REL 320 – Religion and Culture / Religion in the City

Assignment 2: Ethnographic Snapshot and Analytical Reflection

Sample Answer Excerpt (for Guidance)

Many effective REL 320 projects begin with a concrete scene from a street, market, or transit area where religious symbols, sounds, and bodies intersect with commerce, migration, and everyday routines. A focused description of a small setting, such as a food stall with devotional images or a storefront church on a busy corner, makes it easier to relate course readings on religion and culture to visible practices rather than abstract ideas. Strong submissions connect at least one moment in the field notes to key concepts such as lived religion, material religion, or urban space, showing how religious activity is embedded in everyday environments. A brief comparison with another site or reading can help identify patterns rather than isolated observations. A concise conclusion that reflects on changing perceptions of religion in the city demonstrates analytical depth.

Ethnographic snapshot assignments at the 300 level align with contemporary teaching in Religion and the Humanities because they encourage students to connect theoretical frameworks with manageable real-world observations. Research on lived religion shows that even short, structured fieldwork can deepen understanding of how religion operates in spaces often described as secular. Assignments that incorporate reflection on method, positionality, and ethics produce more rigorous and transferable academic skills while remaining adaptable across teaching contexts.

Assessment Overview

• Course code/title: REL 320 – Religion and Culture / Religion in the City

• Assessment label: Assignment 2 – Ethnographic Snapshot and Analytical Reflection

• Type: Ethnographic report and analytical essay

• Length: 1,800–2,200 words (plus appendix)

• Weighting: 25% of final course grade

• Timing: Weeks 6–8

• Submission: Single .docx file via LMS

• Citation style: Chicago or APA

Assessment Aim

Students will produce a short ethnographic snapshot of a public site and analyse it using course concepts. The aim is to connect theoretical perspectives on religion and culture with direct observation of everyday life.

Task Instructions

1. Select a Site

1. Choose a public site where religion and culture intersect, such as:

   • a city street with multiple places of worship

   • a market or transit hub with visible religious elements

   • a campus or neighbourhood gathering space

2. Avoid private spaces.

3. Use approved alternatives if in-person observation is not possible.

2. Conduct a 45–60 Minute Observation

1. Observe the site during an active time period.

2. Take notes on:

   • physical layout and objects

   • sounds, smells, and movement

   • interactions with possible religious meaning

3. Follow ethical guidelines and avoid recording individuals without consent.

3. Field Note Appendix (300–400 words)

1. Rewrite notes into a clear, structured record.

2. Include time markers to show sequence.

4. Ethnographic Report and Reflection (1,800–2,200 words)

Section A: Site Description (400–500 words)

1. Describe the physical and social environment

2. Identify visible or audible religious elements

Section B: Religion and Culture at the Site (600–700 words)

1. Analyse how religion interacts with cultural and social factors

2. Use at least two course readings

3. Apply theory to observation

Section C: Focused Theme Analysis (500–600 words)

1. Select one theme such as:

   • commodification of religion

   • religion and migration

   • gender and space

   • religion and public order

2. Support analysis with at least one scholarly source

3. Compare with wider patterns

Section D: Reflection on Method and Positionality (250–300 words)

1. Reflect on your role as observer

2. Identify one limitation or improvement

Formal Requirements

• 1,800–2,200 words plus appendix

• Minimum sources:

  • two course readings

  • one peer-reviewed source

• Include reference list

• Use clear academic language

Marking Rubric (100 marks)

Student’s answer study pool guide notes

Ethnographic approaches to religion emphasise that everyday practices, spatial arrangements, and material objects are central to understanding how belief is expressed and sustained within communities. By observing religious activity in public settings, students can identify patterns of interaction between culture, economy, and identity, thereby developing a grounded perspective on religion as a lived and socially embedded phenomenon (McGuire, 2008).

Academic References

• McGuire, M. B. (2008). Lived Religion. Oxford University Press.

• Knott, K. (2015). The Location of Religion. Routledge.

• Orsi, R. A. (2010). The Madonna of 115th Street. Yale University Press.

• Ammerman, N. T. (2014). Sacred Stories, Spiritual Tribes. Oxford University Press.

• Vásquez, M. A. (2011). More than Belief. Oxford University Press.

• Bender, C. (2010). The New Metaphysicals. University of Chicago Press.