Order 1620720: Museum Paper

Museum Paper Requirements Checklist Instructions

The Cover Page: The first page of the paper (Must include: Artist, Title,(italicized) Date,

Medium, your first and last name, and five digit ticket number, name of the museum you visited

and the date you visited, your paper title

Font Size/Spacing: 1-12 point font, Double Spaced Word Count: 1000-1400 words (not characters). Grammar/Spelling: Write complete, coherent and grammatically correct sentences, at an academic writing level.

Tense: Write in the 3rd person, do not use the viewer, the audience, do not use, I or me, or your

name.

Authenticity: Write from notes/outlines and your own personal honest observations, evaluation

of research.

Title/Name of the Work: (even if untitled, is should read as Untitled). Again, every time you mention the work’s title, is should be italicized. The title of the work (object you are writing about) should be italicized such as, “Thomas Cole’s painting, The Oxbow is reminiscent of….” Utilize a variety of terms in addition to the title to vary the language in your paper. You may use words such as the work, the sculpture, the painting, the photography, the piece, the work of art, etc, etc. Name of Artist: Please use the artist’s full name the first time you use the artist’s name. Thereafter, you may refer to the artist by last name, and for language variation consider alternating other words such as “the artist” “he or she.” Never use only the artist’s first name, or nicknames. Use the Chicago Manual of Style for Endnotes and Bibliography: Citations do not simply fall at the end of the essay, but also includes a small number in the body of the text at the appropriate places to reference non-common knowledge facts. At the end of the essay (Endnotes-just before Bibliography) you must accurately cite all sources, including lectures, online resources, museum labels, emails with the artist, docent talks, etc. Please note that the Chicago style is discipline specific to Art History, and other disciplines use APA, MLA, etc. Do not pick and choose these writing styles or combine them to form a new style! Follow each instructor’s request for writing style. Research: Use a minimum of three SCHOLARLY resources, other than your text books. Two of the sources must be a library data base electronically sourced document. You may also use your text book(s), but two sources from elsewhere. You are evaluated on the quality of your sources.

Museum Paper Requirements Checklist Instructions continued…

Common mistakes: An artist is not an “author” and a painting is not a photograph. Please

know the medium of the work of art and reference it correctly in the essay. English as a second

language learner’s should have someone who speaks English as their native tongue, read the

paper offering editing, grammar advice. In fact all students should have a minimum of one

friend/colleague who speaks English as their native language, perhaps even a writing/English

major read and help with grammatical mistakes. A sculptor makes sculpture, and photographer

creates photographs. A thesis statement should not be vague and wishy/washy, like “this artist

did a great job because this work of art means different things to different people.”

Title: Choose a title for your paper which suggests a question or debate you will address. Print it at the top of the first page, and on the cover sheet. Bear it in mind while you are writing the paper. Don't let yourself stray from the subject as you have framed it. Subtle suggestion: If you have something nifty you badly want to include, you should arrange the initial presentation (title and introduction) to make it relevant -- Right from the start. Have your title fit the paper, not the other way around.

Introduction: Start strongly. This is where you manage (or fail) to capture interest and thereby improve your grade. You need to provide the full name of the artist, title of work, brief factual information about the category of work, and you should introduce the argument/THESIS STATEMENT. Sometimes a short opening paragraph is also needed to set the historical context.

Description: Make sure you utilize all materials from your museum visit, notes, photographs, post-cards. Provide a comprehensive, organized in flow description of the visual/formal characteristics of the work of art (color, line, scale, materials, etc), in addition to identifying any representational elements, identifiable or implied subject matter, and address the title of the work. Please utilize art history terminology appropriately.

Interpretation/Argument: What is the meaning of this work? This can come from your visual observations and research. The best arguments provide evidence from your observations and/or research. Marshall evidence to support your thesis. This does not mean that you simply pile up facts. If others take different lines of argument on your topic, indicate why you agree or disagree with them. What did you learn about the artist’s intentions/if any? Do you agree? How the work of art succeeds or fails in terms of what you think the artist’s intentions were?

Conclusion/Summary: Finish with a bang not a whimper. Summarize the debate neatly in a paragraph or two. Save a point of interest to end on -- a comment on the significance of the subject, what is original about your argument, etc. The conclusion should reinforce, in the reader's mind, the persuasiveness of your whole argument. You should also wrap it up…meaning, do not just suddenly stop writing, create a summary. Your thoughts need to be coherent and organized with direction and flow, leading to your summary.

Revisions/Re-writing/Editing: Upon completions of paper, do a minimum of 1-3 revisions, and

use reading as part of the revision part of the process. Read the paper aloud, edit and re-write.

Museum Paper Requirements Checklist Instructions continued…

Have someone proof read your paper and ask them for feedback. After you have done at least

three edited versions, you are almost ready to submit your paper. Feel free to bring a hard copy

to me to provide you with feedback before you submit the work. MANAGE DEADLINES!!

Style: Write in clear, concise English. Use the least number of words possible to make your point. Please include last name on bottom right side of footer, such as Grimm 2 of 4, Grimm 3 of 4…for page numbers.

No No’s: Do not use colloquial or abbreviated English. Words to avoid: masterpiece, genius, fantastic, vibe, superb, artsy, terrific, great, awesome. Phrases to avoid: In conclusion, as a matter of fact, In summary, to start out, I guess, I anything, or me anything..remember third person. Do not ask questions within the paper. Do not write about the museum, or the exhibition the work is in. Don’t write, clever, gimmicky introductions that sound grandiose. Do not write about your experience as a visitor. Avoid vague flowery effusive language. Example: “The artist’s inherent genius is evident in this masterpiece.”Avoid disorganized and journal entry style writing. Some scholarly resources are necessary, but this is not just a research paper. Research should support your argument/observations about the work. Do NOT pad the essay with long unnecessary facts that do not pertain to your own observations about the work. Do not break up essay with subheadings, subtitles, or include your Roman numerals from your outline. The Biggest: PLAGIARISM: Do not take even ONE SENTENCE from anyone, anywhere. If I find even one sentence that is not yours in turnitin, you will receive a zero, and may also face disciplinary action based on Irvine Valley College’s Plagiarism Policy. See IVC Catalog.

Avoid Tangents in Body of the Paper: Complex points of debate or material which is necessary for background but somewhat tangential to your thesis can often be treated in Endnotes, so as not to interfere with your main argument.

Sentences: Short sentences are often easier to control. This helps you to make your points clearly and forcefully. Frequent paragraph divisions may also help to maintain interest and to separate thoughts from each other. How you handle sentence and paragraph divisions is naturally a matter of taste. But keeping things short will usually at least ensure that your points come over clearly, your first responsibility. You can go after elegance at a later stage.

Paragraphs: Each paragraph should contain one major point with advances your argument. Use about 3 or 4 paragraphs to a page. Don't write the paper as a "stream of consciousness" with the stages of the argument undifferentiated.

Quotations: Keep all quotes short or not at all: I am more interested in what you have to say than in anyone else's words. In general, I prefer students paraphrasing information into their own words, and citing. Only use quotations from artists/critics that are so uniquely interesting or well written should be used. If you can say it in your own way, do so with proper citations. Limit paper to one or two VERY SHORT quotes. All quotes must fit smoothly into the text. Acknowledge the source of all direct quotations in a footnote -- author, work, page etc.

Annotation: Use Chicago Style for Endnotes & Bibliography For citations of material on the Web: Give the full URL