Purpose
The first step in your Consultancy Report term project is proposing a site, and selecting an appropriate site (preferably in Auburn, AL) is crucial for successful research. I will use this to check if your site has any likely issues, offer advice or resources, and hopefully catch any confusion in your thinking early enough to save you from later problems. The process of thinking through and writing the proposal will also help clarify your ideas and questions about the site to better prepare you for a successful project. Many real-life tasks, from scientific research to funding grants for social services, require a proposal to be approved before you can begin or before you receive funding.
Task List
Begin by brainstorming at least three possible sites (we may have already done this in class); they can be any social group, organization, or institution that meets the following rules:
you are a “structural insider” at the site, meaning you are in the in-group along at least one (but likely more) axis of inequality.
you have enough depth of knowledge about the site to analyze it fairly and in deep detail.
it is bounded in both time and space.
it has a population roughly between 10-50 (exceptions will be considered; they sometimes work, they sometimes become a lot of extra work).
it is *not* your family, an unstructured group of friends, a support group, or a site you are so personally invested in that you might struggle to maintain a sociological perspective (it is too temptingly easy for the discussion of these kinds of sites to become individualistic).
Then, look at the assignment details and examples of successful consultancy reports on Canvas. Notice what criteria are required or seem to help with a successful consultancy report. Consider which possible sites are likely to be strong candidates and which fall short.
Get outside feedback from at least one person (classmate is best, peer who you explain the assignment to first is ok too) as to which sites look best and why.
Consider the Criteria questions below: do your answers help you select or eliminate any ideas?
Organize your thoughts (see “Writing Well: Quicker and Easier” on Canvas).
Write, revise, edit.
Proofread; check especially that all the syllabi style guide requirements are met.
Upload final copy on Canvas.
Criteria
Your proposal should be 1- 2 pages, follow the style guide in the syllabus, and address most or all of the following:
Name & briefly describe your site
Clearly describe the time & space boundaries of your site, as specifically as possible.
Why are you qualified to be consulting for this site? How are you an insider here?
What axes of inequality do you think are likely to be most salient at this site? Which ones will you be focusing on (don’t forget intersectionality!)
Why did you select this site? What is interesting about this site that you are hoping to investigate in your research? Are there any questions you have coming in?
Difficulties you anticipate, blind spots you may have, or ways that your own standpoint may influence your research?
Be as specific and detailed as possible, use course concepts and theories to help your descriiption, and remember to both *think* and *write* sociologically (for example, you can use “I” statements, but should still be writing a lot more at the macro-level and connecting it to micro).
