Approaches to Observation

Observe a person, place, or event. Enrich your observation by interviewing the person, obtaining brochures or reference materials on the place, or researching the event. Write an essay in which you present your observations and discuss the meaning of your subject. Present your ideas as clearly as possible.

As a natural outgrowth of personal reflection, observation bridges the gap between the private and the public and forms a nice transition to academic abstraction. When we observe, we attempt to document and interpret as objectively as possible, but no matter how hard we try, our observations will always result in a subjective integration of inner and outer reality. Thus, as the scene unfolds, we place what we are seeing within the construct of what we have already seen, and we constantly interpret what we have already seen and what we are seeing in the light of inner struggles and social forces. As this process continues, knowledge and experience are transformed, and we constantly understand the world anew.

Consider the following scenario:

While walking down the street, you observe a man waiting for a bus. You notice that the man is wearing a long coat and that his hands are in his pockets. One arm presses against his body, trapping a folded newspaper. He is stomping his feet. He is dressed in business clothes: black tie, dress shoes, and dark suit. His face is pale and he is wearing a hat. He has gray hair. "This man is a businessman waiting for a bus," you think, as the remaining details, the man's posture, attitude, etc. support your speculation. You begin to write.

The man stands at the bus stop and stomps his feet.

While you are writing, a young woman approaches; the man turns and smiles.

"Did you get the part?" she asks.

"They said they'd call," he says.

"Your hair looks great!" she responds. "And the clothes are perfect! Did you do your own makeup?" "Yes," he responds. "It sure is cold."

Now imagine that the conversation continues.

"Are you going back to work?" she questions.

"Yes," he says.

"When you get home, will you teach me how to transfer files from one application to another?"

Upon observing events, our minds integrate sensual impressions with prior knowledge and experience, synthesizing sounds, sights, memories, and half-formed ideas while simultaneously teasing apart these complexities to make meaning from our observations. These meanings tend to be presented in the form of evaluations, explanations, arguments, etc. The following activities are meant to enrich your observations and facilitate writing about a person, place or event.