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GEO 393 Field NotebookField Notes

Thirty percent of your grade derives from the quality of your field notebook.  YOU MUST SUBMIT THE FIELD NOTEBOOK THAT WE PROVIDE YOU, REGARDLESS OF ITS CONDITION; WE WILL ACCEPT NO ALTERNATIVES.

Label whether Geography or Geology on the first page.

Field notebooks have no universally acceptable format, content, or data/computation requirements, nor can they.  The guiding rule that I suggest is that your notes should contain written documentation and annotated graphics sufficient to enable reconstruction, by anyone and at any time subsequent to the end of your excursion, of all experiences germane to addressing your research question.   Your purpose is to record detailed evidence.

I suggest that, in addition to writing your identification info (name, address, phone, e-mail, etc.), you should also write your SPECIFIC research question on the very first page of your notebook.  Refer often to this to keep focus.

I often receive field notebooks so ornate and finished in appearance that they would shame Michaelangelo.  These are immediately suspect.  A field notebook is your record of on-site observations, often made under conditions of haste, inclement weather, distraction, and fatigue.  Although your field notetaking should meet the objectives below, it is unrealistic that you will have polished appearance and form.  In field notebooks content is what counts most , not "prettiness".  As an example of how raw these can (or should?) look, below is an excerpt from my own PhD dissertation field notebook:

field notebook

Pretty sloppy, but what can you expect from a note taker carrying gear and recording data for five hours, over seven miles, and across 2300 feet of relief?  "Scribbly" notes were still useable to me, so you need not attempt to be Mr. or Ms. Clean yourself.  [BACK]

Content

By the diversity of topics it is difficult to give generic advice about what any particular student should seek for content.  For each of the visit sites we have provided some suggestions for what you should watch for and take notes about, but please do not simply parrot our precise words or limit yourself to the concepts we describe on the "watch for" list--it is very likely (and quite valuable) when students record observations of additional phenomena in their own words. 

However, certain content characteristics warrant your attention.  These should include:

  • a prose description of the landscape, including paraphrasing of relevant displays/exhibits.   Describe also your objectives and purposes.

  • any measurements that you make (including GPS), and the procedures you used to make them.  It probably is a good idea to also note why these measurements were worthwhile to your research question.   Note any measurements, regardless of quality, but if suspect note why you have reservations about them.  Indicate any computation methods that you used in the field, why you used them, whether they worked, and especially if you used them to make further field data decisions (type, method modifications, etc.).

  • a description of your methods, why you used them, and when you used them.  Also, when they failed.

  • summarization of local personnel presentations

  • draw sketch diagrams (maps, landscape profiles)

What the field book should NOT be is a "Dear Diary" record of gossip and complaints.   Unless necessary to reconstruct matters pertaining to your project objective, itemization of "who said what about whom" are frivolous and inappropriate.   You SHOULD, however, record the name of another person if they have obtained information (photos, books, etc.) that you may later want to borrow.  [BACK]

Format

  • use pencil (erases if necessary, but not run or fade)

  • record date, time, location, personnel, etc. at top

  • organize measurements by column & row; LABEL!

  • indicate special data (photos) time/location in notes

  • classify & use multiple colors (in PENCIL) in notes

  • label everything on sketch diagrams

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Inclusions

  • photos; include only most relevant in notebook

[Please also provide ALL photos in digital form (CD ROM, etc.) to the instructors]

  • maps; reference any in use by name & purpose

  • sketch copies of relevant exhibit diagrams

  • document (site, date, significance, etc.) ANY sample

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References

  • FULLY record references (guides, maps, date, etc.)

  • record discussants (name, address, topic, date)

  • collect & record literature (brochures, etc.)

  • if in doubt, cite the source!

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You of course are welcome to show your notes and seek consultation from the instructors and your peers during the trip.   Keep very careful track of your notebook's location, but should it turn up missing inform an instructor IMMEDIATELY--we will dispatch a retrieval party if the loss is within the past few hours.

Heywood [email] maintains this page, last updated 23NOV07.   We monitor our cell phone from 6 to 8 PM CST when in range.  That number is (715) 459-8181.