If you’re writing an observation essay, you need a guide. You will receive the best advice on how to write an observation essay here. If you don’t have strong writing abilities, it will be challenging to write this type of essay.
Mastering this essay requires practice and subject knowledge. Even for a classroom observation essay, you must do your own research. This blog post explains what an observation essay is, how to find a good example, and how to write one. How to Write an Observation Essay:
Observation essay definition
An observation essay is a paper based on the observations and findings of an individual, a group of people, or a specific event. The goal is to describe your observations on a particular theme in great detail. Keep in mind that this is not a research paper.
A step-by-step guide to writing an observation essay
Of course, if your professor has not assigned you a specific topic, you are free to write about whatever you want. But how do you write a proper observation essay?
Learning how to write an observation essay can mean the difference between spending four days on a paper and finishing it in two. Here are the steps on how to write an observation essay:
- Select the topic
Pick one of the five senses—sights, sounds, tastes, feelings, or smells—to describe in your essay. You could also decide to watch how people behave or ask yourself a question, then base your observations on the response.
- In five sentences, describe this aspect of observation
Since examiners frequently read out the first sentence to introduce the essay, it should be solid and attention-grabbing. Write four more sentences describing the same aspect of your observation, but don’t reuse any words. This cannot be easy, so take your time selecting the appropriate words.
- Make a concluding statement
Your final sentence should offer a summary or assessment of the observation in question. This phrase is not always used; depending on your goal and subject, you can choose your conclusion at this point.
- Logical verification
Using transitions, ensure that all five sentences are related and form a logical structure. Use them wisely, but not excessively.
- Develop the essay
Ensure your essay’s logical flow by using headings and expanding sentences into paragraphs.
- Include any additional information
Include any other information in the conclusion.
- Edit and proofread your essay
Reviewing and revising your observation essay to ensure that it is of the highest caliber is the final step.
How to begin an observation essay correctly
How you begin your essay impacts how eager readers are to read the first page. This is why learning how to start an observation essay is crucial.
The kind and quantity of information provided at the beginning of your academic paper will be what most inspires your readers. There are several solid openings for academic papers.
What works best for you will determine, in large part, how you start your observation essay. Here are six suggestions for how to properly start your observation essay. They are as below:
- Begin with a few concise sentences
Doing this prevents you from wasting time and getting right to the point. You don’t have to start with “This essay is about…” but you should be clear about your topic and write a concise thesis. What counts is how informative your content is, not how long.
- Pose a question
Yes, you read that correctly. You can begin your essay with a question. However, ensure that this question is directly related to the topic of your paper. You have two options: directly respond to the query or leave it up to your audience to devise their creative solutions.
- Describe a fascinating fact
This is yet another original approach to any essay about a naturalistic observation. You might be aware of one or more facts about nature, which can include people, animals, plants, and our immediate surroundings.
Few people may be aware of this fact. Since most of your readers may not know this, using it as your essay’s opening will pique their interest.
- Begin with a description
Your story has a setting because it is an observation essay. You can pique your target readers’ interest by describing the primary setting of your academic paper.
Describe some discoveries so that your readers can almost see and feel them. This way, you can be confident that they will follow your train of thought.
- Connect the present to the past
This could be a way to enjoy a memory or past experience. You can relate the event to your target readers as if it were happening right then and there to make it more captivating.
This technique keeps your target audience’s readers enthralled because they are eager to learn what ultimately transpired.
- Use the delay strategy
With this strategy, you do not distribute everything at the start of your paper. Assume you’re writing an essay about child observation. For the time being, you can put off identifying the subject of your paper.
When using this strategy, don’t delay too long, or your readers may become frustrated and stop reading. This is not something you want to happen.
Outline for an observation essay
After pre-writing exercises and topic selection, your observation essay is built on an outline. The Introduction, Body, and Conclusion are the three sections that comprise each outline.
However, the more specific the outline, the higher the likelihood of a successful and excellent essay. The following is the most fundamental observation essay outline:
- The introduction
It would be best if you began your essay with an introduction in which you explain why you are writing this paper. You must draw the reader’s attention to the topic and show the object you’ve observed in this writing section. You should include background on your subject in the introduction.
How do you write an observation essay? You must choose the type of observation essay you will write before deciding what to say in this section. Choose your kind after giving it some thought.
- Body paragraphs
In the essay’s main body, the author presents his research findings and discusses the topic from different perspectives. You give the reader various views on your observation while also expressing your viewpoint.
You can format the body paragraphs of your observation essay however you like. But keep in mind that your reader should be able to understand your paper, so your ideas must be coherent and well-organized. Create a compelling thesis statement, and don’t forget to include supporting details.
- Conclusion
The conclusion is a section of the article where the author can condense all of his thoughts on the subject. Although it must include the thesis ideas reflected in the main body, this section shouldn’t be too long.
However, being brief does not imply being insufficient. Your intended audience expects you to make your points thoroughly and concisely. Consider whether your conclusion is sufficient by paying attention.
Topics for observation essays
You’re learning how to write an observation essay but don’t know what topic to use. The possibilities for observation essay topics are virtually limitless. If you’re still having trouble deciding, look through this list of good observation essay topics to find the best writing idea:
- Thoughts on getting a tattoo and getting pierced
- In today’s society, what does money mean?
- Is flying in airplanes dangerous?
- Fantastic healing therapy is a music
- Independence and freedom are two different things
- What definition must the word “honesty” have in dictionaries?
- The toughest challenges you’ve faced and how you overcame them
- A wonderful present for someone
- Is tolerance a virtue worth emphasizing?
- What publication merits reading at any age?
- What impact has superstition had on your life?
- The best therapy in many situations is music
- Our actions are a reflection of our personalities
Observation essay tips
You should pay closer attention to details when writing an observation essay. Let’s go over some observation essay tips on how to write an observation essay:
- Create an outline for an observation essay
Suppose you are unsure of where to begin. Include information such as the number of paragraphs, the headings, a thesis statement, and the key points and topics to be covered. It’s a good idea to segment your task whenever possible.
- Make a list of three to five good ideas
On a separate sheet of paper, write down three to five good ideas you will try to defend in your work. Every page must include the chosen subject’s sound, smell, touch, image, and taste. Remember that you are not writing a descriptive essay.
- Describe the observation essay’s setting, purpose, and tone
In your introduction, describe the observation essay’s scene, theme, and mood. The setting will effectively hook your reader in the first few lines.
- Fill body paragraphs with evidence and observations
Fill the body paragraphs with observations and evidence to support your main point. Feel free to use figurative language to immerse the reader in your point of view on the subject. You must be careful not to write a descriptive essay.
- Your essay’s conclusion should be memorable
Write a conclusion to your observational essay that will leave a lasting impression on the reader. Consider the paper’s thesis statement, list the main points and justifications for going into more detail, and offer some predictions.
- Make use of personal experience
Use personal experience to meet the criteria of the paper. Working with data and facts provided by others does not constitute a legitimate observation essay.
- If you use quotes, devote the last page to references
The previous page should be dedicated to references if you use quotations. To prevent plagiarism and potential intellectual property issues, list all the cited works with the permissions reserved.
- Provide examples
Make every effort to replicate the actual situation for your readers. Include detailed descriptions of the conditions you observed in the text. You can also include excerpts from people’s conversations to make your paper more visually appealing and colorful.
Using a specific incident as an example makes your thoughts more interesting. Do you still have questions about how to write an observation essay?
- Use present tense only
This advice will assist everyone in visualizing what you are talking about in real life. In the past tense, you can only tell a story; in the present, you can take your readers on an adventure.
In conclusion
One of the easiest types of essays you will be required to write throughout your academic career is an observation essay. Unlike other essays, observation essays only require careful observation and recording of events. You can use this guide to help you how to write an observation essay.
You can easily write an observation essay now that you have a clear plan to stick to. If you require assistance or have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can get help from the experts at proscholarly.com.