Brief

You will write a 1000–1500-word paper delving into an aspect of ethics within the art world. This paper can tackle issues of ethics around representation, gender, race, economics, politics, power, or the law. Select a topic and subject(s) that interest you so that this becomes a useful and engaging exercise for you. You will seek an even-handed approach that addresses multiple sides of the argument, but then settles on a distinct POV that you will argue for.

For example, you could tackle the controversy surrounding the presence of confederate monuments on public land. You would want to address the arguments to keep the statues in place without change, those that seek to keep the monuments in place but with accompanying text that decries the actions of the confederacy, those that propose moving the monuments to museums with accompanying text, and those that want the monuments destroyed. You would then argue for a distinct point of view and support that argument as best you can.

For this assignment, you will upload to Learning Suite a 1000–1500-word Word doc

Tips

1. Have your name, date, and a snappy title at the top left of your document.
2. Utilize the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) for proper formatting and style concerns.
3. Use only one typeface throughout the entire paper and one font size (10–12pt). Do not bold any text.
4. Double space all text except for block quotes, including footnotes.
5. It is expected that this paper will include footnotes and a bibliography citing the sources you referenced. Use the notes and bibliography method rather than the author-date method. You can also refer to the CMS quick overview of the notes and bibliography method.
6. All footnoted sources should appear in the bibliography, plus all sources you used to research whether you referred to the sources in the footnotes or not.
7. Footnotes and Bibliographies are fortmatted differently.
8. Plagiarism is not allowed. Most of the time I see this, it is due to not properly citing quotes or thoughts that are not your own. If a quote or idea is not coming directly from the reading addressed in your response, then you need to create a footnote with the proper attribution.
9. Always reread your writing after you are done to help spot errors. What works even better is reading it out loud.
10. Use only trusted, reputable sources for your research. Random blogs, Tumblr sites, and poorly researched/written sites are not suitable.
11. Please do not use Wikipedia or The Art Story as primary research sources. Avoid sources that are not authoritative or peer reviewed.
12. Watch your verb tenses. Students have a tendency to mix up past and present tense when writing papers on historical subjects. Remain consistent in the tense you use.
13. Find an engaging way to introduce the paper. Avoid the hackneyed ways in which papers tend to begin. See the next point, below.
14. Be good storytellers. This shouldn’t read like a typical research paper. It should read like very good investigative reporting.
    • Don’t just list a series of facts.
    • Judiciously employ metaphor and simile.
    • Inject compelling adjectives into the narrative—it’s not just “green,” but “emerald green,” or “the dense, verdant color of a Washington rainforest.” Paint vivid pictures for the settings of the story.
15. Do not just parrot texts that you read. Draw your own conclusions based on your own observations and experience with the art.
16. Avoid rhetorical questions. It is an overused crutch. You can convey the same information in statements that don’t make it sound like you are unaware of the answers.
17. Do not write this as you would a typical school paper. I don’t want any references to the assignment or the class—”For this assignment . . .” or “In this paper . . .” or “I didn’t know what to expect from this class . . .” Write this as you would if you were a professional submitting it for publication.
18. Unnecessary repetition will lull your readers to sleep. If you find yourself using one word or phrase over and over, mix it up. Break out the Thesaurus. Rephrase your sentences to break yourself out of routine.
19. Read your paper over a few times (out loud) before submitting it. If you have time, have a trusted friend/peer and/or the instructor look it over as well. In my experience, the Writing Centers at BYU do a lackluster job of helping students out. They are a good resource if English is not your primary language, and you need some help with the basics, but they don’t know the Chicago Manual of Style and they miss most spelling/grammar/syntax/punctuation mistakes.
20. Send your paper to the instructor for feedback prior to the due date. Peer review is one thing, but your peers won’t be assigning you your final grade. I cannot emphasize this enough. Email your draft to the instructor no later than 48 hours prior to the deadline.

Grading

Assignment grades will be based on the following:

Conceptual Concerns (45%)

Student demonstrates evidence that they understand and inventively integrate conceptual concerns. The student’s research is evident and ample given the allotted time.

• Excellent: Student demonstrates conversational familiarity with the material—making interesting connections between material.
• Average: Student is able to relate material, but not do much interesting with it.
• Below Average: Student struggles to demonstrate a grasp of the material and shows no facility in connecting ideas or new thinking.

Articulation (45%)

When selecting a thesis or POV, the student is able to succinctly and plainly build a case using good storytelling techniques.

This includes proper spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar and formatting for written assignments; and annunciation, confidence and focused arguments for oral assignments.

• Excellent: Student understands modes of writing and presentation including style guides and is able to nimbly employ these tools in their writing and speaking.
• Average: Student makes some stylistic and formatting mistakes by ignoring provided guidance.
• Below Average: Student repeatedly makes the same mistakes and ignores instructor input and suggestions.

Following Instructions (10%)

The student adheres to the guidelines provided for the course and the assignment. If the paper has a particular framework, the student adheres to that framework. If an assignment is to be submitted as a Word doc on Learning Suite, the student does not email the instructor a PDF.

• Excellent: A detail-oriented student who takes instruction and fastidiously executes it within their work.
• Average: A student who misses some details because they didn't read instructions thoroughly or take proper notes when instructions were given.
• Below Average: Student ignores basic instructions and guidance given for assignments.

On-time Submission

You will lose 5 points for each 24-hour period that the assignment is late. For example, if your assignment is submitted 5 minutes late, that is within the first 24-hour period, so you lose 5 points. If your assignment is submitted 73 hours late, then you will lose 20 points.

Learning Outcomes Addressed

Professional Development Awareness

Demonstrate an awareness of and preparation for graduate studies, teaching opportunities, professional gallery work, or other art related activities connected to alternative applications, and interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary opportunities

Ethics

Critically examine spiritual values and ethical issues relevant to art as related to art practices and business