Fall 2008 Project 1 Observing

							Northwestern Michigan College
English 111 and 111/11




                                   Project #1: Observing

THE PROJECT
Academic observation is critical observation. For this assignment, focus on a particular insight about a
selected place and the people and/or activities taking place there. The goal is to go beyond initial thinking,
beyond the meaning that comes from a casual glance. Your job is to find the deeper significance of this place
and show it in ways that help the reader arrive at the same conclusion you have. Curiosity is a great starting
point for this essay. A set idea is not. Please know that this is not a personal narrative about your experience
in the location or your process of observing the location; rather, you will be writing from of the point of view
of an outside observer.

The assignment has several requirements and restrictions. For one, OBSERVATIONS OF THE EAST
HALL STOOP OR ANY OTHER SMOKING AREA WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. In addition, the
supportive details included in your essay MUST be based on an actual in-person observation, not a memory.
This is a non-fiction essay, so fabricating details is not an option.

INVENTION
You will take detailed notes of the place you choose to observe, and then analyze what you have seen. Your
observation notes and other invention writing are to be typed and become an integral part of the project. In
fact, your invention work is graded and is entirely critical to the success of your overall work. (Please see
attached rubric.)

Point of Contact (Gathering Details): The subject for this assignment could be your own street or
neighborhood or any single place. As you set out to observe, try to approach the subject with curiosity. That
is, try to discover details that you (or someone else) might have taken for granted with a simple glance. Use
the Point of Contact questions from Chapter 3 to help focus your perspective on details. Although many
details may not show up in your final essay, the process of discovering and recording specifics is essential to
the process.

Analysis (Creating a Focus & Thesis): After collecting details about the place, you should explore
further to develop a particular point—the thesis of your essay. This is where you think “beyond” the
physical description and discover meaning for your essay. You
should attempt to gain insight beyond the simple glance, beyond
the drive-by appearances of things. Use the questions from the
Analysis section in Chapter 3.
                                                                      “It’s not what it’s about. It’s
                                                                      what else it’s about.”
                                                                                                Minor White
Public Resonance: The questions in the Public Resonance section can also help with the focus for the essay.
Although the potential answers may not show up in the essay, answering them will help you understand the
“big picture”—how your ideas relate to others.

Developing the Idea: Once you have decided on the main idea, you should return to your notes and search
for the details that best support that idea. Use the Rhetorical Tools section in Chapter 3 to extend your initial
ideas and support your thesis.

LENGTH and FORMATTING
Your final essay should be 900-1200 words in length (or about 3-4 typed pages). Determine your essay’s
length by going to “Tools” on the menu bar and selecting “Word Count.” Type the final word count on the
last page of your essay. Script or fancy fonts are not acceptable for most academic writing; instead use a
standard-type 11- or 12-point serif font only. Times New Roman, Times, or Palatino are suitable fonts for
academic writing. See page 198+ in Easy Writer for MLA manuscript formatting guidelines. These
guidelines cover margins and spacing, page numbering, name placement, etc. The final project is to be
placed in a pocket folder, with all documents contained within and clearly labeled. Write your name
clearly on the front of the pocket folder in the right hand corner.

REMINDER/HINTS
      Remember that you need to develop a thesis. The thesis of the essay is not simply what the
       essay is “about” but is, rather, your specific insight on the place. To develop a thesis, you might
       simply look through your notes and find one common idea or thread of details. Then, discard
       details that do not necessarily help to support or develop that point.

            Remember that the DETAILS OF THE ESSAY LEAD THE READER TO THE SAME
             CONCLUSION THAT YOU MAKE.

            Paragraphs should be used to focus the reader’s attention on details. You might use paragraphs
             to focus on different elements of the place. (But remember that each paragraph should work to
             support the main idea of the essay.)

            Make an appointment early at the NMC Writing Center for assistance with your project. The
             Writing Center is located on the second floor of Scholar’s Hall in room 221. Writing Center
             readers are available to provide guidance with any stage of your writing. Your instructor is
             available outside of class time, as well. Don’t hesitate to seek help from the support systems
             designed to help ensure your success this semester.