FINAL PAPER 6 PAGES 1250-1800 WORD MINIMUM USE PART I PAPER TO ASSIST WITH PART II FINAL Paper

Your assignment is to write a 4-6-page paper (@1250-1800 words) on one of the following topics. You are expected to cite at least three sources (outside of the course text) in supporting your thesis on your chosen topic. (Wikipedia may be used, but will not be considered one of your three sources).

Please follow these Guidelines:

1. Double-space the paper, using Times New Roman font in 12-point.

2. Use MLA formatting and documentation style.

3. Cite correctly. Put all copied words, phrases, sentences, etc. in quotation marks and cite all paraphrased words, ideas, and arguments correctly.

4. Include examples of art works to support your analysis. (Feel free to include illustrations in your paper.)

5. Use the art vocabulary from Chapters 4 and 5 to describe the art works

6. Use originality in your thinking, analysis and selection of art works

7. Review the Power Point "How to Write a Comparison" and announcements: "How to Cite Correctly" and "Just What is a Thesis Anyway?".

8. Please use Microsoft Word or software compatible with MS Word to save your document.

9. Name your document: last name_ first name_ title.doc; i.e. Smith_Mary_Art in Time.doc

TOPIC FOR FINAL PAPER

1. Discuss the influence of photography on the art of the late 19th and 20th centuries, citing specific uses of photography. Discuss the shifting and sharing of the functions and purposes of art by painting, drawing, and photography.

Your paper should be clearly and carefully written. You must be correct on points of content, but points will also be taken off for grammatical errors, incorrect documentation and citation style, careless errors, awkward phrasing, poor sentence construction, and illogical or confusing organization. A paper of this length might benefit from being divided into subsections.

As noted above, papers should be double-spaced and follow MLA documentation formatting and style. All quoted, paraphrased, or summarized material must be cited, both within the text of the paper (parenthetical citations) and on a works-cited page or list of references. Don’t forget to include a running header with your name and page numbers. Consult a reputable style guide, such as the Little, Brown Compact Handbook by Jane E. Aaron, for help on writing style, correct grammar, and documentation guidelines.

Research Paper Notes

In writing your essay, keep in mind three key elements: Structure, Content, and Language

These are the three ways in which your essay will be evaluated.

Structure

The structure of the paper is guided by the thesis statement, which should appear at the end of your first paragraph. Do not make the reader search for your thesis. Think of the introductory paragraph as starting and warming up your car. It is necessary, but it doesn't actually take you anywhere. Think of the thesis at the end as putting your car in gear. The thesis gives your paper its direction. There is an important difference between a thesis and a topic, which you must realize before writing. The topic is the subject you will be writing about; the thesis is what you will show to be true in the course of your paper. Develop your thesis by thinking about how you want to answer the question or questions raised in the topics listed above: the position you take or the answer you believe to be true forms your thesis.

In structuring your paper, remember the analogy with going somewhere in your car. Most of the time should be spent on the trip itself. That is, the body of your paper should be much longer than either the introductory paragraph or the conclusion. Every “turn” you make in the paper should be a new paragraph. Give your paper plenty of “fuel” (evidence, reasoning, quotation) to make it through each paragraph. Make sure that each paragraph contributes to reaching your destination.

The final paragraph should be your conclusion. The conclusion is like stopping the car and parking it. It doesn't take long, but it is absolutely necessary. In your conclusion, confirm that you have reached your destination and how you got there. You might also want to briefly touch on some other implications or issues which you didn't have time to discuss in the paper (places you'd like to go that are along that same direction, but don't have time to explore at this point).

Content

The second element of a good essay is the content . No matter how well-structured and well-written your paper might be, if you don't have the content, this is not a good paper. First consider whether you have answered all the questions stated in the assigned topic. This is a very important consideration. Second, be sure that all the content in your paper contributes to reaching your destination. You don't want any wasted space. Most importantly, make sure that you prove your point, and that you show mastery of the readings (textbook, Web resources, threaded discussions) in your paper. Define all technical terms, and make sure that you support all your points. Give reasons, evidence, quotations, and illustrations, and concrete examples to make your points perfectly clear and justified.

Language

The way you use the English language is fundamental to the quality of your paper. It reflects your education, the clarity and complexity of your thinking, and the care you have taken in constructing your argument or exposition. Think of words as tools. You want the right tool for the job, but use the ones you are comfortable using. Try to strike a balance between words that are too technical for you to use comfortably and words that are too colloquial (too much like the language you use in speaking) to do the job of conveying the complexity of your meaning. If you use a technical word, be sure to define it. If you use a quotation, keep in mind that no quotation ever stands on its own. You must explain why you are using the quotation, and what it means to you.

Always cite your sources! This is very important. Whenever you are using three or more words taken from someone other than yourself, you must tell the reader where you found those words. If it is a Web page, you must cite both the URL and the date you located it at that URL. If it is the textbook, give the author's name and page number where the quotation is located in parentheses after the quotation. Merely changing a few words or the order of another author’s words does not constitute a legitimate paraphrase: you must re-state the author’s meaning in your own words. In cases of paraphrase, you must still cite your sources. The ideas or even the order of exposition are not entirely your own, so you must attribute them to their proper source.

Always proofread for typographical errors. It is a good idea to read your paper aloud to see if you are using any sentence constructions which do not make sense, if you are switching tenses or voices in mid-paragraph, etc. It is an even better idea to share your paper with others to see if they can help you. If you know that you have trouble with grammar or spelling, review your work carefully before you submit your paper. Your writing represents your effort at communicating not just the ideas in your mind, but also your considered opinion—what you really think. Sloppy writing will generally be construed as reflecting sloppy thinking. Be careful to let your words represent your best thoughts as well as possible.