Investigating the Language Politics of Houselessness Policy in Portland
Joint Research Proposal

Format: 2-3 page (~700-1000 words) Word doc or pdf, 12 pt font, double-spaced, 1 in margin all around, uploaded to Moodle

Due: Sunday, February 18, Midnight

To help you begin to plan for and reflect on your fieldwork this semester, your research pair should submit a joint fieldwork proposal. It should state which form of research you will undertake (Ideal: attend public meetings, or volunteer/participant observe; Last resort: online research/participation), state which organization you have chosen and how you'll fulfill the bottom-line requirements (to attend in realtime (either in-person or online), as well as observe and analyze at least two meetings of your chosen organization; or to complete 4-5 hours of volunteer time and 2 recorded interviews; or to research and participate online and complete 2 recorded interviews).

For attending meetings: which meetings do you plan to attend? Recall that the preferred approach is to attend highly public meetings or street rallies (where outsider observers and video/audio recording are routine) for the same organization, and if that is not possible, for organizations working on similar issues. Plan to the best of your ability right now, even though other events may emerge over the semester.

For volunteering: Ideally, both partners should volunteer in person for the same organization, but not necessarily at the same time. What will your volunteer work consist of and why? How do you plan to schedule your time and fieldnote-taking? How will you recruit your interviewees?

For online research: what will your research consist of? how might you find ways to participant observe online? How will you divide up the research? How do you plan to schedule your time and note-taking? How will you recruit your interviewees?

Then, provide a brief history of your chosen organization (250-300 words) that addresses basic questions about the nature of the organization and its practices: what and where is it? What are the goals or functions of the organization? How is it funded? Who leads and/or participates in it? Are there controversies or debates around it, or in which it is involved? If needed, how will you secure permission to record meetings or interviews? How will you record? See the "about" link on their website, explore other links in their website, do a search of local media for the organization. See the Anth 201 Course research guide for relevant mainstream and grassroots local news media.

Next, to begin your research for the semester, provide a brief account of the relevant background history (300-500 words) of the specific issue(s) in Portland the organization addresses. Choose a main issue and do a search of local news media on houselessness in Portland for background information on it: who are the main players? Why is it such a difficult/important issue? What are some of the key conflicts and discourses around it? What is specific to Portland? See the Anth 201 Course research guide for relevant mainstream and grassroots local news media. Your account of the background history should draw on at least three local news sources (one of which can be video), duly cited.

Finally and most importantly, reflect on why this organization's meetings will be significant for investigating language culture and power in houselessness policy? Look ahead at the syllabus: What potential methods and analytic terms might you apply?

Finally, your proposal should include a research and commentary schedule:

  1. When pairs will attend meetings together (as best you can tell), or when pairs will volunteer (not necessarily together), or when pairs will conduct interviews. NOTE: pairs must schedule at least ONE meeting or interview by week seven, and
  2. How will the four Field Commentaries be distributed between the pair? See the Project Guidelines for a summary of the project, and the Requirements page for scheduled deadlines. Each partner should take the lead in writing TWO of the four commentaries, one each focused on fieldnotes and a concept from the course readings.