Getting the most points on
your Final Paper
Read the Directions Carefully
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Attend a performance of a play or an opera or a concert by a
European playwright/composer
Go to the San Diego Museum of Art and select a painting or
sculpture currently on display by a European artist.
Write an 8-10 page, double spaced, one inch margins, 12 pt font
academic essay comparing and contrasting the performance and
the artwork.
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Make sure you keep your entrance ticket to both the museum and
to the performance as you must turn them both in with your
assignment.
Writing Your Essay
Basic essay parts
• Introduction [lead in, transition sentences that describe
performance and artwork, and thesis]
• Body Paragraphs [ topic sentences, good examples that
describe the performance and artwork]
• Conclusion [restates thesis in different words,
summarizes main points, gives your opinion]
• NOTE: For this essay, there is a specific structure to
follow. Answer the questions as thoroughly as possible to
get the most points!
Introduction + Title
• Clever Title
• Interesting attention getter
• Transition sentences that announce the two
works, their creators, & include information about
period and style.
• Thesis Statement + plan of development
Body Paragraph #1
• Topic sentence with transition
• What is the content of the performance and the
artwork? What is the artist showing us?
– In a play or opera, what is the plot?
– In terms of music, is there a theme or consistent
thread of meaning to the songs or movements?
• Why is this important?
• Are there certain symbols related to the artist's
time period or to ours?
Body Paragraph #2
• Topic sentence with transition
• What is the size of the art piece, and what materials are
used in the making of this artwork?
– How do size and materials enhance the piece?
• In an opera or play, think of characters and setting, how
do they contribute to meaning?
• In terms of music, what instruments are used and why?
– Are there vocals? How do they enhance meaning?
• Are there certain textures [physical or sound] that are
achieved through this medium? Do they contribute to
meaning?
• Why do you think the artist chose this form to express
his/her thoughts?
Body Paragraph #3
• Topic sentence with transition
• What colors are used in the art piece? How does color
contribute to overall meaning of the piece?
– Think about how colors contrast or blend into one another as well
as colors that are very bold versus very soft.
– Where is the artist directing our eyes? Why?
– Also consider how the artist might contrast light and dark through
shading.
• In terms of a play or opera, think of how the artist
captures our attention with words or sound.
– Is there dramatic irony or symbolism present? How does this
contrast from one form to another?
• In terms of music, think of how sound can be vivid or soft.
– Like color, intensity of sound can attract our attention and make
us feel a certain way.
Body Paragraph #4
• Topic sentence with transition
• How does the artist create movement through line and
shapes within the art piece?
– How does movement or lack thereof contribute to meaning in the
piece? How do the shapes you see contribute to the total effect?
• In a play or opera, think about how the piece moves from
one scene to the next.
– How do characters move to create meaning through body and
facial motions.
• In terms of music, think of how one movement moves to
the next.
– How does the artist move us emotionally from one section to
another through sound - loud/soft, fast/slow?
Conclusion
• What do you think the artists' messages to the
audience were intended to be?
– Were they successful? Why or why not?
• What did you learn about performance art and
fine art through this assignment?
• Remember, you must restate your thesis in
different words and end with a clear, final
thought.
Some Advice
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1] See the performance first and take notes! This will help you select a
piece of fine art to compare/contrast it to. Again, it is better to chose things
you like so you'll have more fun completing the assignment.
2] This is an academic essay - if you use outside sources in this paper, you
must quote them in the paragraphs and include a works cited page. You
must do this even if you are paraphrasing!!
3] If you haven't written an essay for a while, go to the Writing Center in the
Library, and they can provide some free help.
4] To give you an example of what an essay about a play or an essay about
a piece of music looks like, here are two papers I wrote when I was a
student. The examples I give only examine one piece. For your assignment,
you must compare/contrast a performance piece [play/opera/concert] with a
fine art piece.
-Play Paper
-Music Paper
Quick Tips for College Essays
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Ask Questions Early
Start Sooner than Later
Take notes [pre-write], Then Outline, Then Write
Visit the Writing Center
Talk to your instructor
Share Your Essay