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This page contains descriptions of assignments and links to detailed assignment sheets

Copyright Annette N. Markham 1999

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Team Discussion

Once during the semester, you and your teammates will teach the class and facilitate class discussion (45 of the 75 minute period). During the first two weeks of class, your team will select the date of your presentation/teaching/discussion.

Choice of format is open. You may be as creative as you wish, as long as the material is covered adequately and your group stays within the time limits.

Your goal is not to simply summarize the reading. Additionally, you should discuss the implications of the reading, given the concepts we have been discussing in class. You should strive to enhance our understanding of organizational communication concepts and issues, using the reading as a tool for discussion. In short, do not simply discuss the reading....use the reading to launch your discussion of relevant, related concepts and ideas.

To see the teaching schedule and list of groups, click here.

Term Research Paper: Ethnography of an Organization

Each student will complete an analysis of an organization using the theories and practices of ethnographic researchers. Basically, this type of research views organizations as cultures and focuses on the sense-making practices of organizational members. The researcher is typically a participant-observer who spends a

lot of time with the organization, observing artifacts, rites and rituals, and everyday activities. The researcher also interviews organizational members to try to understand how the members create and sustain the organizational culture through their communication practices. The researcher is also seeking to understand how the members themselves make sense of the organization as a whole or some aspect of organizational practices.

Elements of your research project will be written at different junctures of the semester, to facilitate early topic choice and research. Final paper is due during the last week of classes. Paper length is 13-15 pages, not including complete bibliography and title page. At least ten sources are required, all of which help to explain or justify theory and method.

I urge you to begin work on this project early in the semester. Feel free to talk to me about any and all stages of your work. I will be happy to meet with you to discuss theoretical issues, method questions, specific strategies for collecting information, analysis and interpretation of data, and so forth. Also, you may wish to submit drafts of your research paper for feedback and suggestions.

• Early in the semester you will be asked to select a specific organization that will be the basis of your research paper. Begin thinking now about an organization you wish to study. Also look ahead in the textbooks and packet readings to think about how you will analyze the organization using ethnographic methods.
• You will be asked to submit a one page description of the organization and later, an annotated bibliography of your research to date on ethnographic methods and previous studies of organizations (at least ten sources)
• You will be asked to submit a five page in-depth description of the organization, based on your initial observations and study.
• You will be asked to submit a three page discussion and justification of your method of information gathering (data collection) and interpretation (data analysis), using the sources previously annotated.
• You will be given the opportunity to have a partner review the final draft of your research paper.
• Finally, you will submit your final version of the research paper.

Organizational Description #1

Annotated Bibliography

Discussion and Justification of method and theory

Five page organizational analysis

completed Research Report