cultural experience-worksheet is attached

Museum Visit & Essay Checklist

Relevance:

Be sure the museum you select covers cultures covered in this class. Otherwise, it will be considered off-topic.

HUMANITIES= Non-Western Arts and Cultures: (Asia, India, Africa, Native Americas, Oceania)

This Cultural experience assignment allows you to record your experience by following a short checklist to ensure you get all the benefits of your visit. Knowing what is expected will help you plan your visit. After your visit, you will write an essay that includes the following pieces of information:

·  In your introduction, provide background information that leads into a thesis statement about your main focus (1-3 objects) Add any background research to the periods and cultures that you may encounter. Be sure to explain how the collection relates to one of the world cultures covered in our course.

·  Describe how the museum or the specific exhibit visited was curated (By theme, subject, era, culture, etc.?)

·  Choose 1-3 cultural artifacts (painting, sculpture, statue, piece of furniture, etc.) that you find most interesting.

· Include an image of your chosen artifact(s). Some museums will not allow photos to be taken inside the building, so you can simply find an image online and include it with your essay. Be sure to cite the website that your image came from.

· Analyze your chosen cultural artifact and offer a description of it .Who created it? Does it have a title? What year was it created? Include research about the object, its period and cultural context.

· Discuss the positioning of your chosen cultural artifact. Where did the curator choose to place it? Do the works around it affect your analysis of it? If your chosen cultural artifact is by itself—maybe in a separate room—why do you think this is?

·  In your conclusion, consider the cultural and historical significance of your chosen artifacts. How do they enhance our understanding of the humanities and the human experience?

Checklist for writing the essay

Be sure to address all aspects of the checklist in your essay. Here are the minimum requirements for the essay itself:

· Between 500-750 words in length, not including original title and references

· Focus on museum and specific artifacts. Try to avoid 1st person voice.

· Essay structure (Introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion)

· Research before and after cultural experience (cultural, historical contexts)

· Add parenthetical citations within body paragraphs for supporting research

· Be sure to add commentary and interpretation to research in your own words

· Match parenthetical citations with References or Works Cited at bottom of essay