For this exercise, you will select and write about any work of art found in our textbook, Artforms, or that you find in Google Arts and Culture. (Links to an external site.)

You will then complete a peer review of each of two visual analysis paragraphs posted by your classmates. After you review your classmates’ submissions, you may then revise and resubmit your own visual analysis paragraph. If you resubmit your work, you must do so by the peer review deadline.

Due Date

Initial Submission Deadline: Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m.

Peer review deadline: Sunday, April 19 at 11:59 p.m.

This assignment is worth 50 possible points. Please read the Grading Rubric before you begin.

Before You Begin

1. Review the following modules: Week 3: The Visual Elements, and Week 4: The Principles of Design
2. Complete the module for Week 8: How to Interpret a Work of Art
3. Review the Visual Elements and Principles of Design Guide
4. Review the Grading Rubric for this assignment.

Instructions

Step One: Write a Topic Sentence

Write a concise topic sentence that clearly states how either a specific visual element or design principle is used, generally, to reinforce the power, meaning, emotion, or mood in a work of art that you select. Please refer to the examples below. Please note that in each example the writer has selected a single visual element or single design principle to write about.

Example of Topic Sentence that includes a Visual Element

In Impression: Sunrise, the artist, Monet, uses atmospheric perspective to evoke a sense of space that is both mysterious and convincing.

Example of Topic Sentence that includes a Principle of Design

In The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, the artist, Caravaggio uses directional forces to lead the viewer through the narrative of the painting.

Step Two: Write a Visual Analysis Paragraph

Write a visual analysis paragraph that supports the topic sentence you wrote in Step One. You will describe, in rich detail, how the artist used either a specific visual element, or a specific principle of design in different areas within the artwork. Your paragraph must support your topic sentence and you must include at least three supporting observations from the work of art that you select.

• Please refer to these Examples of Visual Analysis Paragraphs.
• Please format your submission like these examples. Include a section for the Topic Sentence and a section for the Visual Analysis Paragraph.

This paragraph must be between 6-7 sentences in length. Please write complete sentences that are clear, descriptive, and precisely convey the meaning you intend. In other words, when you read the paragraph back to yourself, does it communicate what you are really trying to say?

Please note: Stay focused on the element or principle you are writing about. It’s easy to wander off into the weeds and begin writing about an element or principle that you didn’t state in your topic sentence. You may refer to other elements or principles in your paragraph, but it needs to be clear that the focus of your paragraph is the element or principle stated in your topic sentence. For example, if you were to choose to write about how an artist used motion in their work, you might describe how motion was implied through the artist’s use of repetition, etc., but it must be clear that your paragraph is about motion.

Step Three: Submit your Visual Analysis Paragraph

Write your Topic Sentence and Visual Analysis paragraph directly into the first reply box you see at the bottom of this page, or attach a file. Please do not paste your submission into the Canvas Inbox or the Comment Box, and please do not send it to me via email.

Step Four: Review your Peers’ Submissions

1. You are required to review the submissions of 2 other classmates.
2. Use the criteria stated in the Grading Rubric to review each of your classmates’ submissions, then leave a concise comment for each.
   • Did your classmate follow the instructions and Grading Rubric? Explain.
   • What advice would you give your classmate to help them improve their paragraph?

Please note: To complete a peer review of a classmate’s Visual Analysis paragraph, simply respond to their post as you would in any Discussion assignment. Please do not review a classmate’s paragraph if they have already received two reviews. In that case, find another classmate with one or less completed reviews.

Grading

You will be graded on how well you demonstrate your ability to write a cogent Visual Analysis paragraph. This means that you must think clearly about this topic and logically support your key points. Your answers must be well-written, well-supported, grammatically correct, and free of spelling and punctuation errors. This is a college level assignment!

Please review the Grading Rubric before you begin. You can view the Grading Rubric by clicking the three dots in the upper right of this page, then click “Show Rubric.” Here are more instructions for viewing the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.).

Earn a High Grade

1. Before you begin, read all of the instructions, as well as the rubric.
2. Focus on the key ideas contained in the reading and videos that cover the Visual Elements and Principles of Design.
3. Write concise and complete sentences that clearly convey what you intend to say.
4. As much as possible, write in third person, present tense.
5. Start with a short outline. Organize what you plan to say before you write.
6. Support your statements with careful observations about the work of art.
7. Include your own insights that support your key points.

Assignment Feedback

Click this link for instructions on how to view assignment comments from your instructor. (Links to an external site.)

Don’t hesitate to contact me via Canvas Inbox or district email if you have any questions or concerns.

steve.schlichtenmyer@gcccd.edu

Be sure to write your initial post in the first “reply” box you see below.

https://artsandculture.google.com/