Each essay should be 2 pages long
General Guidelines for Art History Formal Essays:
College-level writing is expected in all formal essay assignments. Some of the guidelines below are general to any good writing and some are specific to my classes. Please follow them all carefully.
1. A paper copy is due at the beginning of class on the due date for each assignment. Late papers
will be accepted only until the next class meeting (unless otherwise indicated) and counted
down 10 points. Extra credit options cannot be handed in late. Do not send papers
electronically or put them in my mailboxthey get lost.
2. Follow the essay prompt carefully and be sure to include all of the required elements, i.e.
number of artworks cited, analysis, etc. A grading rubric will be provided for each essay. Use
it to be sure you have met the requirements of the assignment.
3. Place your name and course name in the upper left-hand corner, single spaced. Double space
and then center the title of your paper, then double space again and begin text. Do not add an
extra space between paragraphs. Always indent paragraphs.
4. Papers must be typed and double spaced using Times New Roman 12 point font.
5. Margins should be 1 on all sides. Do not try to make your paper look longer by using
generous margins.
6. Please use portrait format and print one-sided.
7. Underline or italicize the titles of works of art.
8. Use terms such as artworks, art objects, works of art, objects or the specific medium
(painting, sculpture, drawing, etc.) Do not refer to works of art as pieces, arts or artifacts.
9. Proofread your paper carefully. Pay attention to the following common problem areas:
a. Spelling, including names of artists and titles of works of art. Do not trust your computers spelling checker.
b. Verb tense consistency
c. Organization into logical paragraphs which are indented
d. Proper sentence structurecomplete sentences with correct use of commas and other
punctuation. Avoid semi-colons (;)few people use them correctly.
10. Papers should have an introduction and a conclusion.
11. Unless specified, research is not needed for essays in this course. It is more important
that your observations and ideas are included. However, any quotations or information
included that is taken from a source (wall label, textbook, brochures) must be indicated as
such in the body of the paper and the source acknowledged in parentheses. Turning in work
that is not your own (plagiarism) will result in a failing grade on the paper.
Do not be tempted to cut and paste from web documents.
12. Give yourself time to turn in a thoughtful and well-written paper. Have a final draft
completed at least 24 hours before the due date so you will have a chance to proofread it for
content and composition. Non-native English speakers should try to have a native English
speaker read their essay for syntax and clarity.
13. Staple the pages of your essay together in the upper left corner. There is no need for a folder
or binding of any kind. Please do not include a separate title page.
1:Though you couldnt visit the Getty Museum to see the Assyrian exhibit, there are great resources on line to see the art and learn more about this fascinating culture. The two websites below are places to start. In your essay, discuss three things you discovered about the Assyrians and their art that were new to you.
https://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-brief-introduction-to-the-art-of-ancient-assyrian-kings/
https://blog.britishmuseum.org/introducing-the-assyrians/
2:All cultures leave remnants after they fall. To see what might remain of our culture, visit the following website to view photographs of American roadside art and architecture:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/coll/john-margolies-roadside-america-photograph-archive.html
Imagine you are an archeologist from the year 3020 and describe the religious beliefs and social structure of the culture that created these objects.
3: The city of Hasankeyf, in Turkey, has been in the news recently. Search the internet for information about what is happening there and write an essay in which you briefly discuss why it is in the news and then address two questions:
a. Where in the ancient world have we seen this same set of circumstances and what happened back then?
b. Why is the worlds reaction to events affecting Hasankeyf so different than it was to the earlier event?