Back to course description Hi Everybody, Three of your assignments -- 6, 8 and 10 -- depend on information you gather from your observations of a subculture. What do I mean by "subculture"? According to The Columbia Dictionary of Modern Literary and Cultural Criticism, "Generally speaking, the term subculture refers to a distinctive clique within a larger social group . . . subcultural activity does not aim to overthrow the dominant culture in the name of some more humane vision, but seeks only a measure of autonomy expressed in symbolic gestures, such as the distinctive forms of clothing, speech, and music . . ." (290-291). Make plans to observe a group with which you are not familiar. It could be your brother's Cub Scout pack, your mom's finance group, a friend's computer club: any group where there is significant social interaction. Ideally, you will not be a member of this group. For example, say you have always been fascinated by the clique of "regulars" who go to your local coffee house daily, as if it were an important ritual that gives their lives meaning. What is it that compels them to go there each day? Why do they get along so well in this isolated half hour to an hour of time and never have anything to do with each other outside of the coffee house? Why do they have their own little rules and codes? How were these codes introduced and how did a silent consensus form? If you MUST observe a group of which you are a member, please email me with some details so I can evaluate whether the group is appropriate. (Before emailing me, please read this whole assignment.) Plan to observe this group for at least 5 hours. Fewer hours are not permitted. More hours are good. You only need to observe the group for 1 hour to write the #6 Narrative. The rest of the observation time should be spread out over the rest of our term, finishing your minimum 5 hours before you start writing Assignment #8. Don't get too caught up in the details of writing Assignments #5 or #8 right now. What you need to focus on now is choosing the group to observe. Part of this course is learning to schedule your time wisely and independently. It is crucial that you make a schedule NOW for the rest of the term. Don't just assume you can drop in any time for do the observations later. Set a schedule. Put it on your calendar. - You MAY NOT CHOOSE groups that are dangerous for you or other people. No terrorists. No drug rings. No Columbine High School types. No bungee jumping. Nothing illegal. Nothing dangerous. Nothing unhealthy.
Be aware that comments about dangerous actions (for you or anybody else, including allegations of abuse of any sort or threats to use violence) must legally be referred to the people in charge of this program and,ultimately, to the University's General Counsel (lawyers). After consultation with the University's General Counsel, action may be required in your home state. The particular action depends on where you live and can have quite far-reaching consequences. In short, please choose your group wisely.
- You may not disrupt the group beyond your entrance into it. Please don't use your course as an excuse to disturb the group's usual activities. Your job is to observe, take notes, learn about these people, and write an essay for me.
- Discuss your choice of a group with your parents since they are likely to have to drive you to the meeting site or approve your late stays at school or whatever) and get parental/guardian approval to join the group.
- Look for a group with significant interaction among the same people. A group of ice-fisherfolk on one lake that each fishes in separate ice-fisher houses and never speak to each other is inappropriate. A kiosk in a shopping mall might not work well because the customers would be constantly changing, and the number of employees would be too few to observe extensive interaction. A group of Warhammer players who paint their own models in shared space and don't speak to each other is inappropriate. A group of chess players who kibitz each other is okay BECAUSE there is social interaction. A group of mall walkers might work perfectly for this assignment. (Kindly choose your own group rather than following these examples.)
- Choose a group that is accessible. If you live in Seattle, don't choose an ice skating class in Minneapolis. If your parents will have to drive you, be sure they're willing to do that as often as necessary.(Also, don't use this obligation to evade another obligation: "I can't mow the lawn because I have to do my observations.")
- Choose a group that isn't composed of people exactly like you. The idea here is that you are learning about folks who aren't you. Although some writers have been wonderful self-observers (Proust, perhaps), it's easier to observe people you don't know (or whom you don't know well in the context of this group).
- Pick a group that you're going to be comfortable working with for the next few weeks. Make sure it's a group that will hold your interest. In fact, pick a group that you will ENJOY learning more about! Use the WebCt workshop discussion board to bounce your ideas off your fellow writers.
Once you have decided on the social group that you will observe, write a paragraph or two (but no more -- this is not a formal essay) letting me know about the group you intend to observe for our upcoming Subculture Observation Project. Include - the name of the group,
- the type of group it is (the purpose of the group),
- and how often it will meet during our course term.
Indicate - that you have or can get your parent's permission to observe,
- as well as any permission you may need from the group itself.
As you are thinking this through, - make sure you will have ready transportation to the group meetings when you need it.
Along with those essential details, - show me why you are excited to be observing this subculture (thereby getting me excited about the possibilities)
This is not a report of your observations of the group. It is a proposal about which group you want to observe. Do not start observing until you have received my approval of your group. Once your group is approved, start observing and take good notes. Your first report on your observation is in Lesson 6. Now that you know what you'll be doing over the whole course, it's time to go on to your first full-fledged assignment. Back to Level 4 Course Description | 
