Graduate Student

Paper
 
 

Internet Ethnography

    1. The paper must be 12-25 pages/3,000 - 6,250 words.
    2. The paper must address a specific "community" that has been observed through, though not necessarily exclusively, a network-mediated communication technology broadly defined.
    3. The "community" must be approved by the instructor in face-to-face or email correspondence before the informal presentation on or before November 30 by 5 PM.
    4. The paper must be presented informally at the assigned time.
    5. The paper must be emailed to rgh[NOSPAM]rghoward.com on or before December 20 at 5 PM via email attachment in pdf., .rtf, .or .doc format.

 

Your paper must answer all parts of the following question in a holistic and single essay with the main thesis being the answer to the first (primary) sentence of the prompt.

Primary Prompt

Are so-called "Internet," "network-based," "cyber" or "virtual" communities essentially like or essentially different from so-called "Real World" communities?

Auxiliary Components

Define and justify what you mean by the word "community"?

Using specific examples of online discourse, define a single real "community" that you have observed through at least one network mediated commuication technology broadly defined.

Specifically, describe (cite real discourse or other human actions) what "cues" or other criteria you feel justified your definition of the discourse as a community. For example, how is it bounded? What does it do? At least some of these "cues" must have been observed"online" by you.

Articulate one or a series of related "questions for further research" that your example of "online community" raises.

Finally, in a conclusionary manner, articulate a proposed research methodology to answer those questions based on the discourse you have been describing.

Cite texts from the course. A good paper brings in other readings about the specific community as well as the methodological points that you feel arise specifically from your example. Bonus points, of course, for "cool," "extreme," "problematic," or particularly "exemplary" communities. Choosing a good example is everything here!