Writing Like a Camera

Your task is to sit in a public place for one full hour, observe the situation you are in and write about what you observe. Begin this assignment alone and without plans to be with someone. Stay in the same place for the full hour and turn off your phone (don't just silence it). You may choose any place that you would like, but Istronglyencourage you to go someplace that you have never been. Ideally, you'd choose a place that is not on campus.

Here are some suggestions of places that you can go for an hour:

• Courtroom/City Council Meeting/School Board Meeting
• Hospital Waiting Room
• Hotel Lobby
• Doctor's office
• Park
• Pharmacy waiting area
• Beauty Salon/Barber Shop
• Car Wash
• Bookstore
• Airport/Train/Bus Station
• Community Center
• Mechanic's Lobby
• Library
• Post Office
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Bingo Parlor
• Police waiting area
• Mall
• Putt Putt/Batting Cages/Arcade
• Theater lobby
• Convention Center
• Art Gallery

Observing

• Think of yourself as a camera, recording the scene before you. You can focus in on details or you pan out wider to see the bigger picture. You can change camera angles, or intentionally blur or sharpen the vision. You are in control of the camera.
• Behave normally within the setting you are in. If someone asks you to leave, talk to them or do something, do what you would normally do.

Writing

• You should write a lot.
• You may write a few notes while doing the observation -these are short notes called jottings to remind you of what you saw. However, you should write the bulk of the assignment after you have finished observing.
• Do not edit what you write. Don't worry about spelling, grammar or readability.