As a research methodology, ethnography has firmly arrived—yet it remains the most misunderstood area of composition studies. Is it naturalistic research or teacher research or case-study research? What makes some research ethnographic and other research not? Where would this writing take place? In her new book, Wendy Bishop takes you through such questions to questions of your own, helping you make the most of your own ethnographic enterprises.
The primary goal of Ethnographic Writing Research is to help you conduct your day-to-day research—whether it means developing an informal classroom report, writing a dissertation prospectus and study, or participating in local, civic literacy research. Discussions are provided to help you read ethnographic work—your own and that of others—with more critical sensitivity and with more insight. In tone and content, the book is at once personal, anecdotal, and professional . . .
- walking you through issues
- posing real and imaginary research problems
- sharing research anecdotes
- offering research guidelines and checklists
- providing sample miniethnographies for discussion and an extensive bibliography.
For those initiating small classroom-based ethnographies, this book will provide a fieldguide or a blueprint—an initial talking-through of issues and decision points. For those already involved in a deeper, long-term engagement with the methodology, the book will continue the conversation.
