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Writing Skill Overview: Observation

Writing Skill Overview: Observation. Dr. K. E. Ogden Pasadena City College Adapted from Reading Critically, Writing Well by Axelrod, Cooper, Warriner. What is ‘observation’.

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Writing Skill Overview: Observation

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  1. Writing Skill Overview: Observation Dr. K. E. Ogden Pasadena City College Adapted from Reading Critically, Writing Well by Axelrod, Cooper, Warriner

  2. What is ‘observation’ Observation is a “reporting” style of writing which requires the research capability of closely observing persons, places, objects, and surroundings, and then utilizing that research to inform the writing of an engaging and entertaining text.

  3. OBSERVATION SKILLS #1 • Description: pointed use of vocabulary and figurative language that conveys aspects of the five senses so that the reader can see, feel, taste, touch, hear what the writer has experienced • Description requires attention to vocabulary words and particular phrasings that utilize the five senses in order to relate something to the reader

  4. Observation Skills #2 • Detail: The pointed naming of things for a specific purpose (to convey an overall impression to the reader) • Detail requires that the writer be a careful observer able to record the names and numbers of things, and then select the best details to convey an overall impression to the reader

  5. Observation Skills--#3 • Vivid Language—not just USING detail and description, but affirming its use in order to convey an overall impression to the reader • Vivid language includes detail and description, but might also include other aspects of language usage, such as alliteration, assonance, consonance, and sentence variety—all to produce a particular effect upon the reader

  6. Observation Structure Structuring an essay made up primarily of observation skills requires particular attention to organizational choices

  7. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE • NARRATIVE This organizational model places the reader inside of a story, and follows the traditional story structure. • TOPICAL This organizational model allows the reader to look at groupings of details and descriptions that make up the object of observation

  8. The Purpose of Observational Writing ENTERTAINMENT ENGAGING THE READER SHINING LIGHT ON A SPECIAL OR UNIQUE ASPECT OF THE SUBJECT, or NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A UNIQUE SUBJECT

  9. CONVEYING TONE • Observational writing must make the reasoning of the observation clear • Why are you observing this particular subject • What is unique or special about it • How should readers feel about the subject at the end of the essay • TONE is accomplished through the use of all of the tools of observational writing. • Know HOW you want your readers to feel.

  10. POINT OF VIEW As a writer, you can be IN the action, or OUTSIDE of the action

  11. POINT OF VIEW OPTIONS • PARTICIPANT • You share your “experience” with readers on a personal level—let them take the journey with you and walk in your shoes • (usually “I” perspective) • OBSERVER • You offer a distant observation • Readers can find their own path through your experience • (Usually 3rd person perspective)

  12. REVIEW! What is Observation? What skills are required for observation? How best should I organize observation? What types of point of view can I use? What is the purpose of an observation?

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