This portfolio exercise has two components: a water diary and a written reflection of 400 words.
This is more than is required for other tasks as the water diary that you must keep replaces face to face classes in week 7. The diary method, and your completion of either current 4 or 5, will be the subject of discussion in the week 8 tutorial so it is essential to complete this component and that you attend class.
Part 1 (part 2 on next page). The water diary component (also discussed in the lecture pods)
What you have to do:
(i) Keep a water diary.
Week 7 has been set aside with no face to face classes to give you extra time to complete this component.
Although you could do it all in one day, that would deprive you of the opportunity to properly reflect on your, and your household’s, relationships with water.
(ii) Make sure that in the diary you address 3 of the 5 ‘currents’ [thematic prompts]detailed in the PDF that accompanies this task description
In the lecture pod, I explain that the Water Demand Management Project used 9 ‘currents’ (thematically organised prompts) for their diary keeping exercise. I have reproduced 5 of these for you to use (select 3 of them) as prompts in the ‘Water Currents PDF in this folder.
You will see that each current includes some framing remarks and then some suggested exercises. You do not have to respond to every single question, but you do have to engage with each current.
(iii) Meet the following requirements
• 3 x A4 pages in length.
• There is no specific word limit but at least 50% of the diary should be prose style written elements: keep bullet points to a minimum. That is, bullet points, and pictures together cannot make up more than 50% of the diary. Use 12 point font and double-space your work as usual.
• You do not have to include photos, drawings etc. but you may do so and be as creative as you like within the constraints of the task.
• Ethics: If you include other people’s views, or photos of other people, or observations that mean that people are identifiable, make sure that you first have their permission (ie secure their consent).
Part 2. A 400 words reflection that draws on the set reading, lectures, and your own experiences of keeping a simplified water diary to answer the following questions. Make sure that you answer both questions (@ 200 words each)
Q 1. How does a cultural approach to water differ from other approaches?
Q 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the water diary as a cultural research method?