Modern Art Final Essay Instructions - Updated May 2nd, 2024

Requirements (if you do not do these things exactly you cannot get higher than a B on the paper):

• Name, title, proper format
• 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double spaced
• 4-8 pages, Include Title, and Source Citation (YOU must have 3-5 peer reviewed scholarly sources in your bibliography)

What is the purpose of the final essay?

By the time you are getting ready to begin your final essay, you will already have written a museum paper using formal analysis. Your museum paper was a test of your visual analysis and how well you can communicate your experience of observing an artwork without any research. The final paper incorporates research using other articles or chapters. I highly recommend sticking with the same artwork or topic (for example, if you chose a work by Paul Signac, focus on Signac and Pointillism/neo-Impressionism for your final paper) Make sure that you are not starting over from scratch and writing about a different topic! You now need to choose secondary scholarly sources (3 minimum) that are peer-reviewed to incorporate with the analysis you’ve already done and form a strong thesis statement to ground your argument.

How should I prepare?

I highly recommend using the outline template that I’ve provided on Manifold. You should start by asking yourself what you want to say about the artworks and find sources that are going to help you make the point you want to address. You need a clear thesis statement that will likely go through multiple drafts.

How will I be graded?

You will use the final paper self-graded rubric for this assignment.

What is the long-term purpose of this assignment?

This final essay will allow you to practice preparing for longer papers that will come up over the course of your academic careers. It aims to take the overwhelming and daunting parts of writing and replace them with practical planning and organization over time that alleviates procrastination, stress, and traditional exam pressure. Ideally, it also invites you to add depth to the artwork of your choice this semester so that you can walk away with more knowledge on visual material that you’re passionate about.