Definitions of Normality

1. The data you collected should be used often in your paper. Use direct quotes, summaries of patterns, and interpretations of data throughout! You are welcome to do additional research too, but the additional research you do should not overwhelm your actual data.

2. Evidence, Evidence, Evidence! Back up your assertions with evidence. Avoid to the temptation to make broad claims like “people say…” or “society thinks…” without offering evidence to show that this assertion is true.

3. Cite your own data.

If you are using fieldnotes, then you can cite your data in the text like this:

xxxxxxx (Fieldnotes, 4/15/2010).

In the works cited page, your fieldnotes should be cited as follows
MLA – Your Last Name, Your First Name. Fieldnotes. (Date).
APA – Your Last Name, Your First Initial. (Date). Fieldnotes.

If you are using websites, use the standard citation format for websites/electronic sources:
MLA – http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
APA – http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

4. You must describe how you collected your data. For those of you doing field notes, you need to tell me where you went, how long you were there each time, and describe some general patterns of what you observed. For those of you doing content analysis, you need to describe your sites and summarize the data you found. If it does not work to list all of the websites in the body of your paper, you can use a footnote or appendix to give me a complete list.

5. Be sure to vary the data that you use. I will be checking to make sure you use field notes from multiple occasions or multiple websites throughout your paper.

6. When you write about “who benefits” – think big. Who are the major stakeholders in the situation you describe?