A Brief Writing Workshop

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A Brief Writing Workshop

• Helping students to make their essays the best
  they can be, this class and EVERY class

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Use the writing handouts made available to
youAssignment outline it sounds basic, but
make sure you read the outline carefully so you
understand the parameters within which you are
producing your paper. How to write a thesis
statement every paper should have a thesis
statement that forms a clear guiding path for the
rest of the essay. The thesis should also be
referred to in your conclusion. Observation
Prompts if youre writing a formal
analysis/museum paper, you should work through
the prompts while you observe the object you will
write about, and when you craft the first draft.
Paper Style Guide well go over much of the
expectations of basic grammar and academic
writing style here, but make sure you consult it
when you make the final checks to your paper.
Grading Rubric it is essential you check
this to make sure you understand my expectations
when I grade your paper.
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Basic Tips I

• Who is your audience? your paper is not a
  conversation with a close friend, so avoid
  colloquialisms (eg. Use do not and not dont)
• Avoid heavy use of the first person- to insert
  yourself into the essay is fine, but a
  stream-of-consciousness narrative is not
• Be clear assume your reader has never seen this
  object or heard of art history before in their
  life, and it is your job to explain what your
  object looks like and the context of its making
  and reception

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Basic Tips II

• Italicize titles of paintings
• Punctuation should fall inside of quotation
  marks. Example The student said, Paula is such
  a fantastic instructor! (not, Paula is such a
  fantastic instructor!)
• All papers must be typed using Times New Roman
  font, doubled spaced, with standard 1inch margins
  and proofread. You must use 11 point font.  Do
  NOT add extra spaces between paragraphs. 

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Plagiarism

• If you use the words of another writer without
  acknowledging that writer it is considered
  plagiarism.
• If you use the ideas of another writer without
  acknowledging that writer it is considered
  plagiarism.
• As I read your paper, I will be asking How does
  he or she know this information?
• If you plagiarize (ie. cut and paste from an
  on-line site, etc.), you will fail the assignment
  and the issue will be immediately handed over to
  the Deans office.

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Sources and Citations

• Limit your Internet sources. Use the museums
  website, but do not quote from Wikipedia in an
  academic essay.
• Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia For Gods
  sake, youre in college dont cite the
  encyclopedia. ANY encyclopedia.
• If you demonstrate extensive knowledge of the
  artwork or historical period that could not be
  derived from simply looking at the object, YOU
  MUST CITE YOUR COURSES. ALWAYS.
• Cite using a footnote or parenthetical citation
• Use the Chicago Manual of Style, or this online
  guide if you are unsure.

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Footnotes
On a PC In your Word document, place the cursor
at the end of the sentence, AFTER the period at
the end of the sentence. Look up at the menu
bar, choose References, and then Insert
Footnote. Click Ok and the footnote bar will
appear. Insert your footnote using the correct
format. On a Mac In your Word document, place
the cursor at the end of the sentence, AFTER the
period at the end of the sentence. Look up at
the menu bar, choose Insert, and then
Footnote. Click Ok and the footnote bar will
appear. Insert your footnote using the correct
format.
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Some basic grammar

• Semi-colons separate independent clauses that are
  closely linked in content. Ex Grammar is a truly
  fascinating subject to study it is essential.
• A paragraph should consist of between four and
  eight sentences, the first of which is a topic
  sentence. Every subsequent sentence in the
  paragraph should relate to the topic. When you
  shift to a new topic, begin a new paragraph.
• You use an apostrophe for possession, not for
  simple plurals. A common mistake is the use of
  the words it is in a paper (itsit is itsof it
  (possessive).

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Precision of language

• Suffixes of - ish and like are imprecise. Ex
  The coat is blue-ish. Your reader has no idea
  what ish connotes. Its some tone close to
  blue, but what? Use more specific language. The
  coat is periwinkle. Or, add an adjective the
  coat is light blue. The same goes for phrases
  such as sort of, kind of, and a little.
  Avoid them.
• Overly subjective adjectives do not convey
  meaning to your reader. Example This is a great
  painting. Or, The artists use of line is truly
  excellent. Neither of these sentences tell your
  reader anything objective about the painting or
  the artists use of line.
• The same goes for interesting. If you use rich
  and precise language, you will not need to inform
  the reader that your point is interesting.

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Use evocative metaphors and similes avoid
clichés.

• A painting does not say anything (paintings cant
  talk).
• The painting does not grab your attention
  (paintings cant move).
• A picture is not worth a thousand words.
  Generally theyre worth money.
• Finally, gives off should never be used! Works
  of art do not give off anything calmness,
  vibes, beauty. Ever.

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Verbs should live in the same time zone pick a
tense and stick with it!

• Watch the verb tense.  It is difficult to decide
  which tense is appropriate when writing about an
  art historical object.  The making of the object
  happened in the past, yet most of the objects are
  still tangible in the present.  It is also easy
  to make the mistake of switching between the past
  and the present when writing an art history
  paper.  Choose a tense and stick with it.  Ask
  for assistance if you have any confusion.

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• When describing an artwork, the simple present
  tense is usually most concise and effective (The
  artwork is in the Met museum.)
• The simple past also works (I saw the artwork in
  the Met museum.)
• Either write in the first person (I, we) or the
  third person (he/she/it, etc.). Do NOT use second
  person (you) in an academic paper.

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Write with confidence and authority

• Avoid beginning sentences with it can be said
  that Yes, of course it can. Anything can be
  said. But presumably, you are saying something
  that is based on fact, or your educated opinion.
  So state it with confidence.
• The same goes for it is safe to say that The
  first amendment of the U.S. constitution
  guarantees that it is, in fact, safe to say
  whatever it is youre going to say. So just go
  ahead and say it.

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• Avoid it seems like unless you are truly
  unsure of whatever youre suggesting. Even then,
  there is probably a better way to state it. Ex
  It seems like the artist used short, rapid
  brushstrokes in order to create the effect of
  dappled light. If you see what looks like
  short, rapid brushstrokes on the canvas, then
  just assume that youre correct The artist used
  short, rapid brushstrokes to create the effect of
  dappled light.
• Similarly, avoid the verb appears. Seems and
  appears are wimpy verbs that allow you to hedge
  your bets without ever committing. Would you want
  to hear your beloved say, It seems that I love
  you? No.
• To express uncertainty (but probability), use
  perhaps or this suggests. It is formal and
  concise.

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Be concise!

• Adjectives modify nouns, and there is usually no
  need to separate the two.
• Ex He wears a hat that is brown. This
  sentence contains superfluous words. Simply
  write, He wears a brown hat.
• Avoid run-on sentences. If you have words like
  however in the middle of a sentence, you should
  probably break it into two separate sentences.
• Read your paper out loud. If you have to take a
  breath and you have not yet encountered any
  punctuation, ADD IT.

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Turnitin.com
You will submit your paper using Turnitin.com.
There is a handout with instructions on how to
create your account on Bboard. Make your
account well in advance of the deadline. There is
no excuse for not submitting your work on time,
and there are no extensions. The image of your
object should be on the title page of your paper
and any additional images attached to the end of
the paper.  Images should not be inserted within
the text of the paper. Image pages do not count
as part of the page count.   
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Title page (see Grading Rubric) Your NameTitle
of Your PaperThe Artists Name (if there is
one)Title of work/objectThe Date of the
WorkMedium (the material it is made from)Museum
acquisition number (eg. 11. 12. 13)Image of your
object(s)Text from the Object Label you can
find it on the Met Museum Timeline/Collection
database