but you will be
taking the written portion and positioning it on a web page. This allows you to play with multiple different
mediums in order to capture your ethnography in a unique way. We will spend some time going over/getting
familiar with your different options for webpages.

Format:
You have the option to use MLA or APA format. I suggest that you take this as an opportunity to use a format that
you will use in the future.

Project Components:
Abstract (10%)- In a 1-2 paragraph abstract, you are asked to highlight your main objective for this
project.
Rough Draft (10%)- In week 3, you will send me a rough draft of what you have worked on up to
this point. You will have your abstract turned in, and should have other components of your project
carefully thought out and placed on the page. I will provide a grading rubric for both the rough draft and
final draft.
Peer review (10%)- Similar to other peer-reviews, we will dedicate class time to exchange
projects and provide feedback for your partner to move forward. Considering this project has many
components, we will spend two days reviewing/ providing feedback. I will pass out a peer-review sheet
for you to fill out.
Presentation/ Final draft (50%)- In addition to turning in a final version of your web page,
you will present your project to the class. You are asked to explain your process throughout the project,
and walk us through the different components of your web page.
Analysis/Reflection (20%)- In a 3-4-page essay, you are going to explain in detail the design,
purpose, and techniques that go into your website. In other words, you are discussing what problems you
faced, what decision you made, what your reasons are for making one choice over another, what
techniques you used and why, etc. When I read your explanatory essay, I want to see how well you
understand the complexities and nuances of writing, rhetoric, and design. Obviously, you cant cover
absolutely everything, so you might want to make a list of the most important things, and address them
in appropriate detail. Length should be 3-4 pages, typed, double-spaced. I will be your audience.

Schedule:
Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Week 13
Week 14

Conferences
Conferences

Conferences
Conferences

Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 16

Conferences
Conferences
Conferences
Finals Week

Introduce project
Proposals are
due
Peer review
Presentations
Project is due

Conferences
Conferences
Conferences

Thursday

Friday

Peer review
Presentations

Presentations

Ms. Elizabeth Geib, ENGL 106