Reading Response Assignment For Art History Course
Reading Response Assignment for Art History Course
Over the course of the semester students will submit 3 response papers based on an assigned or recommended reading/readings. An optional fourth response may be submitted if students would like to improve their overall average (only the top three grades will be included in figuring the final mark). Please note, however, that this option is only available if students have submitted three previous reading responses.
The aim of the assignment is to practice critical analysis of scholarly texts and to work on clear and concise writing. No additional research is necessary beyond the text under review. After you have read your selected work, you should sketch out the main points and structure of the writing to better clarify your ideas. Once completed, organize the main points in anticipation of your response. The paper should provide a summary and analysis of the author’s thesis and methodology.
The response should also assess, to some degree, the success achieved by the author in her or his stated or inferred goals. Students will select the readings they wish to discuss. If questions or concerns arise in the preparation of your responses, please attend the office hours listed above or schedule an appointment with me.
Paper For Above instruction
This response paper requires a thorough engagement with a scholarly art history text, focusing on critical analysis and clear writing. Students are encouraged to select a reading that interests them and construct a structured and analytical reflection on the author's thesis, methodology, and overall effectiveness in achieving her or his goals.
The first step involves reading the selected text carefully, highlighting main points, arguments, and key concepts. Students should then create an outline or sketch of the core ideas to clarify their understanding. The paper should begin with a concise summary of the main thesis, followed by an analysis of the methodology used by the author—whether it is theoretical, historical, or interpretive—and how effectively it supports the argument.
In addition to summarizing and analyzing, students should critically evaluate the success of the author's aims. This may involve assessing the coherence of the argument, the evidence provided, and the contribution of the work to broader art historical debates. The paper should be written in a clear, focused style, avoiding unnecessary jargon, and should be approximately 1000 words long.
Students are advised to organize their response logically—introduction, main analysis, and conclusion—and to cite textual evidence to support their evaluations. While additional research beyond the assigned reading is not required, students should situate their critique within relevant scholarly conversations and use credible sources where appropriate.
References
- Baxandall, M. (1988). Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy. Oxford University Press.
- Greenberg, C. (1961). Art and Culture: Critical Essays. Beacon Press.
- Larson, M. (2012). Critical Approaches to Art Theory and Practice. Routledge.
- Livingstone, M. (2015). The Geometries of Modernism. Yale University Press.
- Pollock, G. (1988). Differencing the Body: Embodiment, Women, and Visual Culture. Edinburgh University Press.
- Schupbach, M. (2017). Modernist Aesthetics and Cultural Shifts. Cambridge University Press.
- Shapiro, M. (1993). Art and Its Significance: An Anthology of Aesthetic Theory. Yale University Press.
- Smith, T. (2010). The Object and Its Modern Context. Oxford University Press.
- Wick, R. (2019). Art History and Critical Theory. Harvard University Press.
- Zimmerman, M. (2000). The Theory and Practice of Art Criticism. Routledge.