Overview
Prepare to write your Autoethnographic Essay by providing a 2-page outline of your paper. This can be a basic point-form list of your essay’s structure and the course concepts that your essay will cover plus at least 3 academic sources that you will use.
Read the Autoethnography Essay Questions and formatting guidelines (please read all questions through)
1. Introduction
a. Discuss: What topic/experience your autoethnographic paper will address, and why it is important to your understanding of language? What course concepts will you use to examine this experience?
b. Tentative thesis, argument, or key insight of your paper: _______________
2. Paragraph
Key points or sub-arguments to include in this paragraph
a. ...
b. ...
3. Paragraph
Key point or sub-arguments to include in this section
a. ...
b. ...
4. Paragraph
Key point or sub-arguments to include in this section
a. ...
b. ...
5. Essay Conclusion
a. Discuss implications: The conclusion section is often a useful area for addressing the broader implications of your argument. What are some implications of your argument for how we understand language and communication in the social world?
Autoethnographic Writing Assignment - Choose one:
1) Linguistic Autobiography: In 1000 - 1,250 words (4 to 5 double-spaced pages), write a short narrative that reflects on your linguistic “repertoire” across your life-stages. Your repertoire is the range of different linguistic resources that you have employed as a speaker and communicator, reflective of the various contexts you interact in. Pick one or two concepts in the course, and craft an argument in relation to some of the following questions:
Where did you grow up? What social groups, persons, settings, TV shows and media most shaped you linguistically?
What languages or varieties did you / do you use? Which communities, language ideologies, and value systems are these linked to? When and where do you practice code-switching or style-shifting? How do you experience your multilingualism?
How has your linguistic repertoire changed across your lifetime? (childhood, adulthood, as a U of T student)
What varied communities of practice are you a part of?
What is your relationship to “standardized” languages?
Important: Do your experiences reflect or question a theory discussed in this course? What unique insights about language-use and communication do your experience reveal to you?
A strong assignment will refer to specific concepts in the course to reflect on some of the questions above.
Here is an example of a linguistic autobiography Links to an external site. written by linguist, Anne Charity Hudley.
2) Language practices in your field: What language-practices lie in your linguistic future? In 1000 to 1,250 words (4-5 double-spaced pages), analyze the linguistic practices in your planned career or area of study. Use stories or first-hand concrete examples to craft an argument about the following:
How does your chosen career field or profession linguistically socialize new members? What register (or, cultural model of speaking and acting) will you have to learn to perform effectively in this field? What does an ideal member talk like and “think” like? (Mertz 2007).
What specific practices, habits, or rituals are used to socialize and train speakers in your career?
What specific linguistic skills matter in your career? (i.e. being persuasive, argument, writing skills, listening, sharing information, etc.)
Important: What worldview and language ideologies are linked to this professional register of speaking and acting? How would someone in your career “talk about” language or communication, for example?
What cultural value systems do these ideas about language reflect?
As a future member of this field, do you agree or disagree with this socialization? Why?
3) Everyday media ideologies: Just as there are various language ideologies, there are also varied media ideologies that shape how people understand and use a given communication medium (social media, the telephone, etc.). In Gershon’s study of Facebook, The Breakup 2.0, she defines media ideologies as “a set of beliefs about communicative technologies with which users and designers explain structure and meaning. That is to say, what people think about the media they use will shape the way they use media” (2010, 3). Choose one social media platform that you use regularly and observe yourself using this platform over a few days. In 1,000 to 1,250 words (4-5 double-spaced pages), analyze your media ideologies about this platform and craft an argument that considers some of the following:
What types of interaction do you use the platform for? With whom? What are the platform’s different affordances? (Likes, reacts, captions, re-tweets, etc.)
What are some unstated rules of communication on this platform? (How should posts or responses work? Is there a time-frame for responding? What counts as casual or formal? Inappropriate or ideal uses of this platform?
How do users of this platform speak about, critique, or compare themselves to users of other platforms? (ex: Facebook vs. X)
KEY: What disagreements exist on the proper way to communicate on this platform? (If you have encountered disagreement, what was the other person’s media ideology? How was the disagreement resolved, or not?)
If you could no longer use this platform, how would your social life be different?
If you choose to write on this topic, the readings from Weeks 11 to 13 will be helpful, and should appear in your discussion. Week 12 (Communication and Social Media II) will discuss media ideologies in detail.
Optional - Graphic Autoethnography
Because communication exceeds words, anthropologists have recently started to use a wider range of modes, media, and graphics alongside texts and written ethnographies. These graphic representations include (but are not limited to) comics, cartoons, videos, sketches, photographs, and drawings. The growing area of graphic anthropology uses artistic, visual, and photographic media to communicate ethnographic experience and reflection. Graphic methods allow anthropologists to experiment with different ways of sharing images, feelings, experiences, sounds, and encounters in fieldwork, enabling knowledge to be shared with broader audiences.
In answering questions 1), 2) or 3) above, you can choose to submit your Autoethnography Essay in graphic and visual form: when presenting your argument, you are invited to use comics, sketches, paintings, or photographs (that you take or assemble) to accompany your written text. Examples of an acceptable autoethnographic essay in this form include:
A 4-5 page comic strip that depicts ethnographic details and conveys your argument
A 4-5 page written autoethnographic narrative that includes photographs or illustrations
If you choose this option, please submit the indicated number of pages in graphic work (4 to 5 pages). Like a written essay, please cite your sources and include a References section in addition to the graphic pages (instructions below).
Formatting and Citation Guidelines
If your assignment is a paper:
Formatting: Double-spaced, 1” margins, 12 pt font. Please include your name and your TA's name on your paper.
Citation: If you quote a source from this course, or elsewhere, directly or indirectly, please cite the source using The Chicago Manual of Style's author-date format. Please also provide a list of References at the end of your paper.
Here are some examples Links to an external site. of how to cite using the author-date format, and how to list references for different kinds of texts using the Chicago style.
If your assignment is a graphic work:
Formatting: Format your assignment according to your chosen visual medium. Please include your name and your TA's name on page 1 of your assignment. Please submit the work as a PDF to Quercus.
Citation: If you refer to or quote an academic reading in your graphic assignment, please include a citation wherever your writing appears in your work using The Chicago Manual of Style's author-date format (i.e. in the captions or speech bubbles of your work, etc.). Please also provide a traditional list of References at the end of your assignment.
Resources: If you would like to see examples of autoethnographic writing and graphic work before starting your project, the Quercus page Autoethnography Resources provides links to some autoethnographic essays and resources available online.
**end of writing assignment**
Rubric
Fall 2024, Autoethnographic Writing Assignment Rubric
Fall 2024, Autoethnographic Writing Assignment Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Critical analysis and use of course concepts & material
Student work engages clearly with course concepts or materials. Shows critical thinking and application of course concepts.
40 to >31.0 pts
A: Excellent and clear engagement with course concepts (80 - 100%)
31 to >27.0 pts
B: Good engagement with course concepts (70 - 79%)
27 to >23.0 pts
C: Adequate engagement with course concepts (60-69%)
23 to >19.0 pts
D: Unclear engagement with course concepts (50-59%)
19 to >0 pts
No engagement with course concepts, or no work submitted
40 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Argument and Organization of work
Written or graphic work shows attention to organization, indicating an intended structure (whether as an academic essay or visual work). Work advances and develops a clear point, argument, or insight relevant to course content.
40 to >31.0 pts
A: Excellent Organization and clear Argument (80-100%)
31 to >27.0 pts
B: Good Organization and Argument (70-79%)
27 to >23.0 pts
C: Adequate Organization of work and Argument (60-69%)
23 to >19.0 pts
D: Unclear Organization of work. Argument not stated or missing (50-59%)
19 to >0 pts
No Organization or Argument, or no work submitted
40 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Citation and Referencing
Student work cites at least 3-4 academic sources. List of references is complete, in Chicago format. Student's and TA's name are clearly indicated on the first page. Assignment follows page limits and formatting guidelines.
10 to >8.0 pts
A: Excellent attention to citations and references (80-100%)
8 to >7.0 pts
B: Good attention to citation and referencing (70-79%)
7 to >6.0 pts
C: Adequate attention to citation and referencing (60-69%)
6 to >0 pts
D: Missing citations and references, or no work submitted (0-59%)
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Research quality and AI disclosure
Essay shows evidence of research and draws on peer-reviewed academic publications. Essay shows thoughtful engagement with its scholarship. Where AI has contributed to the writing process, the student AI disclosure is included and complete.
10 pts
Excellent
5 pts
Satisfactory
0 pts
Incomplete or no work submitted
10 pts
Total Points: 100
Please give me the outline tomorrow and you have 5 days to finish the essay.