essay writing observation

How to Write an Observation Essay: Observation Paper Guide and Observation essay Example

• Dr. Huey Logan
• December 8, 2023
• Study Guides

What is an observational essay

Definition of an observational essay, types of observational essays, main components of an observational essay, how to start writing an observation essay, choosing an observation topic, gathering information through observation, creating a strong thesis statement, observation essay structure, writing the introduction paragraph, organizing the body paragraphs effectively, concluding an observation essay, tips for writing an effective observation paper, using descriptive language, incorporating the five senses, observation essay examples and topics, 20 observation essay topics for college, reviewing observation essay examples, creating an observation essay outline.

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to write an observation paper . Whether you’re a student looking to enhance your writing skills or an individual interested in honing your observation skills , this guide will provide you with valuable insights and tips on how to create a compelling and descriptive observation paper .

Here's What You'll Learn

Observation essay example

Write an observation essaytoggle, key takeaways.

• Recording observations, interpreting notes, and organizing them are crucial processes in writing an observation paper .
• Be mindful of important details such as date, time, and locality when taking field notes.
• Use qualitative and descriptive language to convey your observations effectively.
• Structure your observation paper around a research question and employ a clear and plain writing style.
• An observation essay focuses on diligently observing and describing the subject, without requiring analysis or problem-solving.

Now that you have a glimpse of what this guide will cover, let’s dive deeper into the definition and goals of an observation essay in the next section.

Understanding the Definition and Goals of an Observation Essay

An observation essay is an academic paper that focuses on making detailed observations and providing a rich description of objects, events, natural phenomena, or individuals. Unlike other types of essays, an observation essay does not require analysis or problem-solving. Instead, it aims to immerse the reader in the observation by diligently describing the subject.

When writing an observation essay, it is essential to employ vivid language and present tense to create a sense of immediacy and realism. By using descriptive and sensory details, the writer can effectively engage the reader and transport them into the observation itself.

The structure of an observation essay typically follows a standard essay format, consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion . In the introduction, the writer provides background information about the observation and presents a clear thesis statement. The body paragraphs serve as a platform for presenting the observations in a logical and organized manner, supported by relevant details and examples. Finally, the conclusion restates the thesis and offers a reflection on the overall observation, leaving the reader with a lasting impression.

Tips for Writing an Effective Observation Essay

In order to write an effective observation essay, there are a few key tips to keep in mind. First and foremost, choose a subject that truly fascinates you. Writing about something you are genuinely interested in will make the entire process more enjoyable and will also help you to stay engaged throughout.

When it comes to actually observing the subject of your essay, use all of your senses to create a vivid and detailed picture. This will not only make your writing more immersive for the reader, but it will also help you to capture the essence of what you are observing. Whether it’s sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or textures, paying attention to these sensory details will elevate your observation essay to the next level.

Another important tip is to apply the present tense in your writing. By using the present tense, you can create a sense of immediacy and make the events you are describing feel more real. This will help to engage the reader and make them feel as though they are experiencing the observation firsthand.

Lastly, be attentive to details and draw on your personal experiences. Including specific and unique details in your essay will make it more interesting and immersive for the reader. Additionally, sharing your own personal experiences and reflections throughout the essay will add depth and authenticity to your writing.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your observation essay is engaging, descriptive, and effective in capturing the essence of your subject.

Table: Tips for Writing an Effective Observation Essay

In conclusion , mastering the art of writing an observation essay requires honing your writing skills and employing effective descriptive writing techniques. By following the tips provided in this guide, you can enhance your ability to capture the details of your observations and engage your readers.

Writing Skills: Writing an observation essay allows you to develop and showcase your writing skills . Through diligent practice, you can improve your ability to convey your observations in a clear and engaging manner, effectively communicating your experiences to your audience.

Descriptive Writing: Descriptive writing is essential in an observation essay. By utilizing vivid language and sensory details, you can transport your readers into the scene, immersing them in the events and making your essay more captivating.

Conclusion: In conclusion, an observation essay is a powerful tool for exploring and sharing your observations. By selecting a subject that interests you, applying present tense, and structuring your essay in a logical manner, you can effectively convey your observations and leave a lasting impression on your readers.

What is an observation essay?

An observation essay is an academic paper that involves making observations and providing a detailed description of objects, events, natural phenomena, or individuals.

What should be included in an observation essay?

An observation essay should include vivid descriptions, use of present tense, personal experience, and attention to detail.

How should an observation essay be structured?

An observation essay should follow a standard essay structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

What is the goal of an observation essay?

The goal of an observation essay is to diligently observe and describe the subject without analysis or problem-solving.

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Observation Essay

Observation essay generator.

To properly observe something, you need to make use of all your five senses. Paying attention to all the details and being level-headed is a must. That said, a lot of effort goes into the act of observing something. The data gathered in your observation, whatever it may be, is necessary. Therefore you should write an observation essay and share your findings with the readers. 

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What Is an Observation Essay?

An observation essay is a piece of academic essay that incorporates the observer’s perspective over a situation, event, behavior, phenomenon, and even a person. In this document, the writer should state everything he or she directly noticed on the subject. In addition, they can also use first-person narration in this paper.

How to Write a Well-Versed Observation Essay

Whether you are a student writing an essay of your observation for a school assignment or educational research , or maybe a professional conducting a business analysis , you should compose it critically. The findings you present in your observation essay could be necessary to your field or industry. To keep it professional and informative, incorporate appropriate elements and organize it properly. 

1. Follow Guidelines

If there are guidelines provided, ensure to read them beforehand. The list usually includes instructions regarding the format, the length, essential questions, the structure, and the deadline. To avoid forgetting the items to remember, you can secure a checklist beforehand. These details will act as your guide and will set the limits for your essay writing . 

2. Devise an Outline

Considering that you already finished observing, take out your notes, and start constructing your outline. Consider basing its structure on the guidelines. You should decide what information goes on in a particular paragraph and organize it to be comprehensive to the general readers. You can save your energy by researching sample blank outline templates online instead of starting from scratch.

3. Compose Your Thesis Statement

Write your thesis statement in your introduction. After writing your hook and engaging your readers, it is now time to state what the essay will discuss. What did you observe? What are the general idea and nature of your essay? Your thesis statement will act as the central idea of your descriptive writing. Its length must only be one sentence. 

4. Close With a Detailed Conclusion

After presenting the main ideas and supporting your claims, you should provide a conclusion statement that would sum it all up. In the last paragraph, you should restate the thesis statement and explain how all of these ideas are relevant to each other. Your conclusion should link back to the idea in your introduction.

How do you observe something properly?

The practice of observing is necessary for writing field reports of studies, especially in science and psychology. When you do an observation of something, it is advisable to research the subject you are studying. Also, you need to focus on your visual and hearing senses and your thought process. Avoid or get rid of factors that can distract you.

What are the different methods of observing?

The various methods of observing are categorized based on the level of involvement of the observer with the subject. If an observer is not noticed or personally seen by the participants, then he or she is employing the complete observer method. On the other hand, if the subjects recognize and interact with the observer, the implemented method is observer as participant.

How should you note your observations?

The first step in taking field notes of your observation is, write down the necessary details of the subject. Also, you should include the time and place. In writing your findings, you should stay objective and factual. Also, don’t forget to write a description of the setting and the materials involved.

The readers of your observation essay are not present at the time you did your observation. An observation essay is effective if its content is enough to supply information that would make the readers feel as if they are personally present at that time. Secure an observation essay, and earn an award certificate from your school or your work. 

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Discuss the behavior of animals at a zoo and what it reveals about them in your Observation Essay.

Reflect on the atmosphere of a music concert you attended in your Observation Essay.

Home ➔ How to Write an Essay ➔ Observation Essay

Guide to Observation Essays

Whether you’re a budding writer, a curious student, or a seasoned professional looking to fine-tune your skills, this comprehensive guide on observation essays is for you. Writing is an art; like any art, it requires practice, understanding, and a touch of creativity. Observation essays, in particular, offer a unique platform to express, explore, and enhance our understanding of the world around us. This guide will provide you with the tools, tips, and insights needed to craft compelling observation essays, inviting your readers to see the world through your eyes.

Understanding the Observation Essay

What is an observation essay? An observation essay is a type of writing that aims to capture and share a personal experience of a particular event, object, or phenomenon through detailed, sensory-rich descriptions. It’s a genre that calls for writers to observe their surroundings, immerse themselves in the scenario, and then articulate their observations in a vivid, engaging manner.

Unlike narrative or reflective essays, an observation essay doesn’t merely tell a story or share a personal reflection. Instead, it places the spotlight firmly on the subject being observed. It’s a bit like a painter capturing a scene – the writer uses words instead of brushstrokes to bring their subject to life. The result? Readers should feel like they’re right there with the writer, experiencing firsthand observation.

Purpose and Importance

Observation essays serve a dual purpose. For the writer, they offer a platform to practice and hone descriptive writing skills. The requirement to delve deep into an observation encourages attentiveness, mindfulness, and a keen eye for detail – all vital skills for any writer. Plus, the freedom to choose your subject allows you to write about what truly interests or impacts you, making the process not just a learning experience but an enjoyable one too.

Observation essays allow the reader to see the world from a different perspective. A well-written essay can transport readers to new places, introduce them to new concepts, or make them see familiar things in a fresh light. It can evoke emotions, provoke thought, and inspire action.

Moreover, observation essays hold significant value in academic and professional contexts. They are commonly used in fields like social sciences, journalism, and creative writing, to name a few. They help students learn how to notice details, analyze their observations, and communicate effectively – skills that are invaluable in many career paths.

Importance of Objectivity

An observation essay is a fascinating blend of objectivity and subjectivity. The objectivity aspect calls for a clear, unbiased representation of what you observe. The goal here is to present your readers with a truthful, accurate depiction of the event, place, object, or person you’re observing without letting personal biases or preconceived notions color your descriptions.

Why is objectivity important? It’s simple – it lends credibility to your observation essay. When your descriptions are factual and unbiased, your readers can trust what you’re saying. This trust forms the bedrock of engaging, impactful writing. It’s what makes your readers feel like they’re right there with you, experiencing the observation firsthand.

However, this doesn’t mean you need to be a passive, emotionless observer. On the contrary, your role as an observer involves a level of active engagement. You need to be alert, attentive, and responsive to your surroundings. Objectivity doesn’t mean stripping your observation essay of emotion – it means ensuring that those emotions don’t distort the truth of your observation.

The Role of Personal Perception and Experience

While objectivity is crucial, it’s only half the story. The other half is your personal perception and experience – the subjective aspect of your observation essay.

Personal perception and experience are what make your observation essay uniquely yours. They allow you to bring a fresh perspective to your subject, highlight aspects others might overlook, and infuse your writing with your voice and style.

When describing your observations, consider how the scene made you feel, what it reminded you of, what surprised or intrigued you. Did it trigger any memories? Did it change your perspective on something? These are the insights your readers are looking for – the human element that transforms a simple observation into a compelling narrative.

However, remember that while personal perception and experience are important, they should never overshadow the observation itself. Think of them as the spice that enhances the flavor of your observation essay, not the main ingredient.

Balancing objectivity with personal perception and experience can be challenging, but it’s also what makes observation essays so rewarding. By learning to navigate this balance, you can create essays that are both credible and captivating – essays that inform and inspire.

The Pre-writing Stage Steps

Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), some essential groundwork must be done. The pre-writing stage is all about preparation. It’s where you choose your subject, conduct your observation, and gather your notes. This stage is crucial as it sets the foundation for your observation essay. By investing time and thought into this preparatory phase, you can ensure a smoother, more effective writing process.

1. Choose a Subject for Observation

The first step in the pre-writing stage is choosing a subject for your observation essay. Your subject could be almost anything – a place, an event, a person, an object, or even a concept. The key is to choose a subject that you find intriguing or impactful – something that sparks your curiosity or resonates with you on a personal level. This personal interest or connection will not only make the observation process more enjoyable, but it will also shine through in your writing, engaging your readers.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Subject

When choosing a subject, consider its accessibility and observability. Can you spend enough time with your subject to make detailed, meaningful observations? Is it something that lends itself to description? A bustling market, for example, offers a wealth of sensory details to describe, whereas a quiet, empty room might not.

Think about your intended audience as well. What would they find interesting or informative? If you’re writing for a specific assignment, make sure your subject aligns with the assignment guidelines.

Lastly, consider the depth and complexity of your subject. A good subject should offer enough material to explore without being overwhelmingly complex.

Examples of Effective Subjects

Effective subjects for observation essays can range from the everyday to the extraordinary. A tranquil park at sunrise, a lively music festival, a skilled artisan at work, the behavior of birds at a feeder – these are all examples of subjects that offer rich observational opportunities. Remember, it’s not always about what you observe but how you observe it. Even the most mundane subjects can yield fascinating insights when observed with a keen, curious eye.

2. Conduct the Observation

Once you’ve chosen your subject, it’s time to conduct your observation. This is your opportunity to immerse yourself in your subject, to observe it in all its complexity and detail. It’s a process that requires patience, attentiveness, and a touch of creativity.

Tips for Effective Observation

Start by immersing yourself in your observation environment. Try to engage all your senses – not just sight, but also sound, touch, smell, and taste, where applicable. Take note of any details that catch your attention, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

Keep your mind open and receptive. Don’t rush to make interpretations or draw conclusions – just observe and record. The analysis will come later.

And finally, be patient. Some observations, like the behavior of animals or the unfolding of an event, can’t be rushed. Take your time and enjoy the process.

Ethical Guidelines for Observation

Observing ethically is crucial, especially when your subject involves other people. Always respect people’s privacy and dignity. If your observation involves watching people, ensure you have their consent. Avoid making assumptions or judgments about your subjects – remember, your role is to observe, not to critique.

3. Take Effective Notes

As you conduct your observation, taking effective notes is key. These notes will form the basis of your observation essay, so capturing as much detail as possible is important.

One strategy is to use descriptive phrases and sensory words to record your observations. Try to capture not just what you see but also what you hear, smell, touch, and taste.

Another strategy is to jot down your immediate thoughts and reactions. These can provide valuable insights when you begin writing your observation essay.

It can also be helpful to sketch or diagram your observation, particularly if you’re observing a complex scene or process. Don’t worry about your artistic skills – the goal is not to create a masterpiece but to capture key details and relationships visually.

Organizing Your Notes

Once you’ve gathered your notes, take some time to organize them. Group similar observations together. You might choose to organize them chronologically, thematically, or in order of importance. Look for patterns or interesting details that might serve as focal points for your observation essay.

Remember to keep your notes accessible and understandable. You might find it helpful to use symbols, color-coding, or other methods to highlight key observations or ideas.

Taking effective notes is a skill that improves with practice. So don’t be discouraged if your first few attempts seem chaotic or incomplete. With each observation, you’ll become better at capturing and organizing the details that will bring your essays to life.

The Writing Stage Steps

1. create an observation essay outline.

Creating an outline is one of the most effective ways to ensure a well-structured, cohesive observation essay. An outline serves as a roadmap for your essay, guiding you through each section and helping you organize your thoughts and observations. It helps you identify key points, develop a logical flow, and ensure that each part of your essay supports your thesis statement.

Beyond these structural benefits, an outline can make writing less daunting. Instead of facing a blank page, you’ll have a clear plan to follow, making it easier to get started and keep going.

The elements of an observation essay outline typically include:

• Introduction: This should include a hook to grab the reader’s attention, background information about your subject, and a thesis statement.
• Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on a specific observation or group of related observations. Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Then, provide your detailed observations, using sensory language and vivid descriptions to bring your subject to life. Be sure to include your personal reactions or reflections, but remember to keep the focus on the subject.
• Conclusion: Summarize your key observations and reflect on their significance. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression, so try to end on a thought-provoking note.

Observation Essay Outline Example

Let’s say your subject is a local farmers’ market. Here’s what your outline might look like:

• Hook: A sensory-rich description to immerse the reader in the market scene
• Background: Brief information about the farmers’ market (where it’s located, when it takes place, etc.)
• Thesis statement: The main focus or angle of your observation essay (e.g., “The local farmers’ market is a vibrant testament to the power of community and sustainable living.”)
• Topic sentence: “The first thing that strikes you at the market is the abundance and diversity of fresh produce.”
• Detailed descriptions of the fruits, vegetables, and other items on display
• Your reactions to the variety and quality of the produce
• Topic sentence: “Behind each stall stands a vendor, each with their unique story and passion for what they do.”
• Descriptions of a few vendors, including their appearance, behavior, and interactions with customers
• Your reflections on the importance of supporting local farmers and producers
• Topic sentence: “The market buzzes with life, with customers of all ages and walks of life coming together to shop, eat, and socialize.”
• Observations of the customers and the overall atmosphere
• Your thoughts on the sense of community at the market
• Summary of your key observations
• Reflection on the significance of these observations (e.g., how the farmers’ market embodies values like community, sustainability, and support for local businesses)
• Closing thoughts: A comment or question to leave the reader thinking (e.g., “In a world dominated by supermarket chains, the simple act of shopping at a farmers’ market can be a powerful statement of support for our local communities and our planet.”)

Remember, this is just one possible approach to outlining an observation essay. Feel free to adapt this structure to suit your subject and your personal writing style.

2. Write the Introduction

The introduction is the first part of your observation essay that your readers will encounter, making it a crucial component of your piece. A well-crafted introduction sets the tone for the essay, provides necessary context, and guides your readers into the heart of your observations. It is here you must catch your reader’s attention, provide a sense of what they’re about to experience and assert your main argument or perspective.

How to Craft an Engaging Hook

An engaging hook is your first chance to pique your reader’s interest and entice them to continue reading. It’s the bait that draws them into the depth of your observation. When crafting your hook, aim to evoke an emotion, provoke a question, or paint a vivid picture that your reader will want to explore further.

Here are a few strategies for creating an engaging hook:

• Start with a vivid description: Use sensory language to immerse your reader in your observation right from the start. For example, “The farmers’ market buzzes with life, the air ripe with the scent of fresh fruits and the sounds of lively chatter.”
• Pose a thought-provoking question: A compelling question can intrigue your reader and prompt them to read on for the answer. For instance, “What if you could taste the heart and soul of a community in the food you eat?”
• Share a surprising fact or statistic: If a fact or statistic is related to your observation that might surprise or intrigue your reader, use it as your hook. For example, “Despite the rise of supermarket chains, over 8,000 farmers’ markets continue to thrive across the United States.”

Setting the Scene

Once you’ve hooked your reader, it’s time to set the scene. This is where you provide some background information about your subject. Be careful not to overwhelm your reader with details – just provide enough information to help them understand your observations. For example, you might describe the location of the farmers’ market, the time of day you visited, and any notable features.

Thesis Statement

The final component of your introduction is the thesis statement . This is a concise statement that establishes your main point or perspective on the subject you’re observing. It guides your entire essay, providing a clear focus for your observations.

Your thesis statement should be specific and debatable, sparking interest and guiding your subsequent observations. For a farmers’ market observation essay, your thesis statement might be something like, “The local farmers’ market serves not only as a venue for selling fresh produce but also as a vibrant gathering spot that fosters a sense of community and sustainability.”

Remember, your introduction should entice, inform, and guide. By crafting an engaging hook, setting the scene effectively, and asserting a compelling thesis statement, you set the stage for an enticing observation essay.

Introduction example

As the sun peeks over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange, the local town square begins to stir with life. This is no ordinary morning buzz – it’s the herald of the weekly farmers’ market, a vibrant gathering that transforms the sleepy square into a bustling hub of community and sustainability. This is our local farmers’ market, a testament to the power of local produce, community interaction, and sustainable living.

Nestled in the heart of our small town, the market unfurls every Saturday, breathing life and color into the cobblestone square. Farmers and artisans from around the area converge, setting up their stalls under the early morning sky, their goods a tapestry of the region’s bounty.

I will take you on a journey through this vibrant market scene, exploring its abundant produce, passionate vendors, and diverse clientele. More than just a place to buy fresh produce, our local farmers’ market serves as a testament to the strength of community spirit and the importance of sustainable living. Together, we’ll uncover how this bustling market embodies these values, offering a unique perspective into the heart of our community.

3. Write the Body Paragraphs

The body of your observation essay is where you delve into the heart of your subject, exploring it in detail and sharing your insights with your reader. Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your observation, developing a clear point that supports your thesis statement. Here, you’ll use vivid language and sensory details to bring your observations to life, balancing raw description with thoughtful interpretation.

The Chronological or Thematic Approach

When structuring your body paragraphs, you have two main approaches to choose from: the chronological approach or the thematic approach.

The chronological approach follows the order of your observation, moving through each aspect as it occurred in time. This approach is particularly useful when observing events or processes, as it allows you to capture the progression and dynamics of your subject.

The thematic approach , on the other hand, groups observations by themes or categories. For example, in an observation essay about a farmers’ market, you might have separate paragraphs for the variety of produce, the vendors, and the customers. This approach can provide a more organized and focused exploration of your subject, especially when observing complex or multifaceted subjects.

Using Sensory Details and Vivid Language

A key part of writing an engaging observation essay is bringing your subject to life through detailed descriptions. Try to engage all of your reader’s senses – not just sight but also sound, touch, smell, and taste.

Use vivid language to paint a picture of your subject in the reader’s mind. Don’t just say that the market was busy – describe the hustle and bustle, the clatter of stalls being set up, the chatter of vendors, and the aroma of fresh bread wafting from a nearby stall.

Remember, the aim is not to list facts but to immerse your reader in the experience. Show, don’t tell. Instead of saying, “The apples were fresh,” you might write, “The apples gleamed under the morning sun, their skins smooth and taut, promising a sweet, crisp bite.”

Balancing Description and Interpretation

While rich descriptions are vital to an observation essay, they should be balanced with interpretation. This means reflecting on what you’ve observed and considering its significance.

Interpretation allows you to move beyond mere description to offer insights and analysis. It’s where you connect your specific observations to your broader thesis statement. For instance, after describing the variety of produce at the farmers’ market, you might reflect on what this variety reveals about the richness of local agriculture, the changing seasons, or the value of sustainable farming practices.

Remember, the goal is not to make sweeping judgments but to offer thoughtful, grounded reflections on your observations. By balancing detailed descriptions with insightful interpretation, you can craft body paragraphs that are vivid, engaging, insightful, and meaningful.

4. Write the Conclusion

The conclusion of your observation essay is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your reader. It’s where you tie together your main points and observations and reflect on their broader significance. A well-crafted conclusion should summarize what you’ve observed and explore the meaning and implications of these observations.

Summarizing Key Observations

Start your conclusion by summarizing your key observations. Remind your reader of the main points you’ve made in your body paragraphs. For example, you might recap the variety of produce, the dedication of the vendors, and the vibrant atmosphere at the farmers’ market.

However, avoid simply repeating what you’ve already said. Instead, aim to synthesize your observations, bringing them together in a way that highlights their connections and overall significance.

Personal Thoughts and Lessons Learned

After summarizing your key observations, share your personal thoughts and reflections. This is where you can explore the implications of your observations and what they’ve taught you. For instance, you might reflect on how your visit to the farmers’ market has deepened your appreciation for local produce or how it’s made you more aware of the importance of supporting local farmers and sustainable farming practices.

Conclusion Example

Throughout my observation at the local farmers’ market, I encountered a vibrant community hub, not just a simple venue for buying and selling produce. The wide variety of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables showcased the richness of our local agriculture and the changing seasons. The dedication of the vendors, each passionately explaining their farming practices and the benefits of their produce, highlighted the deep connections between the food we eat, the land it grows on, and the people who cultivate it.

The vibrant atmosphere of the farmers’ market, filled with lively chatter, the hustle of customers, and the tantalizing aromas of freshly baked bread and ripe fruits, left an indelible mark on me. It made me realize how these markets are not just about food but also about community, sustainability, and connection to the land.

This visit has deepened my appreciation for local produce and has made me more aware of the importance of supporting local farmers. It was not just a simple shopping experience but rather an educational journey that has impacted the way I think about food, farming, and community. I hope my observations can inspire others to visit their local farmers’ market, support local farmers, and appreciate the richness and vitality of such community hubs.

Observing the local farmers’ market has been a journey of discovery. Through careful observation and reflection, I’ve come to appreciate this lively marketplace as a symbol of our community’s resilience, a showcase of local agriculture, and a testament to the value of sustainable farming practices. As I continue to visit the farmers’ market, I look forward to observing more, learning more, and deepening my understanding of this vibrant community space.

Language Use, Tone, and Style

As you write your observation essay, keep these writing tips in mind:

• Use clear, concise language: Avoid jargon and unnecessarily complex language. Your goal is to communicate your observations and insights clearly and effectively, not to impress your reader with big words.
• Maintain a consistent tone: The tone of your observation essay should reflect your subject and your approach to observing it. A light, conversational tone might be appropriate for an essay about a lively farmers’ market, while a more serious, formal tone might be better suited to an observation essay about a solemn historical site.
• Vary your sentence structure: To keep your writing engaging, vary your sentence structure. Mix short sentences with longer ones, and vary your use of simple, compound, and complex sentences.
• Show, don’t tell: Instead of telling your reader what you observed or how you felt, show them through vivid descriptions and sensory details.
• Stay focused on your subject: While personal reflections are important, remember to keep your subject at the center of your essay. Your observations and insights should illuminate your subject, not overshadow it.

By keeping these writing tips in mind, you can ensure that your observation essay is detailed, insightful, clear, engaging, and well-crafted.

Finalizing the Essay: Tips for Polishing Your Work

Once you’ve finished the initial drafting of your observation essay, your work is far from over. The final, perhaps most crucial step is revising and editing your essay to ensure it is as polished and effective as possible. Here are some tips to help you finalize your work:

1. Read Your Essay Aloud: Reading your observation essay aloud can help you catch awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and areas where your flow is disrupted. As you read, listen for places where you stumble or pause – these are likely spots that need smoothing out.

2. Check for Clarity and Coherence: Make sure your ideas are expressed clearly and your points are coherent. Each paragraph should have a clear focus, and all your paragraphs should tie together to support your overall thesis statement.

3. Look for Detailed Descriptions: Go through your essay and check if your descriptions are vivid and engaging enough. Have you used sensory language to bring your observations to life? Can your reader clearly envision what you’ve observed? If not, consider adding more detail or using more vivid language.

4. Balance Description and Interpretation: Ensure that your observation essay balances description and interpretation well. While your descriptions bring your subject to life, your interpretations provide the depth and insight that make your essay truly engaging.

5. Review Your Introduction and Conclusion: Your introduction should effectively hook your reader and provide a clear thesis statement, while your conclusion should summarize your key observations and reflections. Make sure both of these sections are strong and effective.

6. Proofread: Finally, proofread your essay carefully to catch any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. Don’t rely solely on spell-check software – they can miss certain types of errors. If possible, have someone else proofread your observation essay as well. They may catch errors you’ve overlooked.

7. Take a Break: If time allows, step away from your essay for a day or two before you begin revising. This can help you approach your work with fresh eyes and spot errors or inconsistencies you might have missed in your initial drafting.

Remember, writing is a process, and it’s okay to make multiple revisions. By carefully polishing your work, you can ensure that your observation essay is not only clear and engaging but also provides a substantial, insightful, and comprehensive exploration of your subject.

Exercises for Developing Observation and Writing Skills

Developing strong observation and writing skills requires practice. Here are some exercises that can help you hone these skills, making your observation essays more detailed, insightful, and engaging.

1. Sensory Exploration: Choose an object, place, or event to observe. Write a paragraph describing it using each of the five senses. This exercise can help you practice using sensory language, which is crucial for bringing your observations to life.

2. People-Watching: Go to a public place and observe the people around you. Write a short description of a person or a group of people, focusing not only on their appearance but also their actions and interactions. This can help you practice observing and describing people, which can be useful for many types of observation essays.

3. Event Analysis: Attend a local event, such as a festival, concert, or sports game. As you observe the event, take notes on what is happening and the atmosphere and the reactions of the people around you. Afterward, write a short essay analyzing the event. This exercise can help you practice observing, note-taking, and analytical writing.

4. Reflective Writing: After observing a subject, write a reflective journal entry about the experience. Explore what you observed and your thoughts and feelings about it. This can help you practice reflective writing, which is important for the interpretation part of an observation essay.

5. Revise and Edit: Choose a piece of writing you’ve completed in the past – it could be a previous observation essay, a school assignment, or even a personal journal entry. Revise and edit it using the tips provided in this guide. This exercise can help you practice the crucial skills of revising and editing.

Remember, the key to improving your observation and writing skills is practice. By regularly engaging in exercises like these, you can continue to grow and refine your skills, enhancing the quality of your observation essays.

How to Write an Observation Essay

Have you ever dreamed of drawing a beautiful picture? Maybe a landscape or a portrait of your favorite actor? Unfortunately, not all of us have an inborn talent for drawing or enough time to practice artistic skills. There is a nice alternative: an observation essay.

Observation essays are almost like pictures. But your major tool to create them won’t be brushes and paints, but words and phrases. Of course, a brilliant observation essay example also requires particular skills (the ones our writers posses providing “ write essay for me ” help. Firstly, you should have either a good memory (when you write about your personal experience) or a good imagination. Secondly, your writing skills also have to be impressive. Finally, it is all about observation. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes and remember (or imagine) the smallest nuances. But you won’t be able to create a good picture without vivid details, right?

Our guide will help you to figure out what makes an observation essay a special type of writing assignment, and how to compose it in a proper way. We’ll also provide you with a well-written observation essay example so you’ll have a template for your own paper. Take a closer look at this genre. We are sure that you’ll fall in love with it as well as our scholarship essay writer .

Observation essay definition

An observation essay is a truly unique type of paper. Officially, it is an academic type of paper. Yet, we’d classify it as a piece of creative writing. (You can check our narrative essay outline example to better understand what we mean here.) Such essays allow readers to feel the atmosphere of the described event or experience. A writer can achieve the effect of presence using accurate wording and vivid details. You can describe in your paper various topics: the first rock con, a weekend with your best friend, or a meeting of a particular support group. Unlike a classification essay outline that is observation essay can show any picture. Everything depends on the painter!

Crafting observation essays is an opportunity to investigate and explore a host of topics, ranging the behavior of human beings to natural occurrences. The goal here is not only to depict what has been observed but also interpret it in a meaningful way.

In order to write a compelling observation essay, there are several key components you should include:

• Clear description of the subject being observed
• Analysis and interpretation of the observations made
• Use of sensory details to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind
• Reflection on the writer’s own experiences and biases in relation to the subject

All in all, an observation essay is a powerful tool for the author to contemplate and comprehend their environment through precise examination and contemplation.

10 quick-fire tips to write an observation essay

Below, you’ll find a list of common and extraordinary observation essay tips. You can use all of them or only a few. (Most will also come in handy when you wonder how to write an academic film review .) Anyway, they’ll make your piece of writing better.

1. First-person narration

Surprisingly, this type of academic writing allows first-person narration , unlike most other academic tasks such as write my term paper or write my dissertation assignments which are more formal and require concise and straightforward language. The main purpose is to give your readers a feeling that your memory is actually theirs. The words “I,” “my,” and “mine” become your best friends when you write an observation essay.

2. Realistic details

The devil is in the details, right? This applies to observation essays. Your task is to stimulate your readers’ imagination. And the best technique is detailing. Eye color, temperature of coffee, your heartbeat – everything matters.

3. All the senses

Although visual perception of information is the most important form for the majority of people, other senses also matter. Try to mention smells, touches, sounds, and tastes in your essay , like you would do if dealing with “ write my personal statement ” prompts, to make it more real for your audience.

4. Perfect wording

Sometimes, even one word can change the meaning of the phrase. Don’t neglect the opportunity to pull the heartstrings of your readers! If you feel that a particular word doesn’t fit well, replace it using synonyms. We are sure that you’ll eventually find the perfect variant.

5. Use of comparisons

Good comparisons are a great tool to create a certain impression. For example: “This cake tastes like a cloud.” You know that clouds are simply drops of water. But when it comes to cakes, this comparison creates a totally different impression, right?

6. Informal language

Forget about formalities, complex words, and terminology. Your purpose is to create a certain atmosphere, not to amaze your readers with your language performance or eloquence. Your manner of writing has to be simple and understandable. In such a way, your readers will easily follow your thoughts.

7. Elegant simplicity

An observation essay has to be simple but not too simple. In other words, it should be as simple as a little black dress, not as ripped jeans and a baggy sweater. We hope that this comparison is enough to understand the principle. If still confused, think of the principles you follow when designing your “ write my PowerPoint presentation ” assignment: straightforward language and comparisons for the audience to get the message properly and prevent controversies.

8. Relaxation

Seriously, relax! When you are nervous, your thinking becomes cloudy. You can’t imagine a clear picture and certainly can’t draw it for your readers. Take a deep breath – the right words will come to your mind automatically!

9. A recent experience

If you decide to describe your personal experience in the essay, we highly recommend you to choose an event that is not old and unfamiliar. Childhood memories might be beautiful, but they’re blurred as well.

10. One shot

We don’t recommend you to extend the pleasure of the writing process for several days. You should write your essay in one shot in order to keep your inspiration and specific mood. On the other hand, the process of editing may take a few days.

How to write an observation essay step by step

When you have all the tips, you need a writing plan. A good instruction can simplify even the most difficult process , and that is why outlining is a must-take step for your “ write my assignment ” inquiries to succeed. Here is your writing plan:

• Choose a topic

If your life is bright and full of great moments that you can share, the choice is obvious. Describing your personal experience is much easier than anything imagined. However, if your fantasy works very well, you can describe whatever you want. Just make sure that it is interesting for your audience, not only for you.

• Use keywords

When the right scene comes to your mind, don’t waste a minute! Write down all the phrases and words that your memory offers you. You don’t have to follow any system or principles like other “ write my college essay ” assignments prescribe , as you’ll structure your thoughts later.

• Close your eyes

That might seem weird, but this tip really works. When you close your eyes, you get totally concentrated on what is happening in your conscious. Plus, it is easier to imagine smells and sounds with your eyes closed.

• Stream of consciousness

Don’t try to control your thoughts. Just let them fly. In such a way, your memory will be able to provide you with really surprising details.

• Make an outline

When you have enough material, it’s the right moment to shape it. Remember about the elements of good narration: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Forget about the standard five-paragraph structure! It is too boring for this type of writing.

• Write the first draft

You’re ready for this serious step! Don’t be too demanding, and give yourself a chance and the right for a mistake. Your observation essay doesn’t have to be perfect on the first try. Nothing is perfect at once, even such formal and complex documents like those you get for “ write my coursework ” inquiries. You’ll have time to make it perfect a bit later.

• Take a break

Yes, we mean it. You do need rest! You’ve done great work, so feel free to make yourself a cup of tea or eat a piece of cake. A nap is also fine in this case. Your brain needs a reset.

It is unlikely that your first draft will satisfy all your demands. Maybe you need to remove a paragraph or add another one. Replace words, expressions, and even whole phrases if necessary.

• Edit and proofread

If you feel like your draft can’t be any better, then it’s time for editing and proofreading. We highly recommend you to use online services to check your text, especially when you ask some “ write my paper for cheap ” experts for help, as the human eye is not always attentive enough.

• Get feedback

This step can also be considered as a part of the editing process. The most important thing is to watch how other people read your observation essay. If you see a display of emotion on their faces, then you’ve done everything right.

An exclusive observation essay example for you

We classify an observation essay as a type of creative writing. This means that there are no strict rules or restrictions, like with write my APA paper or write my research paper tasks, of course, if they are not specified by your instructor. Anyway, we hope that you’ll learn from the observation essay example below about how it should be written. We also hope that you won’t commit plagiarism.

Fall Into the Sky

My bare feet feel the cold metal surface of the pier. It’s so good to feel this coolness after a long walk. My skin is goosebumpy, but excitement overcomes all other feelings. I come to the edge of the pier. The only sounds to break the silence are a gentle whisper of waves and my own breath.

I look down and see nothing. Only black emptiness. There is no moon in the sky, and I can’t see its magnificent reflection. But I keep trying to focus, and after a few moments, I see tiny spots of light on the water surface – shiny stars.

I’ve almost forgotten about my main purpose while watching stars and listening to the silence. A light breeze refreshes my mind and cools my body. My pulse is racing, and my thinking is becoming a bit cloudy. I make a step.

Just for a moment, I don’t feel anything. My body has no weight, and my mind is empty.

Then, I feel my feet hitting the water slightly. The temperature remains the same, as the water is no cooler than air on an August night. My muscles relax, but my lungs remind me that I can’t breathe underwater.

I swim out and take a deep breath. I float on water face up. I see the stars in the sky, and I see their fading reflections. I swim among the stars.

Help with observation essay writing

We are sure that you’ve enjoyed reading our observation essay example. With our instructions, tips, and sample, you are now ready to start writing your own essay without the help of any AI writing tool ! Don’t neglect our recommendations – you’ll provide a real masterpiece with them. EssayShark is always ready to help you with your   “ do my essay ” and any other writing problems, so apply to us if your homework is taking over you!

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A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology

What You'll Learn

Observation is a fundamental method in psychology that allows researchers to gather valuable information about human behavior in natural settings. Writing an observation paper is an essential skill for psychology students as it enhances their ability to critically analyze and interpret observed behaviors. This essay will comprehensively guide you through the process of writing an observation paper in psychology, covering key aspects such as preparation, observation techniques, note-taking, analysis, and the final write-up.(A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology)

Preparation

Before embarking on the observation process, it is crucial to identify a suitable setting and subject for your study. Choose a location that aligns with your research question and ethical considerations. Obtain the necessary permissions and ensure the confidentiality and anonymity of participants. Clearly define the purpose of your observation and develop a set of specific research questions or hypotheses to guide your focus during the observation.(A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology)

Observation Techniques

There are two primary observation techniques in psychology: naturalistic and participant observation.

• Naturalistic Observation: In this approach, the observer remains an external observer, uninvolved in the activities of the subjects. This technique is valuable for studying spontaneous and genuine behaviors in their natural context.(A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology)
• Participant Observation: Here, the observer actively engages in the observed activities, offering a more immersive experience. This technique is particularly useful for gaining deeper insights into social interactions and group dynamics.

Note-Taking

Accurate and detailed note-taking is crucial for capturing the nuances of observed behavior. Consider the following tips:

a. Develop a structured observation form: Create a template that includes specific categories relevant to your research questions. This helps organize your notes and ensures comprehensive coverage.

b. Record objective data: Focus on observable behaviors rather than interpretations. Note body language, verbal expressions, and environmental factors that may influence behavior.

c. Use descriptive language: Paint a vivid picture of the observed scene. Incorporate details that provide context and depth to your observations.(A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology)

After completing the observation, move on to the analysis phase . This involves interpreting the collected data and drawing meaningful conclusions. Consider the following steps:

a. Identify patterns and themes: Look for recurring behaviors, events, or interactions. Organize your observations into categories to facilitate analysis.

b. Relate findings to research questions: Connect your observations back to the initial research questions or hypotheses. Assess whether your findings support or challenge your initial expectations.

c. Consider contextual factors: Reflect on the environmental, social, and cultural factors that may have influenced the observed behaviors. Contextualizing your observations enhances the depth of your analysis.

The Final Write-Up

The final step involves transforming your notes and analyses into a coherent and well-structured observation paper. Follow these guidelines:

• Introduction: a. Briefly introduce the purpose of the observation. b. Provide context for the chosen setting and subjects. c. State the research questions or hypotheses.
• Method: a. Describe the observation techniques employed. b. Detail the setting, participants, and ethical considerations.(A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology)
• Results: a. Present your findings in a clear and organized manner. b. Use subheadings to address each research question or theme.(A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology)
• Discussion: a. Interpret your observations in the context of existing literature. b. Discuss the implications of your findings and their relevance to the broader field of psychology. c. Address limitations and suggest avenues for future research.
• Conclusion: Summarize the key findings and their significance.
• References: Cite relevant sources and literature that informed your research.

Writing an observation paper in psychology involves a systematic and thoughtful process from preparation to the final write-up. Emphasizing careful observation, thorough note-taking, and critical analysis will enable you to produce a comprehensive and insightful paper that contributes to the understanding of human behavior in real-world settings. By following this guide, psychology students can hone their observational skills and make meaningful contributions to the field.

White, S. J., Barello, S., di San Marco, E. C., Colombo, C., Eeckman, E., Gilligan, C., … & Krystallidou, D. (2021). Critical observations on and suggested ways forward for healthcare communication during COVID-19: pEACH position paper.  Patient Education and Counseling ,  104 (2), 217-222. (A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738399120306893

O’Donovan, R., Van Dun, D., & McAuliffe, E. (2020). Measuring psychological safety in healthcare teams: developing an observational measure to complement survey methods.  BMC medical research methodology ,  20 , 1-17.(A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Observation Paper in Psychology) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-020-01066-z

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How to Write Observation Essay

Have you ever been dreaming of painting a beautiful picture? Unfortunately, only a small number of people have the necessary skills and talent to draw pictures or undertake any other creative activities. Well, you should not get upset as there is a superior alternative, i.e. an observation essay. Such papers can be compared to pictures with the only difference that instead of a brush you will use words and expressions to create them. Certainly, this type of paper also requires the one to possess the whole set of skills. First, you need to have a either an excellent memory or a vivid imagination. Second, you have to be good at writing. Finally, you should know the peculiarities of the observation process. Of course, you do not have to remember every last detail of the matter, but being able to notice vivid details is a must. Otherwise, you will not be able to compose a worthy piece of writing. If you desire to find out how to write an observation essay, we offer you to use our helpful guide. Moreover, we can provide you with fascinating observation paper examples so that you do not have to browse the Net looking for some tips.

What is an Observation Essay?

It is an unusual piece of writing. Though it relates to academic types of papers, it is better to refer it to creative writing. Observation papers let readers sense the atmosphere of the depicted matter. Owing to the vivid details and descriptive words used by the writer, readers may feel themselves present in a specific place. It is necessary to state that such papers can be written on various topics. For example, you may describe the day which you have spent with your friends, a rock concert, etc.

Specifics and Purpose of Observation Papers

A book review can be considered an example of an observation paper. This is one of the options.

According to the definition, an observation paper is a work presenting the observations made after viewing an, event, phenomenon, etc. The purpose of such a work is to provide a detailed description of the matter with the help of vivid details. One should keep in mind that an observation paper is not a research one meaning it has to be written differently. An observation paper should include the following items:

This essay has to be produced in the first person singular even if you are describing someone else’s experience. Additionally, the present tense is to be utilized so that readers can feel themselves the participants of the discussed events. Do not be afraid of expressing your feelings as they make the work more appealing.

Bear in mind that it is essential to stick to the guidelines about how to write an observation paper. Professors usually provide information about the number of words your work has to contain. If no data about the word count is given, stick to the 1500 words limit. As to the description of the matter under consideration, it should include colorful details to make such a lengthy piece of writing interesting.

As to the reference style, if it is not specified, you should pick one of those that are widely used in the educational establishments, i.e. Chicago, MLA, APA, Harvard, or AMA. Your choice depends on the academic discipline you are writing a paper in and your degree. The best option is to use the style with a formal structure. The papers written in the majority of formatting styles contain such structural components:

• Justifications
• Number of pages
• Bibliography

Note that you can always receive valuable assistance from our specialists in case you cannot create such an essay on your own. Do not delay reaching us!

How to Write an Observation Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Observation essays allow you to explore the world around you, capturing moments, events, and experiences in rich detail. Whether you’re writing for academic purposes or simply want to enhance your descriptive writing skills, this step-by-step guide will help you craft an engaging observation essay.

Pre-writing Preparation

Before you begin observing and writing, there are crucial preparatory steps to take:

• Select Your Subject: Choose a subject that fascinates you and provides ample opportunities for observation. It could be anything from a bustling city park to a quiet coffee shop.
• Define Your Purpose: Clearly establish the purpose of your observation. Are you aiming to describe, analyze, or reflect on your observations? Knowing your objective will guide your essay’s focus.
• Plan Your Observation: Decide when and where you’ll conduct your observation. Ensure you have enough time to immerse yourself in the experience without feeling rushed.

Observation and Immersion

The heart of an observation essay lies in your ability to immerse yourself in the subject:

• Stay Unobtrusive: Blend into the environment as much as possible. Avoid drawing attention to yourself, as it can alter the behavior of the subjects you’re observing.
• Use All Senses: Engage all your senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Pay attention to the details, nuances, and emotions surrounding the subject.
• Take Detailed Notes: Record your observations meticulously. Use a notebook, smartphone, or voice recorder to capture details, dialogues, and your own impressions.

Note-taking and Organization

The notes you take during the observation will serve as the foundation for your essay:

• Categorize Your Observations: Group your notes into categories or themes. This will help you organize your thoughts later.
• Analyze and Reflect: As you write your notes, jot down your thoughts, emotions, and initial impressions. This reflection will add depth to your essay.

Drafting Your Observation Essay

Now it’s time to bring your observations to life through writing:

• Introduction: Begin with a captivating hook to draw readers in. Provide context about the subject and your purpose for observing it. End with a clear thesis statement that outlines what you aim to convey.
• Body Paragraphs: Organize your essay by grouping related observations into paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a single theme or aspect of your observation. Use vivid, sensory language to paint a clear picture.
• Transitions: Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain the flow of your essay. Use transitional words and phrases to guide your readers through your observations.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply stating facts, show your readers what you observed. Engage their senses and emotions by describing details, interactions, and atmosphere.
• Conclusion: Summarize your key observations and restate your thesis. Offer insights or reflections based on your observations. Leave readers with a thought-provoking idea or question.

Revision and Proofreading

The final step is to refine your essay for clarity and effectiveness:

• Review and Revise: Read through your essay critically, looking for areas where you can improve clarity, coherence, and engagement.
• Check for Consistency: Ensure that your writing style, tone, and voice remain consistent throughout the essay.
• Proofread: Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Ensure your essay is error-free for a polished final product.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a compelling observation essay that immerses your readers in the world you’ve observed. Don’t forget to share your unique perspective and insights to make your essay truly stand out.

Advice on Producing an Observation Paper

Some students encounter considerable difficulties in preparing such a paper. We do not want you to face some issues in the course of creating your essay. That is why we offer you to follow the instructions provided below. In this way, you will be able to complete your assignment quickly. Thus:

• Ponder over the topic. Our experts can give you some thrilling observation paper ideas.
• Think about the event, person, or a place which you would like to observe. Then, find the most suitable item.
• Begin the process with writing down essential data such as a date, location, time, and other significant facts.
• Note only the issues which you can see around. Leave interpretation to the writing stage.
• Examine your field notes and start making observations. Produce an outline using your observations.
• Begin writing your work using both your observations and field notes. Remember to create a thesis statement and make proper introductory and concluding sections.
• Proofread your text and read it aloud to ensure it is coherent.

As it is seen the process of crafting such an essay is not complicated. Finding an interesting subject is what causes serious problems. Luckily, our professionals have compiled a list of superior themes which you may use for your work.

Observation Techniques: Enhancing Your Powers of Perception

Observation is a powerful tool for gathering information, understanding the world around us, and developing keen insights. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a scientist, a student, or just someone looking to improve their observational skills, effective observation techniques are essential. In this guide, we will explore various strategies to help you observe more effectively, including note-taking methods, recording observations, staying objective, and being unobtrusive when observing people or events.

Note-taking Methods

One of the fundamental aspects of effective observation is note-taking. The act of jotting down your observations in real-time not only helps you remember details but also allows for a more comprehensive analysis later. Here are some note-taking methods to consider:

• Free-Form Notes: Simply write down everything you observe as it happens. Later, you can organize and refine your notes.
• Structured Notes: Use a predetermined format, such as creating columns for time, location, description, and your thoughts or feelings. This method ensures you capture essential details systematically.
• Sketches and Diagrams: In situations where visuals are essential, use sketches or diagrams to supplement your written notes. These can be especially helpful for capturing spatial relationships or intricate details.

Recording Observations

In some cases, taking written notes may not be practical or might disrupt the observation process. Here are ways to record your observations effectively:

• Audio Recording: Use a digital voice recorder or a smartphone app to capture spoken observations. This can be particularly useful for interviews, wildlife observations, or any situation where writing may be challenging.
• Photography and Video: Cameras and smartphones with high-quality cameras allow you to visually document what you’re observing. Ensure you respect privacy and legal guidelines when using this method, especially when observing people.

Staying Objective

Maintaining objectivity during observation is crucial, especially when conducting research or studying human behavior. Here’s how to stay objective:

• Avoid Assumptions: Don’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions based on your own beliefs or biases. Keep an open mind and let the observations speak for themselves.
• Use Neutral Language: When taking notes or recording observations, use neutral and non-judgmental language. Describe what you see or hear without adding personal interpretations or opinions.

Being Unobtrusive

Being unobtrusive during observation is essential to ensure you don’t influence the subject’s behavior or environment. Here’s how to achieve this:

• Blend In: Dress and act inconspicuously to avoid drawing attention to yourself. The goal is to be a passive observer who doesn’t disrupt the natural flow of events.
• Maintain Distance: Depending on the situation, maintain an appropriate distance from the subject. In some cases, this might mean observing from afar, while in others, it could involve getting closer without intruding.
• Respect Privacy: Always respect the privacy and boundaries of individuals you’re observing. Obtain necessary permissions when observing in private spaces or when involving people in your research.

In conclusion, mastering observation techniques is a valuable skill that can benefit various aspects of life, from academic research to personal development. By honing your ability to take effective notes, record observations, stay objective, and be unobtrusive, you can become a more perceptive and insightful observer of the world around you. Practice and patience are key to improving these skills over time, so embrace the journey of becoming a more astute observer.

Outstanding Observational Essay Topics

What should I observe? This is the first question that comes to students’ mind before they begin dealing with their observation paper. You need to pick the issue which you are curious about.

Take a look the subjects given below and select the one which you consider engaging:

• What makes people become shopaholics?
• Reasons for skipping classes.
• Do online games have any influence on health?
• What causes jealousy?
• The connection between sport and leadership qualities.
• Is music effective in treating some illnesses?
• The desire to earn a lot of money. Why is it so strong?
• Is it important to be aware of the art of communication?
• Tongue tattoo. What is it like?
• Is it difficult to drive a bus?
• Can planes be viewed as the safest transport?
• Paragliding. What is it?
• Connection between children’s future and parents’ views?
• Observing climate changes.
• Parachute jumping. The first time.
• Meeting dangerous animals. What feelings do people experience?
• Travelling alone. Describing one’s feelings.
• Turning an enemy into a close friend.
• Difference between a new generation and a previous one.
• Why are people not so healthy now as they were before?
• A day in a busy city park.
• Observing a family gathering.
• At the local coffee shop.
• A day in the life of a street performer.
• Observing a sports event.
• People-watching in a busy airport.
• Observing a wildlife habitat.
• A visit to the farmer’s market.
• Observing a live music concert.
• Inside a busy shopping mall.
• A day in the life of a barista.
• Observing a school playground.
• At the local art gallery opening.
• A day in the life of a street vendor.
• Observing a religious ceremony.
• A day in the life of a zookeeper.
• Observing a community event.
• Inside a busy hospital.
• A day at a technology conference.
• Observing a cultural celebration.

Unique Observation Essay Example

We relate observation papers to creative writing. It follows that there are no limits or stringent rules for creating such works. However, it does not mean that you may neglect professor’s instructions and write your essay the way you want. Apart from the tips provided above, we want to give you a superior example of an observation paper so that you do not face any challenges when writing your work.

The process of creating an observation paper is time-consuming and requires one to be particularly attentive. On the other hand, it can be thrilling if the chosen topic is extraordinary. You should know that an observation paper can be created on any subject. Your main task is to make a careful observations, jot down essential points, and then transform the available material into an excellent piece of writing. Still, if you believe that producing this type of essay is arduous, consider placing your order on our website. We can provide you with a spectacular paper.

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Observation Essay Writing Tips & Topics

Just as the above quote emphasizes, listening and observing are two key factors for gaining new information and add to your personal experience. This can be easily applied to writing observation essays, for example. Observation, inference and fact are the three concepts every student that wants to write a good observation essay has to memorize. The ability to write a good observation essay makes the difference between a writer and a true wizard of words. And in order to achieve such a state you need to make use of all the senses available to you:

If the goal of your essay is to leave an unforgettable mark on the memory of the reader, you can easily achieve that through buying personalized academic papers from a top writing company in the United States.

Outlining Example of an Observation Essay

Continue reading the below guidelines in order to have an example of an outline for any observation essay.

Personal Experience

There’s nothing better to help you describe a situation than going through such an experience yourself. The connection between your personal experience and the subject of your observation essay has to be at a high level in order to be able to share that certain experience with others. That’s why you first need to choose carefully the topic of the essay you’re going to cover.

For Example : when you decide to write an essay on how thrilling downhill biking is, mentioning a handful of statistics and details about how it gets your adrenaline pumping. If you never got on a bike and ride your way down a forest road, you won’t be able to share that experience with others. If you want to support your claim, you must always write from experience. Go to the stadium before writing a piece on a local football team or listen to the entire album before reviewing it.

Taking notes is a vital part of sharing experience, that’s why you will always need to have a good method of writing things down or record them. From the recorded info, you can start writing the first draft of the essay. Make sure to capture the whole process: from going through the security checks, finding your seat, how did the game make you feel, all the way to how it felt being surrounded by all those angry fans that their team just lost. Make sure to also include all your impressions here and also pick some criteria to rate: atmosphere, utilities at the stadium, security lever, etc.

Every time your personal intake of things suffers a modification, make notes about what the change was and when did it happen. Keeping a chronological order of events will help you to reconstruct the journey in the essay. In order to have a complete view on things, take some notes of a friend’s opinion that went with you or ask a supporter sitting next to you about his experience.

Create a Sketch

An outline or sketch is very important to keep your paper logical and structured This is very useful in case you ever get stuck or lost while reconstructing the essay. You may change your final draft, but you must stick to the prepared outline. If your teacher requires, make a separate page with a detailed outline. In case you encounter any kind of issues when writing the outline or any other part of your essay, never hesitate to access professional writing services .

Introduction

Here’s where you should give your audience the opportunity to catch a glimpse of what they’re about to read in the rest of the article. Start with a thesis statement that will serve as the essay’s fundament. Then create a catch sentence to get the attention of your readers. You can also give them some insight into the reason you chose that specific observation topic.

Three-Paragraph Body

The body of the observation essay has the same structure as any other assignment. The most used structure and what experts recommend is having a three-paragraph body with support arguments. The next step is arranging your notes according to the previously-prepared outline on which you will add the details Keep in mind:

“Details create the big picture." Sanford I. Weil

You need to keep this section as simple and straight-forward as possible.Instead, to a summary of your arguments, appeal again to your thesis sentence and then use a call-to-action to finish the paper in such a manner that it will leave a strong impression. A rhetorical action is perfect at the end of your paper. You might think you’re done but you still have one more page to write. This final page of your observation essay must be a complete bibliography where you write down all your sources and references.

Editing and Proofreading

Finishing the actual paper doesn’t mean you’re done with everything. Before submitting your paper, you need to do some proofreading. Naturally, this can’t be done by you as the subjectivism can affect the results. Instead, you should ask someone else to do that for you. Or you can just place an order with an online writing and proofreading service , that assists college students all-round the English-speaking world!

They will be able to assist you with very important aspects regarding your observation essay like:

• Grammar mistakes
• Punctuation and Spelling

15 Examples of Observation Essay Topics

In order to write a high-quality observation essay, students need to possess other two skills. Organization skills and a rich vocabulary are the skills needed. Remember, your goal is not to deliver a message but share your experience with the audience. with your audience. That’s why it is very important to carefully choose your topic. If you need some inspiration, check out some free, useful examples of observation essays.

You can use this list of 16 topics as a starting idea for your essay:

• Important aspects of tattoo and body piercing
• How is important tolerance?
• Can death result from video games?
• The importance of independence and freedom
• The Modern World and the meaning of money
• Leadership developed through sports
• Meeting my favourite Rockstar
• The thrills of downhill biking
• Books appropriate for any age
• New club in the city
• Buying the perfect wedding or birthday gift
• The definition of “loyalty”
• Healing through music, myth or fact?
• Achieving success through writing
• The personality traits of personal idols
• College is too expensive essay

Some Useful Tips for Observation Essay Writing

• Don’t forget the personal touch. Allowing the audience to add your experience to theirs and identifying with it is your main goal.
• Always have something to take notes on. The importance of putting the events on paper as fresh as possible is of extreme importance.
• Avoid using a lot of unnecessary words just to make your essay longer. If you manage to reduce the amount of transitional & introductory words in your essay, you will get a lot more clear topic and thesis statement.
• Always appeal to personal experience by using the situations you faced during your entire life. It helps the readers to identify themselves with you or, at least, to know you better.
• The descriptive narrative and the observation essay have a lot in common so feel free to use the human senses. Try to provoke a reaction that appeals to one of these five during your essay.
• Remain objective at all times.
• Don’t forget about the Bibliography at the end.
• You should know what does proofreading mean .

Keep in mind: you can always emphasize the importance of the selected topic by sharing personal lessons learned. If at any time, you need any help with the essay itself or with proofreading and editing it, you can always order online academic guidance from a trustworthy company.

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• Writing an Observation Essay Made Easy

Definition & Goals

Paper structure, introduction, body paragraphs, observation paper writing tips.

• Observation Essay Topics

Help with Observation Essay

Global Education Monitoring Report by UNESCO states that the total youth literacy rate in Egypt is 63. How did the organization come up with this conclusion? The answer to this question is observational statistics .

If you want to learn how to write an observation essay, you should know how to carry out the research. This article will provide you with some good topics for an observation essay, its definition, tips on writing, and a vision of this paper’s structure. As another option you can always ask a professional essay writer for help!

To define, an observation essay is a paper based on remarks and findings of an individual, group of people, or a specific event . The goal is to describe your observations on a particular theme using many details. Remember that it is not a research paper.

Write your observation essay in the   present tense , creating an impression of keeping in touch with the event as if the reader was in the described place or writer’s reality. Sharing feelings and pointing out the notes on the event make the paper more realistic and engaging.

If your instructions do not specify the writing style, choose out of the available formats accepted in any college or university: MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, AMA, Harvard or ASA format essay . The choice depends on the academic level and field of study. Select a style with the most formal structure. The majority of writing formats contain the following elements:

• Title/Cover page
• Indents requirements
• Page numbers
• Bibliography page

As for technical requirements, composing an observation essay, the author needs to write in the   first person . Such an essay’s structure is usually similar to the other essays: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

A decent introduction consists of a hook, background information, and a thesis statement. An essay hook is a sentence or two aimed at catching the reader’s attention to persuade them to carry on reading. Use a subtle joke, informative statistics, exciting facts, or a challenging question, and the reader will more likely proceed reading the rest of your essay. 

Make sure to visit our blog on how to write a hook for an essay  to create an irresistible opinion essay introduction.

Provided background information will create a total understanding of what the paper is about. The reader will be able to catch the main idea and the content of such a text. The author should be concise and not reveal too many details in the introduction.

The thesis statement most often is a 2-clauses sentence that highlights the main idea of the text. It raises questions and prepares the reader for its development in body paragraphs. The thesis in an observation essay could be a general impression from a subject of observations.

Traditionally, there’s no absolute measurement of how long your text should be. But generally, such a type of paper consists of 3-5 body paragraphs . However, don’t hesitate to specify the amount with your tutor.

Body paragraphs are given to you for disclosing the topic , i.e., developing the thesis statement, providing the reader with arguments and facts on the pros and cons of certain ideas. Writing an observation essay, you can use more figurative language to make your text more immersive.

Also, an observation essay’s purpose requires the writer to use the first person while writing.

The last part of your essay ‒ which usually is 1 paragraph ‒ is the easiest to perform. In conclusion, you need to analyze how you developed the thesis statement, provide the shortest ever overview of your arguments and ideas, and finish the text in a way that makes the reader think of it. Are you looking for an essay conclusion template ? Read our guide.

Writing an observation essay, you should be more attentive to details: mark how a particular journalist or professional writer plans and structures the recent articles discussing the current events. Daily news events could play a role of an excellent observation essay example to study.

Let’s review some of the tips regarding an observation essay:

• Write an observation essay outline if you are stuck with no idea how to start. Include the details like the number of paragraphs, specify headings, create a thesis statement, highlight main points and issues to cover. It is always a good idea to break down your task into pieces when working on the essay template . 
• Write down three to five good ideas that you will try to defend in your work on a separate paper sheet. Every page must contain the sound, smell, touch, image, and taste of the chosen subject. Keep in mind that you’re not writing a descriptive essay. 
• Present the scene, theme, and mood of the observation essay in your introduction. The scenery will be a good fit as the hook for your reader from the opening lines. 
• Fill the body paragraphs with numerous observational details and evidence to support the main argument. Feel free to use figurative language as you need to immerse a reader into your view on the subject. But be attentive while writing, not to fall into  descriptive essay examples . 
• End your observational writing with a conclusion that leaves a powerful impression on a reader. Reflect on the paper’s thesis statement, list the main arguments and reasons for the further discussion of the subject, and provide some forecasts.
• Use personal experience to meet the paper’s criteria. Working on data & facts shared by other people does not make a legitimate observation essay. 
• In case you use quotations, devote the last page to references . List all the cited works with the rights reserved to make your text free of plagiarism and avoid potential problems with intellectual property. 

Observation Essay Topics 

The list of observation essay topics can be endless – choose the one carefully based on the latest events in the cinematography, literature, music, or entire world. Read through the checklist on how to select a topic for an observation essay:

• Stick to the topic that excites you . Why spend your life on things that make you unhappy when there’s an option to avoid them? Moreover, the final text will be way more attractive for readers if you fill it with your interest in the topic. 
• Do a little research . It is crucial to choose the most appropriate angle of your paper. The research will also help you to narrow your topic down and make it more informative. 
• Write about familiar things . It is easy to make your paper inappropriate if you try to present a new topic while writing.
• Observe the recent news in different human activity fields to create a list of great topics on a separate page.
• Attend an event to get inspired . Include such details as who attended the event, why people organized that event, the meeting’s goals and place, and how it enriched your personal/professional experience.

If you still encounter difficulties with the choice, take a look at the shortlist of good observation essay topics to pick the best writing idea:

• Why do I find punctuality important?
• The movie I never get tired to re-watch
• Do I value honor more than material goods?
• Three simple ways to get rid of the depression
• Music is the best therapy in many life situations
• What sort of gift I believe is the best for my mom?
• The way we behave is the mirror of our personality
• The role of freedom in the life of the average American citizen

Congratulations on completing reading an ultimate guide on how to write an observation essay. In case you feel you lack writing experience or have some questions regarding your writing assignment be it an observation essay, a synthesis paper or an exploratory essay , feel free to get help from the professionals without leaving your home! Keep in mind that our writing services are at your disposal round the clock. Contact us, place your order, get a perfect paper, and make the best impression on your teacher and classmates!

Informative essay writing is not as simple as it might seem. You should inform the readers about the peculiarities of the topic. However, it should be done in a bias and opinion free manner. To master the art of informative essay writing, read the article. In it you will find writing tips, see a wel...

An effective rhetorical text should pull strings. When composing a rhetorical analysis essay, an essay writer should recognize these strings and explore what makes the text convincing. While most students care about the reader's involvement, none of that works if textual analysis lacks critical aspe...

Being proficient at writing essay hooks is a vital skill to master for students in academic writing. It will be harder to make your readers get excited to read your essays without it. Suppose that you have produced some reliable content to present. Still, if you miss using a strong attention grabber...

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How to write an observation essay: Detailed Instructions

Over the course of your academic study, you will be given many different assignments, one of which may turn out to be an observational essay. We will tell you how to write an observational paper, and provide you with a few tips on how to make more engaging for the reader.

Answer the "What is an Observation Essay" Question

In reality, it is one of the easiest and the most interesting academic assignments. However, some students may get confused about the requirements for such an essay because they are used to writing analytical papers.

Useful Observation Essay Tips

Before we begin describing the structure, formatting and other aspects of an observation essay, we would like to give you some observation essay tips on how to make this essay stand out from the rest.

#1 Choose the object of observation that fascinates you. You wouldn't want to spend hours or even days observing something, or someone, whom you are not very fond of. If you were assigned the topic for the observation essay, try to focus on the point that may interest you and use it as a cornerstone for your description. For instance, if you were told to write an observation essay about the representative of a particular subculture such as street artists, while you are not fond of them as individuals, try to focus your observations on their artistic works, not their personalities.

#2 Use all your senses to create a more vivid picture of the things that you observe. Don't limit your observations to just looking at things or people. Try to touch these things, smell or even taste them; engage in a prolonged conversation with people whom you are observing, find out more about their personalities and then watch their behavior while having a better understanding of their inner world. It will help you get an entirely different perspective on the object or the subject and make your observation essay much more vivid and engaging.

#3 Try to apply present tence. This way you will allow the readers to perceive the events that you describe in the essay as if they are unfolding right before them, thus improving the engagement and the interest in the depicted event or object.

Observation essay structure: Coherent and well-grounded

Being asked to write such an academic paper many students get slightly confused because they are not really sure about how to structure an observation essay. They think that since it doesn't require the traditional set of academic writing skills, the structuring should also be unconventional. In reality, the structure of an observation essay is not different from the format of any other academic paper. It must have the following parts:

• Introduction

If you don't know how to start an observation essay, well, the answer is quite obvious: start it with the introduction. It is the part where the author has to get the reader acquainted with the object or the event that he or she intends to describe in the essay. This introduction should be succinct but informative, not drawing the reader's focus from the actual observation process.

You must never forget that the observation essay introduction must also include a thesis statement. However, unlike other essays, the thesis statement in an observation essay shouldn't support or deny any arguments or contain any strong statements for that matter. It would be sufficient to say why this observation is important for your field of academic study and what methods you used when conducting it.

Just like in any other academic paper, the observation essay includes from one to five paragraphs. Each of those should be logically connected with each other and form a complete picture of an event or an object that you have been describing. Try to put as much information as possible in each paragraph and make your description vivid and detailed. Don't just limit yourself to describing the overall appearance of the object or the things that happened during the event. Write about what you feel when you make the observations. Look for details which are not apparent for the ordinary viewer.

In your observation essay conclusion, you must rephrase and restate your thesis statement and then describe your overall impression regarding the process of observation and the event or the subject that you have been observing. Again, there is no need to make any strong statements, just tell the reader that you enjoyed making an observation. Basically, that is all you need to know about how to end an observation essay.

Observation essay format styles

In most cases, observation essays are written using MLA as it is the most popular and the most appropriate formatting style for this writing assignment. However, your teacher may ask you to prepare the paper applying APA or Chicago style for your observation essay format. Nevertheless, it shouldn't pose a problem since observation essays don't require plenty of quoting and references.

Observation essay outline: See the structure clearly

Frequently, you will be asked to write an outline for observation essay. In case you don't know how to do it appropriately, we will gladly provide a good example of the observation essay outline.

• Observation of human behavior during protests
• The behavior of people may change radically during different stages of protest
• How I joined the protest event called Occupy Wall Street
• How people behaved at the initial stages of the protest
• How their behavior changed when they confronted the representative of a large trading firm
• How passers-by reacted to the protesters
• The thoughts about the overall experience
• What make people so agitated when they participate in protests

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Winning Tips and Topics on Writing an Observation Essay

In order for you to come up with an interesting observational essay, you should consider being a good listener and observer of situations. These two factors are essential in acquiring new information that could be a plus to your personal experience . Three concepts that each student should have in their memories to come up with a captivating observation essay are observation, interpretation, and tangible facts. The difference between a word wizard and a good observational essay writer lies on a student’s ability to come up with an excellent observation essay. All our body senses, sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing are crucial towards the crafting of an observational essay. If you intended to impress your readers enough to make them come back for more, then purchasing personalized academic papers from reliable top academy writing websites in the United States might just do the trick.

The outline Template for an Observational Essay

The guidelines below will help you understand the outline of writing an observational essay to enable you to come up with a structure that will give your essay a logical flow of ideas.

Personal Experience

This aspect is the best way to describe the particulars of a situation since you have personally gone through the situation and you understand all angles about it. The connection created by your personal experience and the subject matter under discussion should be on a high level of order, as a way of ensuring you can share the experience with other on a deeper and understanding level. For this reason, you should ensure that you choose the topic of discussion carefully.

For instance: having chosen a topic on how exhilarating biking while hiking is, make sure you describe related factual and statistical data about how it brings out the excitement in you.  However, if you have never experienced hiking while riding a bike, it will be difficult to share such an experience with your audience. Supporting your claim should always be based on personal experience about the subject of discussion. It’s even advisable to try such an experience, before writing the related observational topic. This way, you will gain more tangible information to share with your audience.

It is important to know that note taking is a crucial part of sharing experiences; thus you should come up with reliable ways of writing down your experiences and recording them appropriately. From what has been recorded, you can begin doing a draft of your essay. Capture the whole process of your personal experience. For example, if it’s related to going to a stadium, mention going through security, locating your sitting position, watching the game and what emotions were provoked, and the feeling you felt when you were surrounded by a mob of angry fans whose team took a loss. Don’t forget to note down the impressions and use criteria to rate aspects lie the general atmosphere, utilities at the stadium, the security box among other elements of your story.

If you experience a modification in your personal intake for events that transpired, jot down notes about the change, and the time it happened. All your events should be arranged in chronological order to help you restructure your chain of events as you embark on writing your essay. Ask for a friend’s opinion about their personal experience of going to the stadium and not them down. This will help you have an informed view of events thus come up with a first-class observational topic.

Create an outline

A sketch of your work is important in ensuring that it is well-structured and there is a logical flow of ideas. It is useful to use just in case you face a challenge while restructuring your essay. The final draft can be changed, but bear in mind that you must adhere to the set outline. In case your teacher wants to see an outline, create a separate page that you can outline it for review. After this, if you are challenged with any other aspect, or you do not understand how to formulate an observational essay, do not hesitate to consult the various online professional services for assistance.

Introduction

In this section, you are required to provide a brief, but credible information about what the reader is about to read all through the article. Make sure you begin with a thesis statement which will address the points and arguments that you plan to address. After this, craft a catchy hook sentence that will grab the attention of your readers. It is also advisable to provide them with reasons as to why you chose that specific topic. After addressing the above aspects, your introduction part is now well composed and captivating to keep your readers glued to your observational essay/

The three body paragraphs

At this point, the expressed points of argument in your thesis statement are each handled in its paragraph, with the addition of supporting evidence to give meaning and sense to your argument. Make sure that each paragraph or idea is presented as per the outline you created to give your observation essay more logic and concrete structure.

This section requires simplicity and a summative narrative about the topic of discussion. I stead of just doing a summary of your arguments, restate your thesis statement and appeal to it, as you use a call to action element to give the final input to finish up your paper with a strong impression to the reader. This will allow the reader to reason about your points of view and make a choice if they support still stand by their perspective. Through this, you have engaged your writers effectively and created a strong impression. The use of a rhetorical question will sum up the essay in exclusive style and ensure the audience is fully engaged.

The final page should include a complete bibliography that included all the sources and references used.

Editing and Proofreading

After concluding the writing part of your essay, you should consider going through your work to remove any punctuation or grammatical that might appear. It will be more effective if someone else did it for you or submit it to a professional proofreading service that man college students use to ensure their work is ready for submission.

The three aspects to consider in this section are:

• Grammatical errors
• Punctuation and spelling errors
• The distinctiveness of your observational essay

Examples of Observational Essay Topics

Organization and rich vocabulary skills are the two most important skills that you need to have in order to write a first-class observational essay. Bear in mind that your ultimate goal is to share your personal experience with your target audience. The following are useful examples of observational essay you can use:

• The dynamics of tattoo and body piercing
• Is tolerance an important trait to possess?
• Are video games capable of causing death?
• How important independence and freedom are
• Gaining knowledge and its impact on our lives
• Money and its meaning to an evolved world
• Sports and its contribution to developing leadership
• A chat with your favorite celebrity
• The thrills of biking while hiking
• Age-appropriate movies
• The most epic club in the city
• The flawless gift for a wedding or birthday
• How to define loyalty
• Can music provide a soothing healing effect?
• Success and achievement through professional writing
• Endurance and its effect on our daily lives
• Describing character traits of my favorite idol

Winning Tips to Use in Writing an Observation Essay

• Laying down your work with a personal touch is important. Remember that your main goal is to share your personal experience and let the readers add it to theirs.
• Have a notebook and pen around you! This will ensure that you can jot down events as they happen to have a full view outlook of the experience.
• Don’t use an unnecessary word to make your essay longer. Be brief, precise and straight to the point while addressing the outline content of your work. By reducing the use of introductory and transitional words, you gain to display a clear topic and thesis statement.
• While writing your observation essay, utilize your personal experience by using instances you personally went through in your life. This helps the readers identify themselves with your experiences and understand you better.
• There exist an association between a descriptive narrative and an observation essay, thus use human senses freely when need be. Provoke a reaction from the reader of one, if not several of their five senses.
• Always stick to being objective.
• Remember to include a bibliography page at the end.

A point to remember: an emphasis on the importance of your topic is crucial and should utilize your personal experience. If you face by any challenge, or need proofreading and editing for your work, choose our academic writing help .

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How to write an observation essay answer’s here.

February 20, 2020

Struggling to write your first ever observation essay? If this is the case, you definitely need our help! In this blog post, we will explain what this academic paper is, how to get a good example, and how to write the essay quickly using an easy-to-understand structure. It doesn’t matter if you are tasked by your professor with writing a courtroom observation essay or a child development observation essay.

Just follow our advice and you’ll do a wonderful job. Of course, it goes without saying that you need to do the research yourself, even if it’s just a classroom observation essay you have to write.

What Is an Observation Essay?

Let’s start with the beginning. What is an observation essay? The simple answer is that it is just a piece of direct investigation. You need to observe something (an event, a person, a situation, a concept, or even an area) and then describe it as meticulously as possible. However, things tend to get a bit complicated when it comes to actually writing the paper. Why?

Because even when writing a seemingly simple child observation essay, you need to describe everything as vividly as possible. You need to provide a sensory experience to the reader, which is by no means an easy thing to do. Your observational skills and attention will be put to the test, and so will your observation essay writing skills.

Need an Observation Essay Example?

You probably don’t know much about observational writing. And this is precisely why you need the best observation essay example you can find. Don’t be afraid to contact an academic writing company for one. Even if you’ll have to pay a couple of dollars for a top quality example, this is money well spent. Here is why observation essay examples really matter:

• You will see exactly how a professional writer describes every small detail. Providing a detailed sensory experience to your readers can be difficult without a good example.
• You get to see how such an academic paper is structured. Yes, you can use the same structure for anything, including a preschool observation essay.
• You can quickly understand what you need to pay attention to. You will also probably learn that using first-person singular pronouns is frowned upon in academic writing.
• You will learn how to paint a picture with your words. You’ll learn how to engage all of your audience’s senses by describing smells, colors, sounds, shapes, and even images.

Examples of Nice Observation Essay Topics

Reading even one excellently written children observation essay can greatly improve your odds of getting an A+ or at least an A. However, keep in mind that the observation essay topics you choose also have a great impact. The topic and the thesis statement are usually the first thing your professor sees. Capture his or her attention from the first second and you’ll most definitely get some bonus points. To help you out as much as possible, here are some topics that we consider excellent for 2020:

• Here is why I admire my math teacher the most. (this is a great observation essay on a person)
• Why do children hate school so much?
• What does money mean to us?
• I just found a new restaurant in the city.
• Treating arthritis with geriatric physical therapy. (a fine choice for a physical therapy observation essay)
• Do video games really change our behavior?
• Let’s talk about the recent baseball game.
• How does bullying affect its victims?
• Are animals at the Zoo sad? (excellent choice for a naturalistic observation essay)

How to Write an Observation Essay in 5 Paragraphs?

Of course, you can write about anything you like – if your professor has not assigned you a specific topic. But how do you write an early childhood observation essay the right way? Learning how to start an observation essay can make the difference between working on the paper for 4 days and finishing it in just 2. Here is how you write an observation essay in just 5 paragraphs:

• The introduction. You need to introduce the topic and provide a bit of background information about it. Also, don’t forget to include the thesis statement in the first or second phrase. Alternatively, open your intro with a peculiar fact or an anecdote and include the thesis statement afterwards.
• Three body paragraphs. Remember, all your observations should be vividly described in just 3 paragraphs. Yes, even if you’re writing a preschool child observation essay. Each paragraph should cover one main supporting argument. Focus the entire paragraph on just one important observation and describe it to your readers as best as possible.
• The conclusion. You don’t need a lengthy final paragraph. The body paragraphs already described the subject in great detail. The background information has been included in the introduction. The conclusion should restate your thesis statement, followed by a summary of the three important points you’ve discussed in the body of the paper. Wrap everything up with a call to action and the essay is done!

Well, not exactly done; you still need to edit your work and proofread it thoroughly. Why risk getting a lower grade just because of a couple of typos? Make sure your infant toddler observation essay is written perfectly and you will get a very good grade for your hard work.

Pro Tip: Use an Observation Essay Outline

Now you know why an example is good for you and you also know how to write an observation essay quickly. To wrap everything up, we want to tell you about the one thing that will help you immensely. When it comes to writing an observation essay, there is nothing better than a good essay outline. Really, an outline will prove invaluable regardless of the topic you are writing about (including a daycare observation essay).

But how do you create an exceptional observation essay outline? To write the essay, you will need to carefully observe the subject. You will, of course, take extensive notes during the observation period. To create the observation essay outline, you just need to organize your notes and find the most important aspects you wish to talk about. Keep in mind that an outline is quite similar to a table of contents. It’s the skeleton upon which you build your observation essay. It goes without saying that writing such a complex paper without a good outline won’t end well for the student who attempts it.

Read a good example, find an intriguing topic, start your writing with an outline, and make effective us of the five paragraph essay. That’s all you need to write an observation essay worthy of an A+.

Take a break from writing.

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Observation Essay: Example and Tips

If you want to leave an unforgettable impression on the reader, when writing an observation essay, you might need experience of experts. Read the article below to learn how to write an observation essay and see examples of all three parts of the essay.

What are the features and qualities, which differ observation essay from other types of essays? Observation essay is close to the narrative one with the mandatory element: the author must tell about his personal experience. In the observation essay, it is not enough to write statistical data and facts borrowed from other sources. Author must reflect his thoughts, events of his life or observations he made. Without that feature, the essay may not be considered an observation essay.

• 1 Example of topics for observation essays
• 2.1 Example of introduction to observation essay. Topic “How I left everything and started traveling”
• 3.1 Example of main part to observation essay
• 4.1 Example of observation essay conclusion
• 5 Final actions when writing observation essay

Example of topics for observation essays

• How I left everything and started traveling (used as example)
• Influence of videogames
• Does the music cure?
• Role of money in modern life
• How to become a leader?
• Success in sports equals success in life
• My reflection of the world around
• Work of a teacher as I see it

Writing introduction to observation essay

There are two possible cases connected with the choice of the topic. If the topic was given by the teacher, you have no need to explain it. But if the topic was open and you made the choice yourself, you need to substantiate why exactly this topic deserves your attention. Such an explanation may be a good introductory part of the observation essay.

Pay attention to the size of structural parts of the essay. Introduction of observation essay should take about 15-20 percent of the entire work. This amount of words must be enough to make the reader want to read your narration and know you better. Using a quote of a famous person may also be used as catchy element of the introduction.

This essay presents my true story about how I decided to leave everything and start traveling. How I argued with my parents and solved problems with the authorities. How an ordinary trip to Asia has become for me a symbol and solid soil, which helped me not change my mind and bring it to the end.

Example of introduction to observation essay. Topic “How I left everything and started traveling”

What to do when you want to quit everything and leave to travel? In the era of social networks, the Internet is full of appeals to quit everything and go to another city, country, to travel. There are many stories about people who left the family and went on a round-the-world trip to find themselves and their path.

In this essay, I do not want to condemn anyone, I do not want to talk about the correctness or wrongness of the decisions of people who abandoned everything. I will not talk about various financial opportunities and social inequality. I just want to tell you my story of escaping from the office.

The story began just like that:

– “When we get home, I’ll quit my job,” I told my friend.

– Come on.

– “I’m serious,” I said, and turned my face to the warm rays of the Thai sun.

Writing main part of observation essay

After laying the foundation of the story telling in the introduction, move on to the main part of observation essay. All the thoughts, events and ideas must be described in this structural unit. It is the biggest part in the amount of words and takes about 65 percent of the total volume of the paper.

In case of short observation essay, main body consists of three paragraphs, where the author presents three separate ideas. All of them should be confirmed. The main rule of writing the body of observation essay is that it should be personal and based on personal experience of the author.

Example of main part to observation essay

It was the year 2004, and we spent a vocation on Koh Samui. We just arrived from Chiang Mai, where I met five travelers who inspired me to a nomadic life. I was under the strongest impression of their way of life. No stuffy offices and gossiping colleagues, no traffic jams and boss, is not it a fairy tale? I wanted to live like that. Moreover, I seriously intended to change my life. I even began to prepare for this serious step while still in Thailand, although I had no idea what to do and where to start.

While we were relaxing at the beaches of Koh Samui, I bought a guidebook from Lonely Planet in Southeast Asia. Then I did not even know where I wanted to go, from where on the map I decided to start my experience as a traveler, not as a tourist. I only knew that everything is cheap and it is warm in Asia. After buying the guidebook, my idea grew out of the rank of empty dreams into something more real. It was then that I suddenly realized that, in fact, I can really change my life. This thing played the role of a point of no return. Now the usual guidebook has become for me a symbol, confirming the firmness of my intentions.

I read every page in this little book when I got home. I marked out the place which I would like to visit, planed the routes, and already mentally gathered for the road. By the time our plane landed at JFK, I knew all about travels in Asia.

Nevertheless, after returning home, I realized that I have no idea how to turn my dream into reality. Thousands of questions swarmed through my head. How much money will I need? When can I afford such a long trip? What will my parents say? Do I need a return ticket? Which card is better to take with you? Is it safe to live in a hostel? The list of questions seemed endless, and in 2004, without numerous airplane ticket searchers, travel blogs, phone applications and other modern travel planning aids, it was somewhat more labor-intensive than it is now.

The hardest thing was to tell my family, friends and acquaintances that I was going on a long-term journey. I do not remember in detail the conversation that I had with my parents, but they took my decision quite coldly. By that time, they had become accustomed to my impulsive ideas, which were not uncommon but rarely turned into reality, and were ready to parry all my arguments fully armed. Their main argument was the statement that the world is a dangerous place and they will be very worried for me.

Since I had time in advance, I had enough time to drip on their brains. Nevertheless, I think that they did not believe in the seriousness of my intentions till the last moment and tried all the time to dissuade me. But once I’ve decided, I’ll bring it to life. I’m so stubborn.

Unlike the story with the parents, I remember the conversation with my boss to the smallest detail. It happened just a couple of months after my return from Thailand. During this time, I became more and more strengthened in the idea of ​​abandoning everything and leaving to travel. I even got some confidence that I really could do it. I knew that I would leave.

On that memorable day, I went to the office of my boss, told him that I wanted to talk to him, sat in a chair opposite and announced my intention to leave work. After meeting and talking with travelers, I firmly decided to see the world before I seriously take up my career. This was my first job, and I worked there for only 8 months. He began to object to me, saying that it was difficult to find a suitable candidate for my post so quickly. To which I replied that I did not want to leave right now, and asked for another six months. I remember his incredulous tone, with which he asked me: “Are you sure?”. I said: “I’m sure” and at the same moment I felt that there was no turning back.

In a sense, that day, I left not only work but also the life that I could live. I betrayed the parent idea about my future, about a good career, family, home, car and all the other things that make up the concept of “successful life”. I almost physically felt my life slipping, and I was not ready for it. I then thought that maybe I made a mistake, perhaps, life is not so bad. But I knew that I was unhappy. In my 24 years, I worked 50 – 60 hours a week, saved up for a car and planned that the next 40 years of my life would be about the same. I never liked this way of life, but it’s the way all normal people live, right?

Writing conclusion part to observation essay

The word Conclusion itself suggests that the author’s aim here is to conclude and sum up everything that has been said in the previous parts of the observation essay. In the final part, ideas are generalized, while in the main part every particular one is described.

The volume of the conclusion in observation essay is about 15-20 percent of the total paper. It should be equal or a little bigger than the introductory part.

Read the example of conclusion of observation essay to get an idea of how it should be written.

Example of observation essay conclusion

My trip to Thailand has shown me that life is not only a corporate meat grinder from 9 to 20. If such a way of life fits most people, then I’m sincerely happy for them. On the day when I announced my boss my intention to leave, I saved myself from a way of life that I never truly loved. And so, when I finally could afford to go out on the big road in search of adventure in 25 years, I still was not ready for it. I twisted in my head the cowardly thought that upon returning home I will immediately return to “normal life”, but this did not happen. After a while, the gap between me and the business world became too great.

Sometimes the decisions that we make in life are transformed for us into a tsunami, which demolishes the whole old way. So, if you are tormented by the question of how to leave everything and start a new life, just make a decision and make at least some real step towards change. Such serious changes never happen quickly at the click of a finger, they mature for a long time in our minds, they require a lot of preparation time. Still, we live in a fairly inert reality. Having made the decision to leave work, I left not only the office, but also my old way of life. But in return I found my own path, one that pleased me and never regretted the decision I made.

Final actions when writing observation essay

The first thing you do when getting the task of writing observation essay, is choosing the topic. After that, you prepare the outline of the future paper and think of the content of each structural part: introduction, main part and conclusion.

When the writing is finished, the work of the author is not done yet. There comes the time for proofreading and editing. Experts recommend taking a several days break and only after that get back to work. Read attentively the observation essay and correct grammar and lexical mistakes. Check the paper for typos and useless meaningless information. Delete everything that does not change the overall picture of the observation essay.

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• Knowledge Base

Methodology

• What Is an Observational Study? | Guide & Examples

What Is an Observational Study? | Guide & Examples

Published on March 31, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on June 22, 2023.

An observational study is used to answer a research question based purely on what the researcher observes. There is no interference or manipulation of the research subjects, and no control and treatment groups .

These studies are often qualitative in nature and can be used for both exploratory and explanatory research purposes. While quantitative observational studies exist, they are less common.

Observational studies are generally used in hard science, medical, and social science fields. This is often due to ethical or practical concerns that prevent the researcher from conducting a traditional experiment . However, the lack of control and treatment groups means that forming inferences is difficult, and there is a risk of confounding variables and observer bias impacting your analysis.

Table of contents

Types of observation, types of observational studies, observational study example, advantages and disadvantages of observational studies, observational study vs. experiment, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

There are many types of observation, and it can be challenging to tell the difference between them. Here are some of the most common types to help you choose the best one for your observational study.

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There are three main types of observational studies: cohort studies, case–control studies, and cross-sectional studies .

Cohort studies

Cohort studies are more longitudinal in nature, as they follow a group of participants over a period of time. Members of the cohort are selected because of a shared characteristic, such as smoking, and they are often observed over a period of years.

Case–control studies

Case–control studies bring together two groups, a case study group and a control group . The case study group has a particular attribute while the control group does not. The two groups are then compared, to see if the case group exhibits a particular characteristic more than the control group.

For example, if you compared smokers (the case study group) with non-smokers (the control group), you could observe whether the smokers had more instances of lung disease than the non-smokers.

Cross-sectional studies

Cross-sectional studies analyze a population of study at a specific point in time.

This often involves narrowing previously collected data to one point in time to test the prevalence of a theory—for example, analyzing how many people were diagnosed with lung disease in March of a given year. It can also be a one-time observation, such as spending one day in the lung disease wing of a hospital.

Observational studies are usually quite straightforward to design and conduct. Sometimes all you need is a notebook and pen! As you design your study, you can follow these steps.

Step 1: Identify your research topic and objectives

The first step is to determine what you’re interested in observing and why. Observational studies are a great fit if you are unable to do an experiment for practical or ethical reasons , or if your research topic hinges on natural behaviors.

Step 2: Choose your observation type and technique

In terms of technique, there are a few things to consider:

• Are you determining what you want to observe beforehand, or going in open-minded?
• Is there another research method that would make sense in tandem with an observational study?
• If yes, make sure you conduct a covert observation.
• If not, think about whether observing from afar or actively participating in your observation is a better fit.
• How can you preempt confounding variables that could impact your analysis?
• You could observe the children playing at the playground in a naturalistic observation.
• You could spend a month at a day care in your town conducting participant observation, immersing yourself in the day-to-day life of the children.
• You could conduct covert observation behind a wall or glass, where the children can’t see you.

Overall, it is crucial to stay organized. Devise a shorthand for your notes, or perhaps design templates that you can fill in. Since these observations occur in real time, you won’t get a second chance with the same data.

Step 3: Set up your observational study

Before conducting your observations, there are a few things to attend to:

• Plan ahead: If you’re interested in day cares, you’ll need to call a few in your area to plan a visit. They may not all allow observation, or consent from parents may be needed, so give yourself enough time to set everything up.
• Determine your note-taking method: Observational studies often rely on note-taking because other methods, like video or audio recording, run the risk of changing participant behavior.
• Get informed consent from your participants (or their parents) if you want to record:  Ultimately, even though it may make your analysis easier, the challenges posed by recording participants often make pen-and-paper a better choice.

Step 4: Conduct your observation

After you’ve chosen a type of observation, decided on your technique, and chosen a time and place, it’s time to conduct your observation.

Here, you can split them into case and control groups. The children with siblings have a characteristic you are interested in (siblings), while the children in the control group do not.

When conducting observational studies, be very careful of confounding or “lurking” variables. In the example above, you observed children as they were dropped off, gauging whether or not they were upset. However, there are a variety of other factors that could be at play here (e.g., illness).

Step 5: Analyze your data

After you finish your observation, immediately record your initial thoughts and impressions, as well as follow-up questions or any issues you perceived during the observation. If you audio- or video-recorded your observations, you can transcribe them.

Your analysis can take an inductive  or deductive approach :

• If you conducted your observations in a more open-ended way, an inductive approach allows your data to determine your themes.
• If you had specific hypotheses prior to conducting your observations, a deductive approach analyzes whether your data confirm those themes or ideas you had previously.

Next, you can conduct your thematic or content analysis . Due to the open-ended nature of observational studies, the best fit is likely thematic analysis .

Step 6: Discuss avenues for future research

Observational studies are generally exploratory in nature, and they often aren’t strong enough to yield standalone conclusions due to their very high susceptibility to observer bias and confounding variables. For this reason, observational studies can only show association, not causation .

If you are excited about the preliminary conclusions you’ve drawn and wish to proceed with your topic, you may need to change to a different research method , such as an experiment.

• Observational studies can provide information about difficult-to-analyze topics in a low-cost, efficient manner.
• They allow you to study subjects that cannot be randomized safely, efficiently, or ethically .
• They are often quite straightforward to conduct, since you just observe participant behavior as it happens or utilize preexisting data.
• They’re often invaluable in informing later, larger-scale clinical trials or experimental designs.

Disadvantages

• Observational studies struggle to stand on their own as a reliable research method. There is a high risk of observer bias and undetected confounding variables or omitted variables .
• They lack conclusive results, typically are not externally valid or generalizable, and can usually only form a basis for further research.
• They cannot make statements about the safety or efficacy of the intervention or treatment they study, only observe reactions to it. Therefore, they offer less satisfying results than other methods.

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The key difference between observational studies and experiments is that a properly conducted observational study will never attempt to influence responses, while experimental designs by definition have some sort of treatment condition applied to a portion of participants.

However, there may be times when it’s impossible, dangerous, or impractical to influence the behavior of your participants. This can be the case in medical studies, where it is unethical or cruel to withhold potentially life-saving intervention, or in longitudinal analyses where you don’t have the ability to follow your group over the course of their lifetime.

An observational study may be the right fit for your research if random assignment of participants to control and treatment groups is impossible or highly difficult. However, the issues observational studies raise in terms of validity , confounding variables, and conclusiveness can mean that an experiment is more reliable.

If you’re able to randomize your participants safely and your research question is definitely causal in nature, consider using an experiment.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Student’s  t -distribution
• Normal distribution
• Null and Alternative Hypotheses
• Chi square tests
• Confidence interval
• Quartiles & Quantiles
• Cluster sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Data cleansing
• Reproducibility vs Replicability
• Peer review
• Prospective cohort study

Research bias

• Implicit bias
• Cognitive bias
• Placebo effect
• Hawthorne effect
• Hindsight bias
• Affect heuristic
• Social desirability bias

An observational study is a great choice for you if your research question is based purely on observations. If there are ethical, logistical, or practical concerns that prevent you from conducting a traditional experiment , an observational study may be a good choice. In an observational study, there is no interference or manipulation of the research subjects, as well as no control or treatment groups .

The key difference between observational studies and experimental designs is that a well-done observational study does not influence the responses of participants, while experiments do have some sort of treatment condition applied to at least some participants by random assignment .

A quasi-experiment is a type of research design that attempts to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. The main difference with a true experiment is that the groups are not randomly assigned.

Exploratory research aims to explore the main aspects of an under-researched problem, while explanatory research aims to explain the causes and consequences of a well-defined problem.

Experimental design means planning a set of procedures to investigate a relationship between variables . To design a controlled experiment, you need:

• A testable hypothesis
• At least one independent variable that can be precisely manipulated
• At least one dependent variable that can be precisely measured

When designing the experiment, you decide:

• How you will manipulate the variable(s)
• How you will control for any potential confounding variables
• How many subjects or samples will be included in the study
• How subjects will be assigned to treatment levels

Experimental design is essential to the internal and external validity of your experiment.

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Writing A Great Observation Essay: Tips And Topics

Now, knowledge is the acquisition of skills and information either through learning or experience. For you to be able to achieve this, you need to listen and observe, of course, in the right manner.

That brings us to our subject of discussion.

What is Observation Essay Writing?

It is a way of directly digging into issues in the form of writing by observing and microscopically evaluating the state of the person, concept, or event. I hope that did not sound like a detective class.

We see, therefore, that an observation paper is not the everyday homework essay that you take 30 minutes to finish. No! It is one that sifts between the writing alpha geeks and those who write for the sake of it.

For you to achieve this, you need to make good use of all your five senses. I m reminded that there is also a sixth sense, but for now, let’s tell ourselves of the five. They are the sense of sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. All these five blended meticulously will enable you to jot down an award-winning observation report.

Here is the jackpot now.

20 Catchy Observation Essay Topics

As we discussed hitherto, the topic plays a critical role in your observation essay. The vocabulary and structure of the problem areas are as essential as the content.

So let’s get down to them right away:

• The best books to read in 2023.
• How do you choose friends in college?
• Here are the benefits of an everyday morning jog.
• Has social media brought people together or separated them?
• What defines true beauty?
• The latest shopping mall downtown.
• Here is a way of earning an extra coin.
• What are the effects of partying on academic progress?
• What is the essence of holidays to students?
• Does freelancing pay?
• What has the world done to the ozone layer?
• Does environmental conservation still matter?
• I am conserving rare species of flora and fauna.
• I am planning for the best birthday party.
• What is true love?
• Animation movies best for kids.
• What factors undermine peace in society?
• I am defining the two personalities, introverts, and extroverts.
• Is working smart the same as working hard? Differences explained.
• How has religion contributed to morals in society?

Stay with me as we unveil the next important part of this topic.

Essential Guidelines for Writing an Observation Essay

It is always prudent to have a yardstick when writing to ensure that you don’t stretch out to your neighbor’s field. Well, you don’t want to have a case at the attorney’s office for not following the rules, do you?

Here is what you should do:

1. Carefully Select a Topic

You do not just play some pinky ponky game and land on a topic. Not at all. Use your personal experiences to land on a subject that you can precisely and authoritatively narrate to the world.

It gives you the confidence to pen down your experiences without any iota of doubt since you have the first witness account of the incident.

And not forgetting.

2. Having an Outline

Let’s pose for a while and deal with some basic biology. The flesh on the human body rests on a structure referred to as the skeleton. It is to mean that we ought to have a structure for the meat of our essay to also have a definite shape as we do.

We should, therefore, dive into this structure and see the nitty-gritty of this observation paper.

Observation Essay Outline

Observational writing follows a strict outline with critical nuts and bolts that are inevitable. In this part, we are going to see how to structure your observation paper.

Introduction

It is the part where you give appetite to your readers for them to start salivating for the course meal. The observation essay thesis falls here to act as a basis of what you are going to discuss in the rest of the paper.

The introduction should be catchy enough to keep the reader’s eyes glued to your article to the end.

It follows the structure of any other typical essay. However, you should have a body with three paragraphs having the supporting evidence. Arrange your details in a manner that will culminate in the intended picture you desired to create at first.

Ensure that you conclude in the simplest terms possible without adding any new information to that which s stated already. You can emphasize a point by restating the thesis statement and finally concluding with a call to action. It may be in the form of a famous quote related to your essay or a rhetorical question.

The Bibliography

Most people forget this section despite its significance in this type of essay. The bibliography is where you give all the references and sources where you cited your work.

Let the reader picture himself or herself in the state through your words. Ensure that you also remain objective to prevent biases.

Why don’t you pick one topic and write a thrilling essay on the same? Trust me; you will want to write on all the 20 issues.

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• 15 Great Observation Essay Topic Ideas You Should Not Miss

15 Observation Essay Topics & Tips Used to Write More Brilliant Papers

“Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and all that comes under thy observation in life.” Marcus Aurelius

Every person faces various life situations when it is important to acquire information from a primary source to answer specific questions. Grab an observation essay example to see how experts arrange such information. Fact, observation, and inference are three words students should memorize. Writing a good observation essay makes a movie director out of the writer: he/she is focused on describing a particular experience using five senses:

Do you want your essay to make an imprint in the reader’s memory/leave an unforgettable impression? Buy an essay paper online from one of the best writing companies in the US!

What Is an Observation Essay and Its Purpose

Observation essay example of outline.

Read our unique guideline to have an observation essay example of outline!

You should face the problem discussed in your paper at least once in your life. To create a powerful observation essay, the author has to be a topic guru: describe what you survived or what inspires you.

Example: you decide to cover the topic of how safe it is to fly on a plane. It is not enough to take statistics and say it is the safest type of transport in the world without being the passenger. A good writer must share personal experience in order to support this claim. Attend a new restaurant before writing a review. Watch the latest movie before criticizing it in your work.

The planned experience involves taking notes, so carry a blank sheet of paper or mobile phone everywhere to write a part of what you wish to share. Leave the details for your first observation essay draft. Describe the entire process: from entering the restaurant and making an order to accepting the bill from the waiter. Conclude your impressions in the paper’s draft. Select several criteria to put a specific grade: quality of service, a variety of food, the location of the table, etc.

Each time your personal opinion changes (e.g., you order a different dish), write down these modifications. Put the events in a chronological order not to get confused. Ask your friends about the same restaurant to have a fuller picture before concluding.

Do not forget to obtain rights reserved once you’re done so that no one steals your words.

Write an Outline

To have a proper, logical paper structure, it is important to come up with an outline. Every time you get stuck, have a look at your observation essay plan to arrange the thoughts. You may change your final draft, but you must stick to the prepared outline. If your teacher requires, make a separate page with a detailed outline.

Do not hesitate to contact professional writing services in case you have problems with writing an outline or any other page.

1. Introduction

Wonder how to start off an essay ? Try to provide the reading audience with the unique opportunity to familiarize them with the described event/experience. Start with creating a sound hook sentence to catch your reader’s eyes. Share some background information to let the readers know why you have chosen the specific observation essay topics. Example: you discuss the political elections campaign; tell several words about the candidates and the general mood of the event. Write your thesis statement at the end of the paragraph. It will be the essay’s fundament.

        How to start an observation essay

• shocking statistics
• interesting or unknown fact
• provocative question
• an anecdote
• a relevant quote. Avoid using trivial quotes. If you choose this option, use up-to-date ones, said by successful people of at least 20-21 century
• real- life example. This option usually works well. We recommend to use it to quotes..

2. Three-Paragraph Body

An observational essay has a body like any other type of academic assignment: research paper, article review, book report , etc. Teachers recommend developing a three-paragraph body with three powerful, supporting arguments. Arrange the notes according to your paper’s outline; add more details. Remember:

“Often it is tiny fragments which either make a picture convincing or incidental." Simone Bingemer

3. Concluding

Let's find out how to summarize an article . It is crucial to prevent your last paragraph from being wordy. Write a summary of the main points (arguments), restate your thesis sentence, and finish your paper with a call-to-action or another technique applied to leave powerful impressions. You may end with a rhetorical action, for example. Do not forget about the paper’s last page! The last page of an observation essay must contain a full bibliography list (list of references) to stress the author respects works with all rights reserved.

Proofread & Edit!

Want someone to check your final essay page by page? Place an order with the experienced online writing service, which serves college students around the English-speaking world!

Once you are done with your observation essay, do not hurry to submit your paper - there are several factors to check on every page:

• Spelling & Punctuation

Check whether the paper’s formatting corresponds to the instructor’s requirements; scan the final draft to see if it is 100% unique.

15 Most Effective Observation Essay Topics

Here is the list of observation essay topics to choose from:

• Thoughts on body piercing and tattoo
• Is tolerance important?
• Which video game may result in death?
• Significance of freedom and independence (Look at American Dream essay .)
• Meaning of money in modern world
• Sports develop leadership
• How I met my favorite movie star
• Is it dangerous to fly on the planes?
• Which book is worth reading at any age?
• New restaurant next-door
• The perfect birthday/wedding gift
• How must the word “honesty” be defined in dictionaries?
• Music as a great healing therapy
• How I personally became successful after writing the first page of my short story
• The qualities of true leaders based on people I met in my life

Type the  essay title you like in Google search field to find a good observation essay example to use in your work.

Get Several Good Observation Essay Writing Tips

• Stay concise on the personal impression . Remember: the main goal of your personal paper is to ensure the reader’s experience will be enriched with your impressions.
• Get a notebook or mobile phone writing app to jot down every detail regarding your personal experience. A written word is more powerful than the one said before.
• Do not overload your observation essay with too many words ; try to avoid wordiness by ignoring transitional & introductory words (try to limit their usage). Structure your thesis statement clearly by selecting only the most important words on the chosen topic.
• Apply several examples related to your topic by describing several situations you faced during the entire life in details. It helps the readers to get a wider picture as well as share your personal experience.
• An observation essay has a lot of common features with the descriptive narrative. Studying descriptive writing will come in handy. Play with five human senses. Make sure every page of your paper makes the reader taste, hear, smell, see, and even touch your topic.
• No matter what place or subject you describe, try to remain objective in order to make the readers trust you .
• Do not forget to insert quotes from the reliable primary sources . Mention all works with rights reserved on the last page called Bibliography.

Remember: it is necessary to share lessons learned in order to highlight the importance of your selected topic. You can find excellent observation essay examples online. If you feel your observation essay lacks something, or you want a professional writer to proofread & edit your paper, feel free to order online academic assistance from one of the most credible companies.

Enrich your outlook by getting involved in something completely new. Share your personal experience in your own words!

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