Introduction to Writing About Art -

AnalyticalInstructor: Mrs. Christine Ege

Introduction to Art – DAD Department

11th, March 2015

What is Analytical Writing?

An analytical essay seeks to explore a central idea or question based on a text(s) and a

student's engagement with that text. Key to the analysis is breaking down the text into components and showing the relationship between the subordinate arguments and

overall controlling ideas.

What is Analytical Writing?• Responds to and examines ideas from a text or a variety of texts. • The essay examines/uses texts• Is based on a central idea • This idea must be supported by evidence, which may include examples • The essay should follow a logical order of thinking, but it should not follow a

formula• Shows some critical thinking, such as making inferences, interpreting

evidence, anticipating readers’ needs, comparison/contrast, synthesis, argumentation, analysis, and/or problem-solving skills

• The essay clarifies issues or shows why a simple resolution is not possible • The writer demonstrates an awareness of more than one perspective • Exhibits a clear sense of audience and purpose • Exhibits the essay writer’s own thinking process and shows a developing

sense of originality, creativity, and voice

What to Do

1. Understand the question (Analyze the Question)2. Decide what you want to write about3. Decide which images you want to use4. Understand what the image information is5. Do research on your topic or topics6. Organize your ideas7. Write (ANSWER THE QUESTION)8. Edit

Analyzing Questions

• You will be given a question to answer• Read the question more than once• Decide what the main point of the question is• Decide what the most important information is• Look for quantity of images• Look for periods (time range) • Look for specific information related to the content

needed• Take note of any extra important information

Example : Analyzing Questions

Works of art often combine images with text. Choose and

fully identify two specific works made after 500 CE that

combine images with text. The works must come from

different art historical periods. Note: Do not choose works

with text consisting only of names, labels, or artists'

signatures. Discuss the relationship between text and

image in the two works you have chosen.

Example : Analyzing Questions

Works of art often combine images with text. Choose and

fully identify two specific works made after 500 CE that

combine images with text. The works must come from

different art historical periods. Note: Do not choose works

with text consisting only of names, labels, or artists'

signatures. Discuss the relationship between text

and image in the two works you have chosen.

Example : Analyzing Questions

Works of art often combine images with text. Choose and

fully identify two specific works made after

500 CE that combine images with text. The works

must come from different art historical periods. Note: Do not

choose works with text consisting only of names, labels, or

artists' signatures. Discuss the relationship between text and

image in the two works you have chosen.

Example : Analyzing Questions

Works of art often combine images with text. Choose and

fully identify two specific works made after 500 CE

that combine images with text. The works must come

from different art historical periods. Note: Do not choose

works with text consisting only of names, labels, or

artists' signatures. Discuss the relationship between text

and image in the two works you have chosen.

Example : Analyzing Questions

Works of art often combine images with text. Choose and

fully identify two specific works made after 500 CE that

combine images with text. The works must come from

different art historical periods. Note: Do not

choose works with text consisting only of names, labels,

or artists' signatures. Discuss the relationship between

text and image in the two works you have chosen.

Example : Analyzing Questions

Works of art often combine images with text. Choose and

fully identify two specific works made after 500 CE that

combine images with text. The works must come from

different art historical periods. Note: Do not choose

works with text consisting only of names,

labels, or artists' signatures. Discuss the relationship

between text and image in the two works you have chosen.

Doing Research• You need to start by figuring out how you would like to answer

your question• Do brainstorming to help you organize your ideas (and figure out

what you already know about the subject)• DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY• Find readings on the type of art you are going to talk about• Find readings from the time periods to help you• Look at images – Find the images you would like to talk about• READ – LOOK• Make changes to your argument (if needed)• READ MORE – ORGANIZE – WRITE

Doing ResearchBooks

• Gardner’s Art Through the Ages• Art History: A Western Perspective• PDFs of other books can be found online

Journals• http://www.jstor.org/• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291467-8365

Websites• https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-art-history • http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/ • http://arthistory.about.com/ • http://

study.com/articles/Free_Online_Resources_for_Art_History_Students.html

Finding Images• Once you know what images you

want to use follow these steps:• Go to Google• Type in name of the museum /

archaeological site and then the name of the object

• Make sure that images are not coming directly from google images, but are coming from museum web sites (this will give you a better quality image)

• Describe images as you see on the right

• It is important that you put the image information under the image (see the example give to you by the instructor)

Name of Image (Date Created)Name of Artist (Nationality, Dates)MediumDimensionsDonation or Discovery informationCurrent LocationWebsite (Book or other Publication)

Outline

• You should create an outline• This is meant to help you organize

your thoughts• If you do not write an outline it will

be difficult for you to make sure that your writing is making sense

• It is clear to the reader when you do not write an outline

• Writings are harder to read when the writer does not write an outline

• It is not required but will probably make a difference in your final grade

Introduction ParagraphInformationThesis Statement

Paragraph OneTopic SentenceInformation

Conclusion ParagraphInformation Closing Sentence

Rough Draft

• Please make sure to give yourself enough time to do a rough draft of your work• After you have created an outline, write the paper• Use this first copy of the paper to help you edit• Look for any mistakes in content, structure, grammar, or

spelling• Fix any mistakes that you find• Rewrite the paper, making sure to change the issues you

found• This makes your paper clear and well executed

Editing

• Make sure you give yourself enough time to edit your writing• Check your paper for

• Structural issues – paragraph length, topic sentences, flow• Content issues – does it make sense, answering the question• Grammar – proper use of grammar• Spelling – English, Other languages

• GO TO MR. ROBERT IN THE WRITING CENTER FOR HELP• DO NOT GO GET HELP THE DAY BEFORE THE ESSAY IS

DUE. I HAVE TOLD HIM NOT TO HELP YOU IF YOU DO THIS.

Citation• You will need to create a bibliography using APA (American

Psychological Association) style • Here is an example of how I would like you to cite your work

in the bibliography:• BOOK• Author. (year). Title of work. Location: Publisher.

• JOURNAL ARTICLE• Author. (year). Title of article. Title of Journal, xx, xxx-

xxx. • WEBSITE• Author. (year). Title of work. Retrieved from web

address.

Citation• Here is an example of how I would like you to cite your work in the

text:• Indirect quotation with parenthetical citation

• (Author, Year)

• Indirect quotation with author as part of the narrative• (Year)

• Direct quotation with parenthetical citation• (Author, Year, Page Numbers)

• Direct quotation with author as part of the narrative• (Year)

• http://www.apastyle.org/ • http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx

Final Information

• Turn in the paper on the day of the midterm (WEEK 7)• Make sure all information is organized properly• NO TITLE PAGE• IMAGES PRINTED IN COLOR

DO NOT COPY OTHER PEOPLES WORK. I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. IF YOU COPY (ANYTHING) WITHOUT PUTTING IT IN QUOTES AND CITING IT

YOU WILL GET A 0.