Posted: May 31st, 2016

draw more clearly from the model of the 18th c and Bartram’s Travels; that is, there should be no strict divide between scientific precision and verbal art.

To complete this essay, you will need to take a walk in Florida’s woods or a tangled, overgrown backyard. Look around, ‘travel’ through the environment you choose, spend some time, record your ‘travels.’ Choose one particular native species (you may have to do some quick research to make sure it’s a native) and photograph or draw the plant’s blossom (if any), its habitat, leaves, stem, etc. Be sure to find its official scientific name. Then pretend you are a naturalist like Bartram and be prepared to write your own mini-Travels.

This essay asks you to recreate a lost form in the style of William Bartram. The essay is to accompany one plant specimen, which should either be drawn or photographed and included in your essay—like William Bartram! Rather than taking a strictly technical approach, you should draw more clearly from the model of the 18th c and Bartram’s Travels; that is, there should be no strict divide between scientific precision and verbal art. Your essay must fulfill the criteria of botanic description — it should account for the habitat, history, notable and descriptive elements of plant, but like Bartram you can bring it alive with some of his stylistic techniques, such as:

antique language and syntax: (“Behold!”)
anthropomorphizing both animals and plants: (Giving them human qualities)
a sense of moving through space—a travel narrative + natural history document
little dramas involving natives, plants, animals, other people
tools a naturalist brings along (fusee, clubs)

Use description, storytelling, narrative voice — the traits of a good essay. You can sound as ‘old fashioned,’ as you want—or use your own style; the trick is to update an old form and make it your own. I will evaluate work on the quality of observation, depth of detail, originality, prose style, sensitivity to the genre, organization and overall presentation.