Observation and Value Analysis

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This project asks students to analyze the language and posting conventions of a specific, focused digital or community space. Working in small groups, students will study a contained, active environment—like a local Facebook group or online forum—to explore how its users shape communication practices.

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In this assignment, students will conduct a close observation of a chosen space, with particular attention to its language use and genre conventions. Drawing on their observations, students will then analyze the rhetorical content and interactional patterns within the space to construct an evidence-based argument about what constitutes a “successful” or valued post, comment, image, or other form of engagement. Importantly, students are not expected to generalize across all types of interactions within the space; rather, they should formulate focused, defensible claims that are grounded in specific, observable patterns. Strong arguments will identify meaningful trends without attempting to account for every instance, thereby demonstrating analytical precision and rhetorical awareness.

Observation and Value Analysis Learning Objectives

  • Focus on discourse communities, writing with a purpose, for an audience, and making claims
  • Develop awareness of how values are communicated through environment, discourse, or design
  • Apply genre awareness by choosing formats that best represent observed data
  • Reflect on how personal positionality shapes observation and interpretation

For more, see:

Genres & Formats

  • Descriptive analytical essay
  • Multimedia adaptation (photo essay, short video, infographic)

Rubric

  • Observation and Analysis
Grading Criteria Exceptional Met Not Met
Claim You have a focused claim about what your community values in content, and the claim is unique to your space and not obvious. You have a focused claim about what your community values in content. No single claim is made or several unrelated claims are made.
Analysis Your analysis focuses on demonstrating your claim is true though reasonable examples and other data. Your analysis focuses on your claim and uses reasonable examples. The analysis does not focus on the claim or does not provide adequate examples.
Supporting Evidence You have selected several examples of your claim in action and clearly explained how those examples support your claim. You have selected a minimum of three examples of your claim in action from your observations. No examples of the claim are given, or examples do not match the claim.
Evidence Integration You have integrated evidence into your document effectively. Quotes, images, links, and so on are used at appropriate times so that readers can follow easily. You have integrated evidence into your document appropriately. It is possible to understand quotes, images, links, and so on. Evidence is included at inappropriate times, and/or it is difficult for readers to understand the significance of the evidence.
Responding to Feedback You have revised your analysis substantially and/or thoughtfully based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. You have revised your analysis based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. No revisions to the analysis have been made or only minor changes have been made that do not adequately respond to feedback.
Meeting Requirements You have met or exceeded all of the requirements for the analysis. You have met all of the requirements for the analysis. One or more of the requirements for the analysis has not been met.
For a copy of the Value Analysis rubric, click to download.
  • Reflection Piece
Grading Criteria Exceptional Met Unmet
Reflecting on Your Claim You have clearly explained why you have chosen your central claim and given reasons for why this was your best option. You explain why you have chosen the central claim you make. How the claim was chosen is not included or unclear.
Reflecting on Your Supporting Evidence You have clearly explained why you have chosen the evidence to support your claim and given reasons for why this evidence is better than other parts of your observations. You explain why you have chosen the evidence to support your claim. How the evidence was chosen is not included or unclear.
Reflecting on Evidence Integration You have clearly explained why you have placed evidence in certain places and how you’ve explained that evidence to your readers. You explain how evidence could be understood by your readers. How evidence was placed and/or explained is unclear.
Reflecting on Your Rhetorical Purpose You have clearly explained the goal of Wthe writing project and how you have met that goal. You explain the goal of the writing project. The project goal is not mentioned or unclear.
Responding to Feedback You have revised your reflection substantially and/or thoughtfully based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. You have revised your reflection based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. style="text-align:center;"| No revisions to the reflection have been made or only minor changes have been made that do not adequately respond to feedback.
Meeting Requirements You have met or exceeded all of the requirements for the reflection. You have met all of the requirements for the reflection. One or more of the requirements for the reflection has not been met.
For a copy of the Value Analysis Reflection rubric, click to download.

Assignment Focus

This section outlines various tasks an instructor may assign, each designed to build specific skills and insights that contribute to the development of the overall Observation and Value Analysis Project.

  • Selecting a space
Students choose an online community to study (e.g., subreddit, Facebook group, forum). It must be small and active enough to analyze meaningfully.
  • Observing the space
Students spend at least 5 hours across days watching how users interact, focusing on patterns of genre, language, and response.
  • Identifying values
Based on their notes, they’ll formulate a claim about what users value in communication within that space.
  • Curating evidence
Students choose strong, relevant examples that support their claim and help explain how value is expressed (posts, images, titles, tone, etc.).
  • Analyzing and drafting
Students write a short analysis supported by their curated evidence.
  • Reflection Piece
Students reflect on how they selected their space, made their claim, chose their evidence, and adapted their writing for their audience.
  • Downloadable Assignment Sheets
For sample assignment sheets, click to download.
  • Students' Project Samples
For sample projects, click to download.

Weekly Structure

Week 1: Select a context to observe and conduct preliminary field notes

Introduction to Value Analysis

Week 2: Draft a descriptive overview and identify key values or rhetorical features

Overview: Discussion of Discourse Communities; Choosing a Discourse Community; Class Discourse Community; Good Collaboration Groups; Making Arguments

  • Key Source on Discourse Communities
Name Description
Example Example


This article introduces discourse communities as groups with shared goals, conventions, and communication practices — a useful concept for assignments that ask students to analyze how writing works in real-world settings.

  • Alternative Sources

Here are some materials that you can use as an alternative to the main article.

Week 3: Peer workshop focusing on clarity, evidence, and analytical framing

Overview: Finding Evidence; Incorporating Evidence; Curating Data; Responding to Different Audiences

Week 4: Final analysis + reflective component + upload to ePortfolio

Overview: Observation Swap and Discussion; Checking claims & evidence; Reflection Practice; Putting All Together, Peer review Workshops

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