Example Discourse Observation Analysis Notes

Assignment One

Ashlyn Walden, 2014, p. 1

Observation One
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
BBCs Sherlock: A Study in Pink
Note: This particular observation took place over the first 30 minutes of an hour and a half
long episode. In order to provide a truly detailed account without overkill, I have chosen to
only focus my observation notes on this section of time; however, examples of the key
vocabulary were gleaned from the episode as a whole not restricted within the time period
allotted. The specific timing of events listed here is based on when they occur in the original
episode instead of a fictional time of day (example: 3:27 stands for a span of event that begin
at 3 minutes and 27 seconds into the observed action).
Relevant Background Information: The observations listed in this analysis take place in
several prominent locations in and around present day London; in other words, we should
consider the action take place in what we would consider real time. Several important sites
include a press conference with the homicide division of Scotland Yard, the forensics lab of
Barts Military Boys School, and a flat (British equivalent of an apartment) located at 221 B
Baker Street. It is important to note that this updated version of Sherlock is an adaption of Sir
Arthur Conan Doyles original work, and is specifically based on the novel entitled A Study in
Scarlett. Similar events occur throughout the episode, with the advent of modern technology and
improved forensic methods of crime scene investigation being employed. Overall, the episode
is extremely fast paced, making the need to watch each episode more than once almost a must.
Figured World: A figured world is a large social structure complete with its own conventions
of appropriate behavior, manners, and community-specific discourse (i.e. ways of
communicating/jargon).
Insert 250-word summary of the rules and conventions for appropriate behavior here.
Actors: Actors are people who play significant roles within a figured world; another way to
think about actors is as an archetypal role, which fulfills a specific purpose. Though these are
not all the actors, which played significant roles within the figured world of the office, I have
chosen these people because they are major players in setting the stage for this observation.
Throughout the observation, I may refer to other actors in the actual notes.
Sherlock: Serves the role as the major protagonist within the show. Beyond the
obvious, Sherlock embodies the role of social infant, regular unaware and equally
unconcerned about how his verbal and non-verbal responses are interpreted by others.
Though quite keen at the art of observation, Sherlock fails to employ the regular
characteristics of being human such as showing compassion, feeling sorrow over a
destructive event, etc. He also regularly crosses boundaries of personal space;
insulting the police and commenting on highly personal matters of individuals that he
barely knows.
Dr. John Watson: Sherlocks assistant and emotional counterpart. Unlike Sherlock,
Dr. Watson is highly sensitive to other peoples feelings, and it is this sensitivity that
allows him to help Sherlock understand when he is being inconsiderate. More
specifically, Watson also takes on the role of a wounded soldier whose goal is to find
a way to integrate back into society. It is interesting to note that while integrating, he

Comment [t1]: The background

information it useful because it provides a
context for the observation and a brief
history on where the show came from. In
the beginning of the
background information, it is a little hard
to understand. Try and changing a few ...
Comment [t2]: I liked that you gave
relevant background information, it was
helpful to know that your figured world
revolves around three main settings.
However I think the paragraph would have
...
Comment [t3]: The background
information is relevant to the paper
because it provides context to what you
are about to be observing it also allows for
other people to know what the story is ...
Comment [t4]: The relevant background
information is helpful in providing a deeper
understanding in sherlock holmes. Another
piece that would help me further
understand the actions occurring the video
...
Comment [t5]: I think that the relevant
background information was useful for
readers who have not seen the series, but
the paragraph does not flow well. If you
connected the location information with the
...
Comment [t6]: The terms and definitions
are descriptive, but I feel like they are too
wordy. You could shorten the definitions,
so that it is easy to read and understand. I
think that the definitions could be shorter ...
Comment [t7]: Overall, definitions seem
to be pretty easy to understand and are
definitely helpful. One thing to be careful of
is the variation of how much detail you are
going into for each definition. For example,
...
Comment [t8]: The content is well written
and very detailed, however the definitions
and character summaries are slightly hard
to follow. More background information in
specific to the show itself would help
...
Comment [t9]: Add more background
information on the characters to explain
their personality and actions. For example,
when speaking about Sherlock in the
actors section, explain why he feels like he
...
Comment [t10]: The content is very
descriptive when it comes to the
definitions, but you could add a little bit
more detail when it comes to the actual
observations. perhaps you could say why...
Comment [t11]: Over all the background
information is very useful in that it provides
some background context to the story and
helps the reader by giving him/her a more
detailed look at the story. Elaborating
...

Example Discourse Observation Analysis Notes

Assignment One

Ashlyn Walden, 2014, p. 2

finds himself involved with someone that is hard for most people to both understand
and get along with.
Mrs. Hudson: Sherlock and Watsons landlady who emphasizes she is not your
housekeeper. Despite being insistent of not fulfilling the role of housekeeper, Mrs.
Hudson does fulfill the role of a mother. She is regularly concerned with Sherlocks
inability to be empathetic to others, while also tending to his and Watsons needs. In
later episodes, it becomes apparent that she also plays the role of the protector, risking
her life to protect evidence that the two had gathered from a case.
Artifacts: These are physical items and emotions/feelings, which are culturally or socially
significant to specific characters within the office or to the group as a whole.
Dr. Watsons Cane: We learn very early in the episode that Watson is a soldier
wounded in action; yet, it is confirmed that his limp is partly a result of PTSD. The
significance of his cane is that it represents his wounded psyche and his need to have
a crutch of some sort as he re-enters civilian life.
Sherlocks Intelligence: The idea of Sherlocks intelligence is highly important
because it is this ability that drives the action of the show. More importantly it is the
idea of Sherlocks super genius that make him a target for jokes and later a potential
suspect in crimes because of his uncanny ability to solve seemingly irresolvable
crimes.

Comment [t12]: Your term and their

definitions were articulate descriptions.
Although I was confused about the term
domain, your examples helped in giving
me a better understanding of the term. I
think it was just me not getting meaning of
term rather than how you phrased it. So
your examples for each term are also
helpful in understanding the term itself.

Communities of Practice: These are groups of three or more people, which share common
interests, habits/practices, and ways of communicating within the figured world of the London
crime scene.
The Sherlock Fan Club: Molly, Mrs. Hudson, Detective Inspector Lestrade, Dr.
Watson, and Sherlock. Each one of these actors keenly believes in Sherlocks ability
to solve crimes and to intuit very personal information about people that he has just
metSherlock himself included. Their shared way of communicating is a mixture of
awe and despair when Sherlock is able to discern particularly private information
usually at the expense of someone elses feelings.
Scotland Yard: Detective Inspector Lestrade, Investigator Anderson, and Inspector
Donovan. Each one of these actors though keenly aware of Sherlocks ability to
solve crime, all share distaste for Sherlocks methods (example: texting during a
police press conference). All are aware of his ability to solve crime, but all are also
suspicious of his methods, sometimes believing him to be a possible suspect. Their
shared way of communicating is a mixture of insults directed at Sherlock and
frequent talk amongst themselves concerning the validity of Sherlock as a suspect.
Domain: A domain is the shared commitment to a community of practices stated goals/shared
interests. A domain is the focus of the group, which allows members of the community
(actors) to learn from one another. Most importantly, the collective expertise of the group is
valued over an individual actors expertise on the domain.
Sherlocks Intelligence: Though Sherlocks intelligence is expertise that only
Sherlock possesses, the actual faith in Sherlocks ability becomes a domain. In other

Comment [t13]: I actually didnt pick up

on the businessman having a mistress,
and the teenager going to the sporting
event. This goes to show the acuteness of
the observations, in that Ive seen
Sherlock plenty of times, and had never
picked up on that point.
Sherlocks intelligence as a domain seems
confusing. I dont see how it fits into that
category.
The Sherlocks Fan Club part under
Communities of practice is a bit confusing
to me. Explain how they can
communicating by awe and despair.

Example Discourse Observation Analysis Notes

Assignment One

Ashlyn Walden, 2014, p. 3

words, all the members of the Sherlock Fan Club use Sherlocks power of
deduction in a shared effort of trying to solve seemingly unsolvable crimes.
Seemingly Unsolvable Crimes: One obvious domain that drives the action of the
show is the goal of solving seemingly unsolvable crimes. This domain has many
expert contributors, which include Sherlock, Dr. Watson, and the detectives. Though
Sherlock provides the most insight, Dr. Watson provides a stable mediation between
the police and Sherlocks abrasive demeanor. The detectives also add to the expertise
by sharing the accumulating information with both Sherlock and Dr. Watson.
Practices of the Community: More that just habits of the community, practices of the
community revolve around a series of shared ways of accomplishing various tasks. In other
words, in order to accomplish a goal, communities of practice must engage in regular
activities that help further their ideas/domains in some way. A literacy practice is a specific
type of practice of the community.
Solving the Alleged Suicides: One of the practices within the community of practice
is the act of solving alleged suicides. The community of practice as a whole
recognizes that there is something odd about the string of suicides that have all
occurred by the same method, and together they seek to expose the original cause of
such an odd string of events.
Mapping Knowledge and Identifying Gaps in the Investigation: Sherlock uses his
skill of deduction and encyclopedic knowledge to identify gaps in the suicide
investigation. A combination of observing the crime scene, questioning of the police
staff, and discussion of facts with Watson work together to create a collective
communicative practice that become a habit of the community.
Literacy Practices: Simply put, literacy practices are ways of communicating both written and
spoken, verbal and nonverbal (such as body language). These can include basic every day
practices such as writing emails, texting, etc. or more complex tasks such as manners and
politeness.
Texting: Both the physical act of texting and texting multiple phones of individuals
that Sherlock barely knows is a common literacy practice of this episode. In this
sense, the physical act of texting and the act of violating the social norm of randomly
texting someone you dont know both function as specific examples of a literacy
practice.
Press Conference: The physical act of addressing the media is a literacy practices
which Detective Inspector Lestrade blunders. The literacy practice that Lestrade
violates is the use of a sarcastic remark in response to how to avoid suicide (example:
Dont kill yourself).
The Observation:
3:00mins: A series of violent images of war, gunfire, and shouting are flashed across the screen
in quick succession. Voices shouting Watson and hit the deck can be heard muffled in the
background noise of a combat zone. Watson awakes suddenly indicating the aforementioned
images were representative of a dream brought on by PTSD. He quickly moves to a blank
computer screen with a blog entry prepared; he has nothing to write. The next scene we see

Comment [t14]: Well, I guess I like the

observation. It seems clear and concise-insightful and well-thought through. Its
interesting and filled with details, which I
suppose makes sense considering you
teach writing and whatnot, so, it probably
should be pretty good.
Comment [t15]: Overall I think your
observation of Sherlock was to the point
and very detailed. You presented your
observation in neat and organized way
that is easy for the reader to follow. I think
it would be better if you placed your note
about the timing you observation right
above the observation instead of the
beginning.

Example Discourse Observation Analysis Notes

Assignment One

Ashlyn Walden, 2014, p. 4

Watson discussing his integration back into civilian life with his therapist. We learn that Watson
is suffering from a wounded leg in addition to his PTSD. He remarks on the needlessness of the
blog stating Nothing ever happens to me.
5:00mins: Introduced to a series of people leading seemingly normal lives: one businessman on
his way to meet a mistress, one political lobbyist with a drinking problem, and a high school
teenager on his way to a sporting event. In all cases spread over a month period, each individual
commits suicide and is shown ingesting some type of strange unidentified pill. Various
memorials are shown in succession from press conferences, to memorials, to newspaper writeups. Immediately following the latest teenage suicide, the homicide division of Scotland Yard
holds a press conference to discuss the nature of the suicides. Pressured by a relentless press,
Det. Inspector Lestrade insists there is a possibility of serial suicides, which in fact are not
murder. Amid his adamant statements, all the journalists and inspectors receive texts saying
Wrong. He continues to deny the possibility of murder, and the press conference is called to
an abrupt close ending with a text specifically to Lestrade stating You know where to find me.
SH.
11:00mins: Watson is seen walking quickly in a park-like area, and a former schoolmate calls
after him. After exchanging pleasantries and having coffee, Watson mentions wanting a flat
mate to be able to continue living in London. His friend happens upon the idea of introducing a
potential flat mate to him. Next, we see a scene where a strange man (Sherlock) is shown
beating a corpse with a riding crop. The lab assistant, Molly, flirts with Sherlock and asks him to
coffee, which he misinterprets as an offer to get him coffee. Shortly after, Watson enters the
room and Sherlock quickly deduces his military service, asks to use his phone, and assumes that
Watson is meant to be his new flat mateall of these deductions he gathers from strict, careful
observation. Flabbergasted, Watson agrees to look at the potential flat with Sherlock, and once
home that night, he researches the sleuth at his convenience.
15:00mins: Intrigued both by Sherlocks demeanor and abilities, Watson agrees to look at the
potential flat. Upon arrival, Watson quickly learns that the landlady was once a client whom
Sherlock insured the death penalty for her husband. After observing the flat, Watson remarks on
the lack of tidiness and Sherlock quickly tries to clean up. The landlady, Mrs. Hudson, is quick
to assume that there is a romantic relationship between Watson and Sherlock to which Watson is
taken aback. While touring the flat, a police car arrives to announce a fourth suicide, this time
with a note. Lestrade enters the apartment and asks for Sherlocks help. Sherlock is coy, and
insists on following along later. Once gone, Sherlock is ecstatic about the new suicide and sees
this as an opportunity to solve an insolvable case. He quickly rushes out, leaving Watson with
Mrs. Hudson as she makes Watson some tea. She mentions something about Watson being the
sitting down type to which Watson abruptly replies Damn my leg! Sorry! Im so sorry!
After the brief exchange, Sherlock returns and asks Watson to join him for the investigation to
which Watson is more than happy to oblige.
23:00mins: On the way to the crime scene, Watson begins to question Sherlock about his
abilities. He remarks on having researched him the night before finding that Sherlock is an
amateur detective. Sherlock corrects him saying I am a consulting detective, the only one in the
world. I invented the job. Watson obviously confused by the remark, wonders how Sherlock
was able to deduce so much about his background without having met him before. What follows
is a series of flashbacks, which focus on various details that Sherlock zeroed in on upon their

Example Discourse Observation Analysis Notes

Assignment One

Ashlyn Walden, 2014, p. 5

first meeting (tan lines not above the wrists indicating a uniform, the fact that Watson speaks
first indicating military service, psychosomatic limp because Watson stands absent-mindedly and
doesnt request a chair, etc). This amazes Watson, and rather than telling Sherlock to piss off
they seem to establish some common ground and find that there relationship is a complement to
one another.