According to French sociologist Michel Maffesoli urban tribes are…

“Microgroups of people who share

common interests in metropolitan

areas. The members of these relatively

small groups tend to have similar

worldviews, dress styles and

behavioral patterns.”

Urban Tribes’ Characteristics

Intense loyalty. The group's message is "we are on your side."

Shared routines and rituals.

Love of gossip

Defined roles.

Use of similar clothings

Shared ideologies

Imagine you want to be part of an urban tribe:

• Which one would you choose?

Why?

• What would you do in order to be

accepted by the group?

• How would you describe being part of that tribe?

In order to solve this task you have to:

Walk down the street in search of different urban tribes. Observe them and write as many characteristics as you can.

Consider: clothes and aesthetic; particular meeting places; music genres; age; class; gender of the members.

1. Work with a classmate in the revision of your notes on how to write a descriptive narration (of no more than 250 words) or visit some of the recommended websites on the topic.

2. Gather information on URBAN TRIBES. For this you can:

Visit the recommended websites in this presentation in order to gather more information as regards urban tribes.

3. Compare your notes, interviews and findings with your classmate.

4. Once you and your partner have enough information as regards the topic, start preparing the outline for your descriptive narrative.

5. Write your text. (Remember to go back to your notes while doing it)

Interview members of urban tribes to gather information as regards believes, ideologies and reasons to be part of these subcultures.

6. Once your work is done, post it in the class’ blog so that everyone can read it and make comments or suggestions.

Resources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4457631_write-descriptive-narrative-essay.html

http://www.essaytown.com/writing/narrative-essay

1.Descriptive Narrative Essay

2.Urban Tribes•http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Subculture(anthropological)

•http://www.detribusurbanas.com/

•http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1050002

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLPomekBIiQ

Evaluation:You will get different

grades: VERY GOOD, GOOD or TRY AGAIN according to:

VERY GOOD GOOD TRY AGAINExcellent gathering of information

Good gathering of information, some important ideas missing

Many important points missing. Not enough investigation.

Detailed and well based essay. Good use of grammatical structures. Excellent use of specific vocabulary.

Some details missing and some grammar mistakes (tense, spelling, word order, etc). Good use of vocabulary.

Lots of grammar mistakes and only few details included. Lack of specific vocabulary.

Conclusion:

This WEBQUEST leads students and teachers to work with a very important source of information: the Internet.

Students and teachers learn to select useful and trustworthy information from the net and to post on blogs.

This WEBQUEST also leads students to gather information through interviews and people-watching. It also activates the use of specific vocabulary to describe people, clothes, hair styles, music genres and ideologies.

Finally, the task allows students to practice pair-working and writing skills.