Guidelines for Writing Field Reports

Strive to make your field report engaging. Although it is meant to be an academic report, make your report creative and interesting to your readers. Think of it as creative nonfiction where you state authentic facts in a compelling way. You might wish to structure your report as a story where your readers are able to visualize the event by means of interesting characters, dialogue and setting.

If a story is not your preferred medium, be able to make your report come alive with vivid descriptions of the activities, persons, or place. Rather than stating that the event took place in a particular venue, describe it by stating what makes it remarkable. Rather than simply stating that the participants are elementary school children, describe their physical traits and behavior during the event.

Make your field report more engaging by means of pictures, programs, or actual remarks from participants or key persons. These graphic aids are the equivalent of appendices or data in a research paper.

Make sure your field report leads to a thought-provoking insight or a better understanding of lessons taught in class. Your clincher should end with proof that the event is not just an academic exercise but an understanding of academic concepts, as well as essential life lessons.