TASK (An academic case study , 2000 words, using direct, straight sentences and clear material)
You are to conduct a case study incorporating ethnography as one of your research methods. Choose a specific consumption practice (luxury shopping-recommend or eating at a specific restaurants) and critically analyse and discuss the consumer culture/contexts surrounding that practice. In this case, ethnography means observations of ‘the field’ – where your object is from, where your consumption practice takes place, how you use your object, how you engage in the consumption practice, etc. You are not expected to conduct interviews, take photographs, or engage in any methodological practice outside of making your own critical observations related to the object/practice.
This assignment is designed to encourage you to integrate your subjectivity as a critical consumer/individual in consumer culture, and to gauge your understanding of the ways that practice informs theory (and/or vice versa) in everyday contexts.
NOTES
You are encouraged to formulate your own questions, but here are some you could address for ‘practice’ (these are not required in your case study, but can be used as a guide; you should aim to respond to at least two key questions, either of your own or a version of one from this list):
_What kind of people engage in this consumption practice?
_How is your object used?
_How has the consumption of your object/practiced changed? If not, why not?
_How might your practice influence the way we think of ‘consumption’?
_What does ‘consumer culture’ look like for your practice?
_What processes are involved in the production of your object/practice? Are these processes evident to the consumer?
_How is your object/practice implicated in socio-economic or environmental issues?
You will be expected to refer to at least two key concepts (Taste, Habitas, Class) to show Skeggs’s comcept of class as performative (2004) challenges Boudies’s link between taste and distinction. You are engaged in further research, i.e. outside the texts provided in the unit reader.
The concepts discussed in this essay are expected to be different to those discussed in your Media Analysis (assessment one).
Essay Plan
Introduction:
-What is your topic about? (Of what do I need to demonstrate an understanding?)
-Why are you examining this topic? (key question)
-How will you answer the „what‟ and „why‟?
-What is my key argument, and what materials can I use to support this?
Body (2-3 paragrahs):
Critical analyze
If you are asked to critically analyse something, it means that you must consider and evaluate the claims made by theorists whose work you have read. Ask yourself if the basis of their claims is sound, and whether they apply or are relevant to the situation/example.
It is you who must be critical, and base your judgment on, for example, a balanced reading and overview of what people have written about your chosen topic. This does not mean merely disagreeing with it, but critical analysis requires that you consider its strengths and weaknesses and where possible, demonstrate how they are so, through concrete examples. Critical analysis can be understood as “the skill to engage in an activity with reflexive skepticism” (McPeck 1981, p. 8).
Analyze
Examine closely, break down the topic or concept into a set of components. Identify the main areas, look for relationships between them, show that you understand how the parts contribute to the whole. Evaluate by drawing conclusions about the significance of these components.
Discuss
Investigate and present the different aspects of a problem or subject and draw some conclusion, supporting this with evidence.
Evaluate
Judge the value of a subject critically.
Conclusion
Reference
Using all the readings I attached and at least 2 more further reading about Bourdieu and Skeggs.
Follow the Harvard Style I attached.
Words to avoid in undergraduate essays
society no no no no no: never.
the West/Western society you need to be more specific – perhaps refer to a subculture or a much more specific audience
civilisation too vague
humanity also too vague
proof/prove we do not ‘prove’ anything in academia, unless it’s a mathematical proof
In my opinion your arguments should be based on evidence and academic rigour, not your opinion
whilst (use while)
amongst (among)
Its/it’s: The tree lost its leaves.
It’s (it is) Monday today.
Furthermore (further)
Firstly…secondly… (First… second…)
foodie (unless in a derogatory manner)
at the end of the day (be better than this!)
nowadays
modern (use contemporary)
Throughout history…
the average consumer… (try to be specific – we should know by now there is no ‘average’ consumer)
For all intents and purposes… (avoid preamble when making a point)
?? rhetorical questions (your essay is responding to a question/discussion point. Suggesting further lines of inquiry is fine, but avoid posing questions to which you cannot provide sufficient answers)
Grammar and punctuation
Apostrophes are not for plurals!!! Apostrophes signify ownership, or a word contraction.
Ownership: Jessica’s cat is named Bob. I went to my parents’ house yesterday. (note plural apostrophe)
Contraction: Don’t be a jerk. (do not) I won’t be coming to the party. (will not)
Commas should be used when a short break is required in the sentence. For example, I have just used a comma to allow a small pause after the word example. Certainly, commas add to the rhythm of your writing, and clarify meaning for the reader.
Bonus round: the Oxford comma
Semi-colons are pauses that are longer than a comma, but shorter than a full stop. The general rule is that the words on either side of a semi-colon should form a full sentence on its own; semi-colons are also often used to join two slightly different ideas together.
Semi-colons are also used to separate lists that incorporate multiple tiers of information, e.g. On their last tour, One Direction played in Sydney, Australia; Copenhagen, Denmark; Chicago, USA; and Tokyo, Japan.
Colons can be used to precede a long list (usually more than three), e.g. My favourite colours are: blue, green, orange, mauve, vermillion, beige, and coral. They can also be used to allow a bit of a pause before making a core point: colons should be used sparingly.
Writing advice
Start paragraphs with your argument first, rather than using theorists’ arguments to lead up to it. That is: state your point, then show why it is valid using theory/examples.
Stylish writing isn’t about the words you use, but the observations you make.
Be sure that your essay has a clear introduction, and that your conclusion responds to what you have written in your introduction.
The best way to ensure you have written something clearly is to read it out loud.
MOST IMPORTANT: allow time to revise your essay!
Are you a champion procrastinator? Try the Pomodoro Technique!
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