SOSANT9016 – Writing and method
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course is about ethnography in the double sense of the term, as anthropological method to generate and assemble experience, observation and information; and as a distinct form of text - and about how reading, fieldwork and writing relate in ethnography.
During the course, participants will read and discuss selected ethnographic texts, paying attention to methodology and writing style, as well as texts ?written by the participants. These texts can be chapters of the participants’ theses, or texts specifically written for the course. Participants will act as a discussants for at least one of the other participants’ text. This entails reading and commenting critically on the texts, paying ?attention to the analytical thrust, the relation between theoretical perspectives and the ethnography, and the style of writing.
The specific methodological issues and writing challenges addressed by the course will vary between iterations of this course.
Learning outcome
The aim of this course is to develop the participants’ skills in ethnographic writing, based on the assumption that anthropological writing begins in the field and is an iterative process, in which method and writing are intertwined. Engaging with published texts, their own writing and their fellow students work, participants will get hands-on experience in writing an ethnographically based research pieces as well as in presenting their own research to a professional audience. At the same time, they will learn to read ethnographic texts with an eye to their grounding in fieldwork, and underlying methodologies.
Admission to the course
This course is for PhD candidates in Social Anthropology.
PhD candidates from Department of Social Anthropology should apply via Studentweb
Other PhD candidates in Social Anthropology: apply by sending an e-mail to this address: post@sai.uio.no
Formal prerequisite knowledge
You must be admitted to a PhD programme in Social Anthropology to enroll in this course. You may take this course before or after you have finished your fieldwork.
Teaching
The course may be taken several times, but candidates only receive credits for the first completion of the course.
Examination
In order to pass the course, candidates must attend the seminars, hand in written work once during the course, and prepare written feedback for the fellow candidates whose texts they comment on. Instructions and dates for the hand-in will be given in seminar.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.