FINAL PAPER REQUIREMENTS
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FORMAT: 4-5 pages, double spaced, 12-point Times
New Roman font, 1-inch margins on all sides (default Word margins). Please note
that your cover page does not count towards the length requirement. Do not
exceed 5 pages. Include page numbers beginning with the first page after the
cover page. You must staple the pages of your final paper and securely attach
the edited drafts with a binder clip – no paper clips or open folders please.
Also, please include an IMAGE of your artwork with your paper. • COVER PAGE
(not included in the page limit): List your name, section number, date, and the
basic identification for your artwork (include artist, title or title, date,
and accession number). •
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GRADING: You will be graded on the organization
and logic of your paper’s structure and the clarity and vividness of your
writing. The final grade for your paper will be partially based on all
paper-related assignments turned in over the course of the semester. The peer reviewed
drafts also make up a portion of your final grade. Grades for late papers will
be docked 5% for each class period that they are late.
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GENERAL GUIDELINES
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1. MUSEUM VISIT: Go to the Metropolitan Museum
of Art (Fifth Ave. at 82nd St.; suggested donation, i.e. give them whatever you
want to or are able to!); or MoMA. Make two sketches of your painting or sculpture (e.g. from two
different angles of a sculpture, or a detail of part of a painting). Use this
as an opportunity to look closely at your artwork. You must turn in your
sketches, but you will be graded on attention to detail and amount of visual
information included, not artistic ability. Also make detailed notes about the
object that you can use later when writing your paper.
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2. LOOK: Make sure to spend a significant amount
of time simply looking at the work and thinking about it. This is VERY
important. NO RESEARCH: There is no need to do research. This is strictly an
exercise in LOOKING at your chosen work; it is NOT a research paper. In fact,
your grade might suffer if you include too much (or any) historical knowledge
or outside research. You will surprise yourself with your own insights… just
trust your ability to see and interpret. You do this every day in your lives. You
can do this – I promise!
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3. INTRODUCTION/THESIS: Briefly introduce the
thesis of your paper: state the cause or social issue you’re addressing, and
what your position is regarding that issue (are you for it? against it?); then,
explain why you think the artwork you chose will work effectively in support of
your position on that social issue. Make sure the paper has a clear thesis
within the introduction. A thesis identifies a very specific interpretation
(your argument) of the artwork based on close analysis of its formal characteristics
(i.e. what you can see, not what you know). The introduction should also
briefly present the main points you will discuss within the body as you seek to
prove your thesis. (Avoid some common mistakes: please do not introduce or
conclude your paper by discussing what “Art” is or what “Society” does, do not
give a first person narrative account of your trip to the Met, and do not say
‘art has changed over time.’ (Always stay focused on the work chosen.)
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4. BODY: The body should contain roughly 3-5
main points that support your thesis through attentive visual analysis of the
chosen artworks. What about the color, texture, style, composition,
subject-matter and medium of your artwork ‘speaks’ to the cause you’re
supporting? Why will it catch the attention of the public? Keep in mind
throughout that your observations must be specific, not vague—avoid
generalizations like “a young face” or “a dark sky.” Also avoid value judgments
like “beautiful” and “ugly” or “interesting” and “boring.” The more objective
you are, the more convincing your argument will be. Overall, be thorough in
your descriptions and always support your observations and claims with specific
visual examples – this is your evidence.
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5. CONCLUSION: A conclusion reminds the reader
of the main argument of the paper (the thesis) and summarizes the main ideas
and evidence used to support the thesis. A conclusion should never include any
new information or ideas.
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6. IMAGE: Make sure to include an image of your
artwork with your final paper (in addition to your drawings from Phase 1)
