<h4>Field Research Notes</h4> Students are encouraged to write notes after visits to sites—for interviews, observations, etc.—immediately upon returning home. While we are at best imitating the ethnographic practice of making field notes, this is still an important part of your research. The notes should include specifics that you may forget later—the dates, location, time, contacts you made, etc.. If relevant, describe the site along the lines noted in the template (facility, neighborhood, etc.), and your impressions. Summarize what occurred—e.g. for a ritual observation, try to capture the outline or structure, lead participants, what worshipers did (chant, hold hands, prostrations, etc.); for an interview, what you took to be the most important points made by interviewee about their (insider) perspective. In addition, try to capture the insights (analysis) into what occurred with quick, short phrases—you can return to polish and develop these when you write your full overview or research paper. Time invested in these notes right after visits will pay off later in the quarter, when you go about writing up your overview or research paper.
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