The Assignment: Observing a Scene
Observe a place near your campus, home, or job and the people who frequent it. Then write a paper that describes the place, the people, and their actions so as to convey the spirit of the place and offer some insight into its impact on the people.
This assignment is meant to start you observing closely enough that you go beyond the obvious. Go somewhere nearby, and station yourself where you can mingle with the people there. Open all your senses so that you see, smell, taste, hear, and feel. Jot down what you immediately notice, especially the atmosphere and its effect on the people there. Take notes describing the location, people, actions, and events you see. Then use your observations to convey the spirit of the scene. What is your main impression of the place? Of the people there? Of the relationship between people and place? Your purpose is not only to describe the scene but also to express thoughts and feelings connected with what you observe.
Three student writers wrote about these observations:
One student, who works nights in the emergency room, observed the scene and the community that abruptly forms when an accident victim arrives: medical staff, patient, friends, and relatives.
Another observed a bar mitzvah celebration that reunited a family for the first time in many years.
Another observed the activity in the bleachers in a baseball stadium before, during, and after a game.
When you select the scene you wish to observe, find out from the person in charge whether you’ll need to request permission to observe there, as you might at a school, business, or other restricted or privately owned site.
Facing the Challenge Observing a Scene
The major challenge writers face when writing from observation is to select compelling details that convey an engaging main impression of a scene. As we experience the world, we are bombarded by sensory details, but our task as writers is to choose those that bring a subject alive for readers. For example, describing an oak as “a big tree with green leaves” is too vague to help readers envision the tree or grasp its unique qualities. Consider:
- What colors, shapes, and sizes do you see?
- What tones, pitches, and rhythms do you hear?
- What textures, grains, and physical features do you feel?
- What fragrances and odors do you smell?
- What sweet, spicy, or other flavors do you taste?
After recording the details that define the scene, ask two more questions:
- What overall main impression do these details establish?
- Which specific details will best show the spirit of this scene to a reader?
Your answers will help you decide which details to include in your paper.