Essay No.

2: Writing to Make an Observation

Purpose: For this essay, you will observe a person, place, or thing and conduct research to
learn and teach something new. For example, you could observe your baby sister and write
about some aspect of child development, or you could observe an old building and write
about its history.
Assignment: Write an essay that teaches your reader about an object, a place, or an event,
using your own field research as well as an experts ideas (either from a personal interview
or appropriately scholarly academic sources).
Field Research: After choosing a topic using the brainstorming questions on TWOW
page 139, find a place and time to conduct your observation. Depending on the nature of
your topic (a comedy show, a zoo, a sculpture at an art gallery), you might observe the
object or event for its entire duration or just an excerpt, but you should watch and take
notes for at least twenty minutes.
While youre observing, take as many notes as possible about what you see, hear, smell,
taste, and feel. Be specific! You can write sentences or a bullet-pointed list. Either way,
just let your ideas flow, writing down everything that comes to mind.
Conventional Research: For your research, you can interview an expert (see TWOW 145)
and/or find appropriately scholarly text sources.
Read: To prepare for this assignment, read TWOW Chapter 6: Making an Observation.
Audience: Newspaper or National Geographic readers: curious to learn about arts, culture,
sciences, and professions.
Structure: This essay should intertwine narrative and informative elements.
Style: The essay should include vivid descriptive sensory details (visual details, sounds,
smells, tastes, textures). Focus especially on creating an attention-grabbing hook.
Guidelines: 500 words (times new roman, double-spaced), 2 sources (interview and/or
text), MLA-style citations
Due Dates:
Thursday, Oct. 22nd: Field Observation Notes
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd: First Draft (bring 3 copies to class)
Tuesday, Nov.. 10th: Second Draft
Tuesday, Nov. 17th: Final Draft

Note: The due dates on the Syllabus are incorrect.