Getting the most points on your Final Paper

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Getting the most points on your Final Paper
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Read the Directions Carefully

• Attend a performance of a play or an opera or a
  concert by a European playwright/composer
• Go to the San Diego Museum of Art and select a
  painting or sculpture currently on display by a
  European artist.
• Write an 8-10 page, double spaced, one inch
  margins, 12 pt font academic essay comparing and
  contrasting the performance and the artwork.
• Make sure you keep your entrance ticket to both
  the museum and to the performance as you must
  turn them both in with your assignment.

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Writing Your Essay

• Basic essay parts
• Introduction lead in, transition sentences that
  describe performance and artwork, and thesis
• Body Paragraphs topic sentences, good examples
  that describe the performance and artwork
• Conclusion restates thesis in different words,
  summarizes main points, gives your opinion
• NOTE For this essay, there is a specific
  structure to follow. Answer the questions as
  thoroughly as possible to get the most points!

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Introduction Title

• Clever Title
• Interesting attention getter
• Transition sentences that announce the two works,
  their creators, include information about
  period and style.
• Thesis Statement plan of development

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Body Paragraph 1

• Topic sentence with transition
• What is the content of the performance and the
  artwork? What is the artist showing us?
• In a play or opera, what is the plot?
• In terms of music, is there a theme or consistent
  thread of meaning to the songs or movements?
• Why is this important?
• Are there certain symbols related to the artist's
  time period or to ours?

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Body Paragraph 2

• Topic sentence with transition
• What is the size of the art piece, and what
  materials are used in the making of this artwork?
  
• How do size and materials enhance the piece?
• In an opera or play, think of characters and
  setting, how do they contribute to meaning?
• In terms of music, what instruments are used and
  why?
• Are there vocals? How do they enhance meaning?
• Are there certain textures physical or sound
  that are achieved through this medium? Do they
  contribute to meaning?
• Why do you think the artist chose this form to
  express his/her thoughts?

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Body Paragraph 3

• Topic sentence with transition
• What colors are used in the art piece? How does
  color contribute to overall meaning of the piece?
  
• Think about how colors contrast or blend into one
  another as well as colors that are very bold
  versus very soft.
• Where is the artist directing our eyes? Why?
• Also consider how the artist might contrast light
  and dark through shading.
• In terms of a play or opera, think of how the
  artist captures our attention with words or
  sound.
• Is there dramatic irony or symbolism present? How
  does this contrast from one form to another?
• In terms of music, think of how sound can be
  vivid or soft.
• Like color, intensity of sound can attract our
  attention and make us feel a certain way.

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Body Paragraph 4

• Topic sentence with transition
• How does the artist create movement through line
  and shapes within the art piece?
• How does movement or lack thereof contribute to
  meaning in the piece? How do the shapes you see
  contribute to the total effect?
• In a play or opera, think about how the piece
  moves from one scene to the next.
• How do characters move to create meaning through
  body and facial motions.
• In terms of music, think of how one movement
  moves to the next.
• How does the artist move us emotionally from one
  section to another through sound - loud/soft,
  fast/slow?

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Conclusion

• What do you think the artists' messages to the
  audience were intended to be?
• Were they successful? Why or why not?
• What did you learn about performance art and fine
  art through this assignment?
• Remember, you must restate your thesis in
  different words and end with a clear, final
  thought.

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Some Advice

• 1 See the performance first and take notes! This
  will help you select a piece of fine art to
  compare/contrast it to. Again, it is better to
  chose things you like so you'll have more fun
  completing the assignment.
• 2 This is an academic essay - if you use outside
  sources in this paper, you must quote them in the
  paragraphs and include a works cited page. You
  must do this even if you are paraphrasing!!
• 3 If you haven't written an essay for a while,
  go to the Writing Center in the Library, and they
  can provide some free help.
• 4 To give you an example of what an essay about
  a play or an essay about a piece of music looks
  like, here are two papers I wrote when I was a
  student. The examples I give only examine one
  piece. For your assignment, you must
  compare/contrast a performance piece
  play/opera/concert with a fine art piece.
• -Play Paper
• -Music Paper

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Quick Tips for College Essays

• Ask Questions Early
• Start Sooner than Later
• Take notes pre-write, Then Outline, Then Write
• Visit the Writing Center
• Talk to your instructor
• Share Your Essay