Writer’s choice
Note: whether you are writing about an artist, artwork, concept, theme, style or movement, your paper should not be a general overview of basic information (i.e. it should not read like an encyclopedia entry). Rather, it should be a focused discussion that asks a specific question or makes a specific argument relating to your chosen topic.
Your final research paper should include the following components:
Introduction: introduce your topic, provide basic information, and state your thesis.
Basic information about your research topic, written in complete sentences, for instance…
If you are writing about an artwork, provide information such as the artist, title, date, original location, materials, size, current location
If you are writing about an artist, provide information such as their name, dates of birth and death, where they lived and worked, etc.
Information for other topics might include: summary of a theme, concept, or idea, context and/or description of a style or movement
Thesis statement
This should be a clear, succinct, and specific statement alerting your readers to the specific focus of your paper
Your thesis should be approximately one sentence long
2. Research discussion: the body of your research paper should provide a discussion of your topic based on your research and focused on the central point, argument, or question stated in your thesis. This discussion should be based on research, meaning that it should incorporate insights and information from scholarly and other relevant sources, combined with your own thoughts and ideas. Be sure your discussion consistently links back to your thesis statement. Your thesis statement is your central point, argument, or question related to your chosen artwork or monument. Your discussion should provide key points, evidence, or answers directly related to your thesis.
Your research discussion should be organized into a series of paragraphs
Each paragraph should be focused on a specific point related to your thesis
Each paragraph should include key points, evidence, or answers linked directly related to your thesis
Points should be supported by information from your research sources
Your discussion should draw from at least five sources, at least three of which must be scholarly
Please be sure that at least three of your sources are scholarly according to the parameters of this course
See the “Art History Research: Sources and Tips (Links to an external site.)” Doc for further information
Recall information from the “Research Basics” and “Evaluating Sources in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences” SkillShops
Information derived from outside sources should be cited throughout your discussion, whether you are referencing, paraphrasing, or directly quoting
When citing a source, please note the author’s last name, date of publication, and page number(s) in parentheses after the information from that source
3. Conclusion: the final paragraph of your paper should wrap up your discussion, referring back to your thesis statement.
Your conclusion should be a brief and succinct summary of your findings and thoughts
It should be approximately one paragraph long
4. List of references (a.k.a. Works Cited): provide a list of references at the end of your paper.
Your list of references should include at least five sources, at least three of which must be scholarly
Full bibliographic citations should include all of the information needed to locate each source – e.g. author(s), title, date, publisher, page range
You can follow the style guide of your choosing (e.g. APA, MLA, Chicago)
Your list of references a separate section of your paper and will not count as part of your minimum 3-4 pages
