ANTH4091 – Writing Ethnography
Course content
The course focuses on writing. The central activity in this course is the students’ submissions, and group discussions, of written drafts from their thesis work during the semester. Weekly readings also form part of the teaching and in-seminar conversation. The course offers anthropological and some literary theory perspectives on key notions regarding the writing and composition of ethnographic texts.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Overview of anthropological as well as some literary-theory perspectives on central notions regarding the writing and the composition of ethnographic texts.
Understanding of these notions’ relevance for contemporary academic and public writing.
Appreciation for theoretical and practical debates on writing, and particularly ethnographic writing, and ability to relate own research to the development of such debates.
Skills
Enhanced ability to reflect critically when composing texts for academic and general audiences.
Enhanced ability to synthesize different positions and to use this competence to give shape to a unique research agenda in writing.
Strengthened ability to write ethnographically driven analyses.
General competence
Enhanced capacity for independent anthropological thought.
Increased capacity for intellectual collaboration through critical group discussions of the academic quality of texts.
Strengthened ability to express arguments in solid academic language and through oral presentation.
Admission to the course
Students must be enrolled in the master’s programme in Social Anthropology.
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled in the Master's Programme in Social Anthropology, please see our admission requirements and apply, and see the information on application and admission to master's degree programmes at UiO.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must have completed ANTH4115 – Advanced Anthropological Theory, ANTH4125 – Advanced Anthropological Methods and Project Development and ANTH4210 – Ethnographic Fieldwork.
Teaching
Eight combined lectures and seminars. Students should submit a draft from their thesis work for at least six of eight seminars.
The master's thesis will be produced during the third and fourth semesters, i.e. the writing will start after you return from fieldwork.
Compulsory activities:
Submission of an excerpt (2400-2900 words) of the thesis draft
Oral presentation of excerpt
Feedback to co-students on excerpt
Compulsory activities will be assessed as Approved/Not approved. All compulsory activities must be approved in order to take the ANTH4091 exam.
In the event of illness or other valid reasons, you can apply for a valid absence or postponement of compulsory activity. Apply for valid absence from or need for postponement of compulsory activity: Absence from compulsory activities
Examination
Reflection paper (1000-1400 words) where you discuss:
The choices you have made in writing the excerpt for this course
The feedback received from your co-students and teacher
How you plan to proceed in your writing based on the feedback received in this course
Compulsory activities must be approved and the exam passed in the same semester.
Previous exams and assessment guidelines:
ANTH4210 Ethnographic Fieldwork
Examination support material
All support material is allowed. When using AI, you must explain and be transparent about its use: read more about the guidelines for AI and exams at?How to use AI as a student - University of Oslo
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
?
Also see Grading guidelines in social anthropology
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- 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.