Elizabeth Geib; ENGL 106; Spring 2018

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 example, 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 might 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 identity to the world at large. 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 to illuminate a culture through its impact on you and
others through the lens of that event. Typically, autoethnographies are based off of qualitative research that
reflects on self-experiences which ultimately connects to the larger political and/or socio economical global
sphere. We have talked about the larger, global sphere quite a bit in class, and will continue to do so in the coming
weeks. You will need the following:
 at least 2 sources represented somewhere on your website which are cited properly and developed
within your overarching argument/purpose.
 2 different mediums within your website (videos, images, text, etc.)
 a developed argument/purpose clearly represented on your website
 A description section explaining the purpose of your project.

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 research, outside of what you already know. In
order for an autoethnography to be complete, you will need to decide what type of research is best for your
particular project/ topic (Ex: primary research, evaluating sources, archival research, etc.) This research (Just as
all other components of this project) should be represented on your website and reflection. We will go over how
to do research. For most autoethnographies, interviews are an effective research method. Many times, when you
study a particular place, that place has a connection of people. That connection of people, affects the environment
Elizabeth Geib; ENGL 106; Spring 2018

in which you study. You cannot study the environment without those people who affect it. I ask that you include
at least two sources. Again, “sources” can be expanded to much more than articles on a database. We will talk
about the research component of this project in more depth in the coming weeks.

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
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. I’m 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 of web design throughout the
next few weeks. Please note that you will be writing much of what a traditional autoethnography consists of, but
will present this information on a web page. This allows you to play with 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. We will specifically go over WordPress and WIX in class, but you are welcome to use a
different platform.

Format:
When you cite information on your web site, you will need to follow the format that you chose at the beginning of
the semester. Your reflection essay should also follow this formatting style.

Project Components:
 Project Proposal (10%)- In a 1-2 page proposal (approximately 200-500 words), I ask that you share your
project ideas with me. I have provided a proposal sheet for you that asks you specific questions (this
proposal is a little more structured than the one for P1). Feel free to use this document as your template
and just delete the descriptions I included. Due on Tuesday, 3/27 on Blackboard at 8:30 AM
 Check-In (10%)- You are asked to complete a check-in as in project two but this time, you will be asked
to complete certain deliverables on your website. You can consider this a mix of a rough draft and the
check-in you had for project two. The purpose of this is so that you do not procrastinate, so that your
peer review partner can give you feedback, and so I can provide suggestions as well. As always, I will
provide instructions on what to have done for this portion of the project. Due on Wednesday, 4/11 on
Blackboard (and sent to your partner for peer review) at 8:30 AM
 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. I will pass out a peer-review sheet for you to fill out.
We will have peer review on Wednesday 4/11 and Thursday 4/12. Your feedback is due by 8:30
Friday, 4/13 at 8:30 AM to your partner and CC’d to me in the email.
 Web Site/ Blog (40%)- A large portion of your overall P3 grade will be dedicated towards your digital
autoethnography. I will provide you with a rubric for this but basically, I’m looking at the rhetorical
significance, creativity, and thoughtful analyses. I do not want you to treat this as a personal diary. You
are asked to relate a part of your personal identity to larger themes within the global sphere. You are
asked to clearly show and develop your research, to make effective use of an online space, and to meet
the objectives stated above. We will look at examples in class. Due Monday, 4/30 on Blackboard at
8:30 AM.
 Reflection (20%)- In a 2-3-page (approximately 500-700 words) 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
Elizabeth Geib; ENGL 106; Spring 2018

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 can’t 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. Due
Monday, 4/30 on Blackboard at 8:30 AM.
 Presentation (10%)- In week 16 (our last week of class), you will present your project. I ask that you
share the process of your project with the class, explain to us what your project consist of, the
overarching purpose of your project, and other important key points you feel it is necessary to share with
the class. I will provide more details and a rubric for presentations as this unit moves forward.