The 4 Step Process

Step 1 – Gathering Details

To understand something you must first be able to identify and articulate all the parts – what I’m calling Details. A Detail is CONCRETE - something that can be perceived by the senses. Mostly you can point to it and someone else can sense it, see it. It does not include judgment or speculation.

For each one of the Details you notice, write a sentence about it.

1) In particular, make the thing you are looking at the SUBJECT.

2) Then identify as specifically and pointedly as you can what the main action of this subject – this is the PREDICATE.

3) In addition qualify both the subject and predicate as specifically as possible. This means adding ADJECTIVES and ADVERBS.

Be as specific and concrete as possible, and remember to:

-  avoid class names and generalities, like “a person” – is it a man, woman, child?

-  avoid neutral verbs, like “is” “has” “wears” “there is” – they can’t be seen by your reader – THIS ALSO includes clever substitutes like “rests” and “lies” as in “His nose rests/lies on his face.”

-  avoid comparisons, such as “like” “appears” “seems” “as if” – your reader will see THAT thing not the actual thing you are describing

-  and remember that these are not ‘photos’ – they are actual encounters you are having; so any reference to the photo or the photographer or the middle of the picture or the lower left corner are not appropriate – relate elements to other elements around them.

BUT make sure you describe the same thing the same way in each sentence. So if you have a “cone-shaped cup” – always call it that – don’t try to be clever and find new ways to say the same thing – it will make step two much harder.

THE DETAILS ARE ALWAYS IN A LIST, NOT A PARAGRAPH OR ESSAY. A list is without prejudice or goal. It is randomly created. A paragraph, an essay, has an agenda – they are trying to make a point. You don’t have one yet.

Formatting Your List

Every paper needs to have your name on it.

Identify the exercise by name for each section of an assignment.

Use 12 pt Arial or New Times Roman or anything similar to those two.

Use 1.5 line spacing. You can find this on the Formatting Palette or your word Processing Program.

Number your sentences – but not manually. Again use the Bullet – Numbering function on your Formatting Palette.

So a sample paper will look something like this:

Charles Malody

11 January 2009

Step: Gathering Details for 2-Brooding Woman

  1. A brown skinned woman sits on the floor in the middle of an empty room.
  2. She is sitting with her legs crossed under her.
  3. She props her head up with her left arm positioned on her knee.
  4. A small black dog sits in the back of the room near an open door.
  5. A broad brimmed yellow straw hat sits on the floor in front her.
  6. ......

Make no effort to group or organize these – and do not think you can focus on the woman and then move on as if she is done. Your eyes hop around – follow them. It is easiest to write about that which you naturally notice.

And keep in mind that there are 100s of details in the simplest of these images, so if you start to hand in 6, hesitate for a moment.