Guidelines for the Final Paper

AD603: Critical Theory
Fall 2008
Prof. Shannon McMullen

GUIDELINES FOR FINAL PAPER

STRUCTURE:
10 pages:

page 1: abstract
last page: bibliography (please use a style sheet like APA, Chicago or ASA)
photos: up to 2 pages
main body: minimum of 6 pages

1 inch margins; 11 pt double-spaced type.

CONTENT:

The intent of this paper is for you to either do a little more research into a topic addressed in the seminar that interests you (you can also look ahead to something we haven’t yet done, when proposing your topic), reading and then relate this to your own artistic/design/teaching endeavors, interests or method of working. Alternatively, you could develop a critique of one of the readings or theories and then relate this to your own work. Basically, I would like you to create a dialogue between what you do and the issues that have been raised for you when reading and discussing critical theory texts and examples.

In general, the paper should have the following format:

1. Introduction: provide an overview of your topic and a statement that somehow relates the readings you will discuss to your own work.

2. Main Body:

  • a. Give a critical summary of the texts. This should include one source that we have read in class and 2 peer-reviewed books (can be a portion of a book) or articles that we have not read in class.
  • b. Relate these readings to your own work, or possibly to that a of an artist or designer, whose work is a source of inspiration for you.

Note: I have already spoken with some of you about a topic that might not exactly fit these guidelines and I may be talking to a couple more of you in the next week, based on blog responses about a possible topic. If this is the case, the page outline above still applies, but it could be that your content guidelines are slightly different.

Also, if you have an idea for a paper/project that doesn’t seem to fit within the above parameters, please send me an email, or talk to me BEFORE you write your abstract and meet with me.