Get into the same peer review groups we worked in last time (we’ll have new groups for our first draft peer review next week). Read through the proposal.

1. Circle the place in the proposal that best describes the purpose of, and motivation behind, what the author will be doing. (You’re looking not necessarily for a thesis statement but rather for the statements that tell you what the author is trying to achieve with the project.)
2. Next, put a star next to the “so what” factor (i.e. why the author’s research matters, the bigger questions it’s addressing, etc.).
3. Look for descriptions of methods in the proposal, and underline them. Some things to look for: 
   1. Does the author tell you how they’re going to perform this research?
   2. Do they give enough detail?
   3. Logically speaking, will their methods work to address the issue they’re thinking about? Or are there holes in their planning? If so, point them out to help the author develop a more solid, manageable research plan
4. Write down two questions for the author that come up for you after reading the proposal (and that you think will be important for them to address in the project)

• Exercises 2/27/17: Ethnography and Proposals
• Exercises and Links, 3/6/17

Categories: In Class Writing and Exercises

Tags: ethnography, in class writing, methodology, peer review, primary research, proposal