In this minimum 1,250 words Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced paper you will compare two women artists and four of their works.
Choose one set of 4 artworks from the three options below and compare and contrast them. Each option has 4 works to compare, organized in sets of two works (one by one artist and the other by the other artist)
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Self-Portrait compared with Lavinia Fontana, Self-Portrait in the Studio
and
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Self-Portrait with Daughter and Lavinia Fontana, Self-Portrait
Compare the works both in visual terms (how they look), and in terms of meaning.
In the first paragraph
Introduce the 2 artists and 4 works by title. Write a sentence that expresses your main point of comparison of the first pair of works. Then write a sentence that expresses your main point of comparison of the second pair of works. Then add one more sentence that brings together the points of your two comparisons. What main point of contrast can you make about the first artist’s 2 works vs the second artist’s two works?
thesis statement – usually the last line of your first paragraph. Your thesis should clearly state what is the main point of your comparison between your artists and their art works. It cannot just state that there are many similarities and differences between the works. It should state exactly how the works are similar and different in terms of their visual aspects and meaning. Your thesis should be so specific that it only makes sense for the artists and paintings you are discussing.
After the introductory paragraph, use the rest of the paper to lay out evidence to support the thesis. The second paragraph should compare the two artists’ artistic strategies. The next paragraphs should compare works. You may compare the first two works in any of the following ways:
Compare the works throughout. Each paragraph should make one point about the comparison between the works. For example, one paragraph may compare the use of light in both works, while another may compare the works in meaning.
Write about the first work. Then when you write about the second work, compare it to the first work by using words like “Like,” or “Unlike.”
Write about the first work, then about the second work, and then spend a significant amount of time (at least one paragraph) comparing them.
Then do the same for the second pair of art works.
Your last paragraph, the conclusion, should be substantial and should sum up your main points. Your last paragraph, the conclusion, should be substantial and should sum up your main points. It should bring together the conclusions of your two comparisons. It should state how the two works by the first artist compare to the two works by the second artist.
Organize your ideas into paragraphs, and write one paragraph per main point you are making. The first sentence of each paragraph, the topic sentence, must summarize the point of that paragraph, so that your reader knows from the first sentence of that paragraph what the point of that paragraph will be.
Your paper must show that you have read and understood the main ideas in the PowerPoint lectures, readings, and videos in which we learnt about these artists. Do extra research if necessary.
Cite all your sources (including textbook, PowerPoints, and videos). You MUST have at least one source.
If you are quoting something word by word use quotation marks “ ”. Limit word-by-word quotes to maximum 3 short quotes per paper. Use your own words as much as possible.
If you are putting the ideas from a source in your own words, you MUST STILL USE IN-TEXT CITATIONS. Here is an essential guide to quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing: . Here is detailed information on how to paraphrase without plagiarizing:
Include in-text citations. Here is info on using in-text citations: Basically, at the end of a sentence, or a group of sentences with information from a source, you must use parentheses in the text with the title of that source. If you err, err on the side of caution, and include in-text citations even when not sure you need them.
You need to include a list of works cited at the end of the paper. Here’s a guide on how to post your sources in the list of works cited at the end:
How to format electronic sources:
How to format class PowerPoint lectures:
How to format books:
How to format other kinds of sources:
Here is a sample MLA format paper:
