Place and Space Report Assignment (3pages)

Research Writing

Place and Space Report Assignment Guidelines

Purpose: The purpose of this Report is to map out the physical space of your fieldsite and to discuss what activities take place within that space. This Report should convey to your classmates the experience of being in the physical space of your fieldsite and should give them a clear picture of what happens in that physical space.

What to include: This is a tow-part assignment: Part 1: You will write a description of the space itself, including what activities take place there and how the space affects the activities. Part 2: You will write a discussion of your position as a researcher and how your individual gaze affects how you “see” the space. Part 3.

Points to consider:

· Part 1: You can write your description in any form. You might think of it like a report and write a description of the space using sensory details. Or, you might think of it like a story—you could tell the story of a person moving within the fieldsite or of yourself visiting the fieldsite.

· Be creative! Use details and description to put your reader into the space of your fieldsite.

· Pay attention to physical objects and how people interact with them. Look at what furniture is in the space and how people use it. Look at what people have done with the space—how is the space divided? What purposes do different areas serve? What is on the walls, and why?

· Part 2: In discussing your position, you may want to consider how your personal experiences influence your observation.

Formatting: The written section of the Place and Space Report (Parts 1 and 2) should be at least 3 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman, 12-point font.

Evaluation: Place and Space Reports will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Point value:

Description and discussion of space (Part 1): The writer describes and discusses the site vividly and thoroughly. Activities taking place at this site should also be discussed. All ideas are discussed fully. Reflection of personal geography and own spacial gaze (Part 2): The writer discusses his or her own position as a researcher and how this position, which includes his or her opinions and past experiences, affects his or her view of the fieldsite space. All ideas are discussed fully. Organization: The writer organizes the report in a manner that classmates will be able to follow. Tip: Give each sub-topic in your Report its own paragraph. Professionalism: The writer meets the guidelines for length and formatting of the assignment. The writer presents a Report that is free from spelling and typographical errors and free from grammar or language usage errors that impede meaning.

____ / 20 ____ / 12 ____ / 6 ____ / 6

Total: ____ / 44 points