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This narrative essay with visual components (1000-1200 words) asks you to inquire about birds and birding by going out into the field and observing any birds you can, taking field notes, and then documenting your experience.
Your report should utilize both written and visual communication. Imagine your reader is a fellow birdwatcher who could not accompany you on this trip. What would you want to tell them about? Can you give them details so that they can recreate your field trip (a crucial part of science communication)? What would you want to show them versus tell them?
While in the field, you may not see many, or even any, birds—that’s okay! As you’ll see in the criteria section below, I will not be assessing these Field Reports based on how many birds you saw or identified. I will be looking at how well you communicate your experience in the field, use writing as a form of inquiry, and to what degree you engaged with the process of invention, writing, revision, and editing.
Criteria
A successful Field Report will:
Describe a field trip to observe birds in 1000-1200 words
Document location, conditions, observations, and potential research questions raised by your time in the field
Include visuals gathered or created during your trip (photos, sketches, maps, etc) and present these visuals in an appealing way
Cite any information or other material from outside sources in your report (outside sources are not required, but if you use them, you must cite them)
Utilize peer and instructor feedback to improve the quality of your writing
Tasks
Reread the attached files of the Ted Floyd passages. Take note of what gets included, how they are written, and how they use visuals.
Go out on your field trip! Bring something with you to take notes and capture imagery—this could be analog (a notebook) or digital (your phone). PLAN TO SPEND AT LEAST 45 MINUTES BIRDING.
Turn in these field notes. Remember to include a short Author’s Note.*
Using your field notes, write a rough draft of your field report.
Swap rough drafts with a partner for peer review. Read your partner’s notes. Can you understand them? Are they engaging? What do you want to read more about? What questions do you have?
Using your peer feedback, revise your first draft. Turn this new draft in with a new Author’s Note. Remember to think intentionally about document design and how you present your visuals, as well as what you write and how you write it.
Using more peer feedback and your own judgement, edit your draft to improve spelling, punctuation, grammar, design, and anything else that needs it! You have now arrived at a final draft.
Compile ALL the stages of your work into a portfolio (see the portfolio checklist for all the things you need to include) and turn it in.
Portfolio Checklist
Cover Memo – At least 300 words about what you learned this unit (about writing, birds, field observations, etc)
Final Draft of Field Report
Rough Drafts, including Author’s Notes and peer feedback
Process Work – Include in-class writing and notes, and/or anything else you did that demonstrates participation in this unit
* Author’s Notes explain to readers 1) what you’re trying to accomplish in your draft 2) what is going well and 3) what you still need to work on and/or need help with.
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