Explores a place, a person or people, or an animal.

collect details about the place through your observation. Use your senses and record everything for a specific period of time. Keep up with the time you begin and the time you end. Try to keep yourself out of the observation – you are the recorder, not a participant. Along with the obvious physical characteristics, include characteristics that might not be immediately observable such as the mood that the people present (or animals) might share, subtle patterns of behavior, freedom of actions, and other interesting actions. You get the picture.

Observing The Cafeteria

CHOOSE: PERSON, ANIMAL, PLACE – Choose a place or person that is easy to visit. Think of the variety of people or activities that take place at your chosen site. What types of people go there? What kinds of activities occur at this place? Make notes on specific information about the people or things you observe while there. How many different characteristics can you note?

Observing The Cafeteria

OBSERVATIONAL NOTES: How do people or animals interact with each other or with their surroundings? Take careful notes while there, recording even the most seemingly trivial details. They may give clues later to an idea or thought that you would like to pursue. You will submit these notes with your final essay.
PUBLIC RESONANCE: What meaning do your observations have? You will need to analyze the details in order to find a meaning, thereby giving your paper a central focus or purpose for the reader. A strong, specific thesis will relate the central focus to your audience.