Field Report Directions

Purpose:

The purpose of the field report is to show what work you have done on your project so far and to build the
context of your paper. The field report should be 2 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font, and 1 inch margins and
have a working title. The bulk of the field report is based upon your field notes and any other information you
have collected on your topic at this point. Wait to do any interviews until after you have completed this part.

Field Notes (not submitted):

Field notes may be done in many different ways. I am not collecting your notes so how you choose to do them
is largely up to you. The point is to keep a record of your forays into the field. Make sure you note the date and
time of each visit to the field. Then write notes either while in the field or shortly after leaving on all your
observations.

Place:
Describe the environment by making detailed notes of sights, sounds, smells, and feelings. The
more details the easier it will be for you to write the report. Describe the built environment and
the organization of space. Consider why the space is organized in this way. What might be the
overt and unstated purposes of spatial design? What might be some of the effects of the space
on the people? How do people interact with the built environment?

People:
Describe the people you observe. Try to keep track of demographic details, including: number,
gender, age, race/ethnicity, class. You must sometimes make educated guessed based on your
observations. Such as, "I noticed that most mothers here have expensive strollers and are
dressed following the current fashions, so I assume they are mostly upper class." Take note of
activities and behaviors and differences among different groups. Notice also spatial divisions
and groupings. Write down overheard conversations or informal interactions you have with
people. Consider and describe possible informants or interviewees you may want to talk to in
the future. Who are these people and why might speaking to them help you understand more
about your issue?

Field Report Format (submitted via blackboard):

Introduction (1 paragraph):

You should clearly state the topic of your research (what or who are you studying). For example, Urban Danger
by Sally Merry was a study of residents living in public housing in a Northern city. You must also explain the
problem/question/issue you are investigating (why you are studying what you are studying). You should be able
to narrow the focus more than simply stating which option you have chosen. For example, Merry hope to find
out how separations along racial and ethnic lines contributed to a sense of danger and crime. Remember you
need to connect your project to larger theoretical concerns or (class, race, gender, etc.) social science themes
(memory, solidarity, fear, etc.) or social, political, and economic processes (gentrification, globalization, etc.).
You may include a few sub-questions, but you should have one main issue on which your research seeks to shed
light.
Context (2 paragraphs):

You must write about the context of your study. This will require you to do some outside research. Begin by
collecting statistical data regarding racial/ethnic demographics, indications of socioeconomic class, housing
costs, and any other facts that you think are relevant to your study. You may need to include some relevant
history of the neighborhood you are studying or the present characteristics of the neighborhood including its
demographics and spatial organization. You may need to include the political and economic context. You may
want to look for articles and books related to your neighborhood and topic. Newspaper articles and blogs may
be helpful in finding out about current topics and issues.

The social explorer database can be used to find demographic and other information about your place. Go to
the Brooklyn College library website, then to data bases, and then scroll down to find the social explorer. You
can zoom down to the level of census tracks to find information and compare current information with that
from past years. These other websites also contain useful information about city neighborhoods:

https://communityprofiles.planning.nyc.gov/
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-publications/profiles.page
https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml
http://www.city-data.com/nbmaps/neigh-New-York-New-York.html
http://furmancenter.org/
http://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/nyc_data
https://nycopendata.socrata.com/

You can also get information from newspapers, magazines, and other online publications like:

https://gothamist.com/
https://www.nytimes.com/
https://patch.com/
https://www.curbed.com/
https://www.nydailynews.com/
https://www.citylab.com/
https://citylimits.org/
https://thecity.nyc/

Be sure to use credible sources. Do not use information from general sources like Wikipedia, tourist websites, or
other low-quality sources. Do not use information from other students’ work published on internet, like items
from Macaulay eportfolios. Use the CRAAP Test to make sure your resources are appropriate.
https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/ld.php?content_id=53360413

Make sure the information you provide is relevant to your project. There is no need to give a whole history of
the area. You will be investigating a change that has happened in the last 10 years or less. Historical information
from 100 years ago is probably not relevant.

Observations (2 paragraphs):

The remaining of the field report should be a description of the place and issues based on your observations.
Begin by taking your field notes and reorganizing them into an understandable narrative. Describe the place and
people with enough details so that someone unfamiliar with them can visualize them and have a sense of who
and what you are talking about. Focus on what you think has been particularly interesting, surprising, or
enlightening so far.
Reference List:

In order to avoid plagiarism, students must use intext citations and a reference list. You can use the format of
your choice, APA, MLA, Chicago Style. But it must be an acceptable academic style. Missing citations or incorrect
formats may cause you to have to redo the assignment.

Grading Rubric:

2 points Organization, Completeness: Student follows directions completely and paper is written in
acceptable academic style.
2 points Topic: Student clearly states the neighborhood and change being investigated.
3 points Description: Student describes the area in detail.
3 points Context: Student provides data using outside resources to back up observations
and give context.

Total 10 Points