Assemble your research data. Ethnographic research includes photographs, transcribed interviews, music recordings, journals, charts, diagrams and artifacts. Have your cultural research nearly finished and the data at hand.
Outline your ethnographic report using word processing software or a notebook and pen. Organize your outline chronologically by topics outlined in your syllabus or by important concepts supported by specific facts. Include your title, introduction, major sections and conclusion. Consider your audience; academic papers have a different function than reports written for business.
Develop your working thesis. Your thesis summarizes the entire report; it may evolve a little as you write your paper.
Write your first draft using your outline to stay on point. According to Michael Genzuk, PhD, at the University of Southern California, your paper should include detailed descriptions and report your findings. Genzuk says too much description becomes tedious to read. He suggests finding a balance between analytical data and descriptive information.
Select visual components of your paper, like photographs, charts, or diagrams. Get permissions and cite sources if needed.
Review and edit your draft. Check your thesis for clarity. Genzuk says you should focus on essentials while reviewing. He said ethnographers will omit much of the data collected. Format your paper and attach your reference list.