Fourth Class, but written, like, five minutes before the fifth, but posted the next day

For those who want a guide (more like Fodor's, less like For Dummies) to the first assignment

FOLK 101 – Paper proposal
Due: October 5th, 2006 Value: 20% of final

For this proposal you need three things:

1. Some semblance of an idea: by this time in the semester, you hopefully have some insight into what constitutes ‘folkloric’ or ‘vernacular’ behaviour. You should have been able to recognise such patterns of behaviour in some aspect of your day-to-day life (or that of your friends, neighbours, etc.). Something that is (a) part of the activities of a group (however defined) which (b) is communicated through informal means (oral, by example, through regular exposure, vernacularly produced ‘guides’) and (c) is based in par on a precedent (i.e. something happened before, and you do it again because of and in the manner of that previous occurrence). It somehow defines the group: the ‘group-ness’ is revealed through that activity. Even if you intend to study an individual (a Mi’kmaq basket maker, for example), they are representative of a larger group and work in a particular context.
2. Some background information on that idea: once you settle on a potential project, you go to the library and find out a little more about it: you want to look at similar activities as they occur elsewhere, and about the context in which your particular activities take place. If (for example) you were doing something on residence customs at CBU, you would look at both studies of residence life as they occur elsewhere, and at histories of CBU, industrial Cape Breton, etc.
3. A tentative plan for finding out more information through primary research: you now have an idea and a little knowledge: what else do you need to do to find out that little extra bit? Will you best be served with photographing objects? This would make sense if you are doing a project on material culture. Should you interview someone about the activity? This would be best for something about oral traditions. Should you maybe do an ethnography, a deep observation? This is suited for researching customs and rituals.

These three things translate into the three components of the proposal:

1. A brief (200-300 words) statement: it should define the parameters of the group and the activity (-ies). In other words, shape your semblance of an idea into a coherent piece of writing. It should also indicate how you plan to do the primary research (you tentative plan).
2. An annotated bibliography: take five items that you have come across in your library research, READ THEM (in case that wasn’t clear), and, in about fifty words per item, explain their basic position and why they are relevant to your research. (You should consult a standard style guide – MLA, Turabian, etc. – for how to do a citation.)
3. The completed research forms: by this time you know what and how you are going to do your research. Fill out the forms as best you can.

Type that puppy up, hand her in, and let the fun begin.

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