GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN PAPERS IN HUMANITIES
PROFESSOR DELMA ILES
Topic – The paper must fulfill the assignment by directly addressing the topic assigned.
Length – The paper must meet the specific assignment for length. Essay #1 and Essay #2 are 250-300 words in length. Essay #3 is 900-1,000 words in length. Points will be deducted proportionately for papers that are shorter than the length assigned (there is a 15 word leeway). Microsoft Word provides a word count in the lower left hand corner of the screen. Papers that are longer than the length assigned may be returned to the student for reduction.
Heading – The heading at the top of the page should contain:
Title of Paper
Name of student
Name of Course
Name of the performance, exhibition, or event and name of the company, ensemble, architect, composer, or artist(s)
Date the assignment is handed in
Typeset & Font – All papers must be typed. Fonts must be 12 points, no larger or smaller. Fonts may vary, but must be clearly legible. (No Gothic, etc.)
Spacing – Papers may be single or double spaced.
Margins – One inch margins (top, bottom, left & right) are required.
CONTENT
STUDENTS MUST WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING EXPERIENCES DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER. STUDENTS MAY NOT WRITE ABOUT THINGS THEY DID PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEMESTER.
Each paper must be on a different humanities topic: dance, theater, music (including opera, choral performances, and musical theater such as Broadway shows), visual arts (If you visit a museum, virtually or in person, it must be an art museum.), architecture, film (only classic films are allowed.)
Identify the location of the performance or event. Is it a theater? Museum? Gallery? Church? Community Center? Park or garden? Etc. If the location is important in the experience of the event, explain why.
Describe in detail what you saw or heard.
If a costume is important, describe the costume. If a musical instrument is important, describe the instrument. If a particular design or style is important, describe the design. If you are not familiar with the design or style, research it. If a person’s voice is important, describe the sound of that voice (or group of voices).
Some elements that might be important: Visuals such as colors, textures, geometric shapes, directions of travel (where movement is concerned), levels (high, low, medium), scale (very large to very small), physical relationships between/among people or groups of people, physical relationships between/among objects. Is the work emotional, intellectual, spiritual, political, religious, cultural, etc?
In the case of a visual arts or sculpture exhibit, identify the medium: photography (digital or film), oil paint, tempera, watercolor, pen and ink, woodcut, lithograph, mosaic, etc. Was there a theme? If so explain the theme. Describe the colors, textures, scale of the works, important shapes or designs. Identify the primary artistic intent of the work.
In the case of a music performance, identify the style: jazz, blues, classical, Renaissance, folk, flamenco, raga, cultural, etc. Also identify the form: song, opera, symphony, sonata, improvisation, etc. Identify the volume of the music: loud, soft, medium, etc. Identify the number of musicians or singers. Why is this the appropriate number of performers for the type of music you heard? Identify the musical instruments used. What did the music sound like? Rhythmic? Harsh? Delicate? Soulful? Romantic? Sad? Lonely? Exciting? Or combinations of these and other elements?
In the case of an opera performance, use the instructions for both music and theater, or music and dance, if applicable.
In the case of a dance performance, identify the music (if any), the number of dancers and the style of dance: ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, flamenco, folkloric, cultural (and the culture it comes from), ballroom, etc. Describe the costumes, music, and any scenery or props. Describe any patterns or formations the dancers are making: straight lines, circles, wedge shapes, starburst, couples, trios, etc. Describe the movements the dancers are executing: turning sliding, leaping, stretching, kicking skipping reaching, etc. Explain the primary artistic intent of the dance: story, mood or emotion, abstract, etc.
In the case of architecture, identify the function of the building: theater, courthouse, home, apartment, office building, school, cathedral, mosque, technically specific for a particular function (such as an airport), etc. Identify the materials it is made of: concrete block, marble, wood, glass, mud, steel, brick, combinations of any of the previous plus other materials as appropriate. Identify the style of the building: classical, baroque, modernist, primitive, Islamic? Is the building well designed for its intended use? What makes this so or not so? In the case of an architectural exhibition, describe the theme or idea for the show. How was this communicated? Photos, models, descriptions, examples of materials, etc.
*If you choose to write about architecture, you must visit the building in person. Take a selfie of yourself at the building to prove that you were there. Email the selfie to the instructor or imbed it into the paper. Virtual tours of a few buildings are available in the Course Resources folder. A list of approved buildings is provided at the end of this document.
In the case of a theater performance, summarize the plot (1-2 paragraphs). Describe the costumes, scenery, and props and any background music or sound. Explain the role(s) of the main characters. Describe their personalities and what their relationships are like: loving, angry, confused, domineering, shy, control issues, etc. Explain the theme of the play. What is the primary dramatic conflict? How is it resolved? Or does it go unresolved? DO NOT SIMPLY RE-TELL THE PLOT!
In the case of a film (You may only write about classic films.), identify the film’s director and the year it was made. Briefly summarize the plot (1-2 paragraphs), if relevant. Explain the dramatic conflict(s) and how they are resolved (or not). Identify the filmmaking techniques that are part of the director’s style. Refer to the Notes on Film document that was introduced in Week #1. (close-up, long shot, montage, form cut, etc.) Explain how the director uses these to enhance the film. DO NOT SIMPLY RE-TELL THE PLOT!
*STUDENTS ARE RESTRICTED FROM WRITING ABOUT ANIMATED FILMS AND ARE ALSO RESTRICTED FROM WRITING ABOUT FILMS INTENDED FOR CHILDREN (with the exception of The Wizard of Oz).
General:
Give your evaluation of the skill level of the artist(s) or architect. Give your opinion of the event you attended. Was it artistically successful? If so, why? If you feel that it was not successful, explain what was missing.
Write your paper so that a person who did not attend the event could read it and have a good picture in his/her mind of what the event was like! Do not include photos with your paper. The written content of the paper must explain everything. You may not use photos to substitute for quality written content.
RESTRICTIONS
Since live performances are currently problematic due to the coronavirus pandemic, you have been provided with a list (with links) of online performances that you may view in order to write your papers. You must use this list. If you want to write about something that is not on the list, or if you would like to attend a live performance or go to a museum or architectural site in person, you must get permission IN ADVANCE from the instructor (with the exception of the architectural sites listed in this document). All performances must be professional performances. This means that the performers are paid and their art form is their principal source of employment.
Film: you must view and write about a classic film. Use the lists of 100 Classic Films on the Rotten Tomatoes website to make your selection. You may also attend a film at the MDC-owned Tower Theater. If you attend a film at the Tower Theater, turn in your ticket stub with the essay. You are restricted from writing about animated films.
Visual Arts: There are some art galleries and museums that are currently open, and you may go in person to one of these if you wish. Attach a copy of the museum ticket or admission receipt to your paper as proof that you went. The Wynwood Walls are recommended for those who want to experience visual arts in person. Because everything is outdoors, it is a safer environment than a museum or gallery. For those students who are not comfortable going to something in person, there is a list of virtual museum and gallery tours that you may select instead included with the list of performances in the Course Resources folder. *The list in Blackboard is pre-approved, so you do not need to obtain permission in advance.
*Students may not write papers about films, performances, sites, and events that we have covered in class.
WRITING SKILLS
The three papers assigned in this course are all assigned as formal papers, requiring formal writing. They will not be accepted in note form or any format other than formal writing.
All papers must be written in correct English!
When writing about a real person or a fictional character, initially refer to the person by both his/her first and last name. Thereafter, use the last name only (not the first name) unless you know him/her personally. Children may be referred to by their first names. In the case of two people with the same last name (such as brothers), use both first and last name throughout the paper.
One point per mistake will be deducted for the following:
Write a formal paper in first person, or third person, but not second person.
Spelling – every instance! USE SPELL CHECK! Beware of homonyms (words that sound alike, but are spelled differently) and make sure you are using the correct one!
Subject/verb agreement
Proper use of singular & plural
Proper use of tense of verbs
Correct sentence structure
Capitalization of all proper nouns – Remember that the rules for this are different in English from those in Spanish and many other languages.
THE NAMES OF ALL DANCES, MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS, FILMS, BOOKS, PLAYS, OPERAS, POEMS, PERIODICALS, ARE CAPITALIZED AND ARE PLACED IN ITALICS OR QUOTATION MARKS!
Use of commas, colons, semicolons and quotation marks.
Compound sentences, prepositional phrases and subordinate clauses.
Numbers – write out numbers in a formal paper with the exception of dates, amounts of money that require more than two words, and mathematical calculations. Numbers greater than 1,000 can be written numerically. Numbers that appear at the beginning of a sentence must always be spelled out.
Quotations. Always place someone else’s actual words in quotation marks and identify the source.
PLAGARISM
Please refer to the MDC Student Handbook for college-wide policies on plagiarism. Plagiarism is considered an academic felony! Plagiarism in a written paper (even one sentence) will result in a minimum penalty of a grade of 0 for the paper and a maximum penalty of expulsion from Miami Dade College, depending on the gravity of the offense.
Tips:
Remember that written English is different from other languages. Do not attempt a direct translation from another language.
If you are writing a paper about a performance and use material printed in the program book or exhibit publication, you must place the material in quotation marks and cite the source.
Read your paper out loud, preferably to another person who is an experienced writer, and listen to hear if it makes sense, if it sounds natural and logical.
Don’t wait until the last minute to write your paper – you are very likely to make mistakes and not catch them.
HELP IS AVAILABLE!
There is a writing lab in the computer courtyard; you are encouraged to use it as a resource to assist you in developing strong written compositions. The Writing Lab brochure that explains how to make appointments is included in the Course Resources folder.
Resource: The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer. This is a small, inexpensive book that provides easy guidelines to grammar and the rules of writing.
*If you do not understand the instructions in this guideline, please see the instructor. You may need to take a course in basic writing before attempting this course!
PRE-APPROVED BUILDINGS FOR ARCHITECTURE PAPERS (some may be closed at this time)
Perez Art Museum Miami, downtown
Bacardi Building, Biscayne Blvd.
Villa Vizcaya
Freedom Tower (Write about the architecture, not the exhibitions in the museum.), Wolfson Campus
Espirito Santo Bank/also known as the Brickell Arch, Brickell Ave.
Old Spanish Monastery, North Miami
Regal Cinema on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
The Atlantis (residential building on Brickell)
Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables
Coral Gables City Hall
Delano Hotel, South Beach
Ritz Plaza Hotel, South Beach
Raleigh Hotel, South Beach
Fountainebleau Hotel, Mid-Beach
New World Center (New World Symphony building, South Beach)
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, downtown
Alfred I. Dupont Building, downtown
Miami-Dade County Courthouse (old courthouse, not the new one), downtown (Currently closed for structural repairs.)
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