Language Detectives Action Research Project
50 Points

In this project you will be exploring and explaining how language is used in context as well as how this changes with particular people. We will adapt the practices used in Monahan article in order conduct our own small-scale study of language usage in Boone, NC.

Working in groups of three to four, select two different atmospheres to observe and analyze. Some examples may include the following but be creative: church, mall, school, bar, park. Each group member needs to keep extensive notes as part of the observations and you may choose to audiotape this to assist you in your analysis. These notes will be turned in the day of the presentation. Your notes should address the following features:

• What are your direct observations? Be sure to compare and contrast the two atmospheres. Notice the clothes, hairstyles, ages, language, ethnicity, socio-economic status (ses), and dialect of the people in the two places you visit.
• What kinds of patterns do you find? What kinds of of words, phrases do you hear the most?
• So what? What does this all this mean to a future educator? How does one become a "member" of the group in the area you visited? How does one belong to the discourse to maintain a social order that privilges them and advances their particular interests?

Guidelines for Poster:

Posters

• All posters must be “free standing.”  You will need “presentation boards.” In the computer shop in the ASU bookstore they have “science boards” that will work very well. You can also use heavy poster board as long as you make sure they will stand on their own.

• The posters should include the title of the presentation, clearly visible. The organization, using headings and sub-headings or some other organizational tools, should be explicitly evident. Your board should be covered completely with examples of what you found.

• If you want to use video examples, you must let the instructors know one week in advance.

Sessions

• This Project Fair is based on a format widely used at professional conferences. Usually they are called “poster sessions.” We expect professional level performance on your part. Poster should be attractive, neat, and portray clearly your ideas.