Criminology 4513 Ethnography & Crime fall 2024, MWF 12.30
--> 1.20 TBA Weblog Classlist
From the calendar: This
seminar course will examine classical and contemporary ethnographic
work in criminology and criminal justice. It will address
qualitative research in general and how ethnographic research
challenges common perceptions of crime, criminals and criminal
behaviour. Prerequisite: A minimum of 75 credit hours, which
includes CRIM 1013 and 1023, or permission of the instructor.
Videolink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOBh8haj4E0
6mins 
In addition to the above, ethnography is seen as a tool for
discovery and a basis for emancipation. Think, for example, of the
story of a victim which outlines how s/he was victimized and then
ignored, or the offender who describes the abusive conditions within
which s/he grew up and prepared them for the 'school to prison'
pipeline, of the stories of the wrongfully convicted which document
their struggles to attain their freedom despite overwhelming odds.
We will look at traditional approaches to ethnography as 'accounts
within context', and continue with current approaches which stress
the more fluid character of modernity. The course uses a ‘hybrid’
format, described in the weblog. No class is usually just cancelled,
but moved online.
Text: Ethnography At The Edge, edited by Jeff Ferrell, Mark S. Hamm,
googlebooks.
plus other readings as announced
Evaluated work:
1. Classmark incorporates attendance, participation, inclass
reflections, homework, and online assignments (25%).
2. Proposal week six (20%), single-spaced 2-3 pages with
refs, outlines the ethnography project, which can be an overview of
research, a research-based inquiry into a particular issue, and/or
an original ethnography exercise of your own. This can be done in
singles, pairs, groups... and will be the basis for the final
project. The proposal/project could be a review of a particular
ethnographer's work (like Sudhir Venkatesh), or of a particular
social issue using secondary sources (like the cargo cult), or a
review of the research on a topic (like homelessness), or primary
research (like interviewing friends on their university experience),
or writing about an event (like the end of year burning of couches
on college hill...
3. Project, due week fourteen (30%), based on the proposal
and incorporated into the project, prepared as a powerpoint (or
essay, video, blog)... and submitted electronically. Equivalent to
an essay (7-10 pages double-spaced), must include references,
theory, with 'concept' and/or materials, and visuals. The easiest
thing is to write an essay and chunk it into subsections and put it
into the notes section. Ten to fifteen (10-15) slides is a good size
for a project. This should be submitted by email, (or on
jumpdrive), and will not usually be returned. Please keep a copy.
Projects may be kept and used by instructor as anonymous
demonstrations for future sections of course.
4. Presentation: (25%). Given the small size, and the skill
level of the course, a presentation to the class is deemed to be a
better finale than an exam.
Additionally:
The webpage at http://www.stu.ca/writingcentre
is full of great resources for students, and appointments are
available.
Limited AI use is permitted for research and writing, as long as it
is acknowledged. Laptops to be used for note-taking only. Phones
must be off during class.
Recording is not permitted, for privacy and copyright issues, as per
S3 of the student academic misconduct policy.