Compare/Contrast Research Paper: SISTINE CHAPEL & SAINT IGNATIUS:

Description
Your Final for this class is to write a three- to five-page compare-and-contrast research paper that investigates how two works of art from different periods styles represent a particular theme in art. Your comparison must focus on the artists and period styles covered in LA 121 and must include at least ONE artwork from a period style introduced after Module 7.

The pair you choose must be drawn from two different period styles. For example, you may compare a Mannerist artwork with a Baroque artwork. However, you may NOT compare a Mannerist artwork with another work from the Mannerist period.
It is important to choose two artworks that have a number of things in common as well as a number of unique aspects to compare.
Proposal Worksheet
Before you write your paper, you must submit a proposal to your instructor for approval. Your proposal will help both you and your instructor ensure that you are planning an appropriate comparison.

*I ALREADY DID THE OUTLINE FOR THE TWO ART PIECES, ATTACHED BELOW*

Assignment
Write a 3-5 page essay comparing and contrasting two works of art from two different styles covered in this course between the periods of the High Renaissance and Impressionism. One of your selected works of art must be from AFTER the midterm (Modules 8-14) You must cover the following points in your comparison:
Introduction and Thesis
Introduce the artwork titles, period styles and artists names
Briefly state what you believe is significant about these artworks
In other words… Tell your reader what works of art you will be discussing and why you think they are important
Stylistic analysis
Correctly identify artwork titles, period styles and artists names
Compare the artworks by discussing key stylistic characteristics associated with artists and period styles
Apply art history vocabulary correctly and uses it to support your stylistic analysis
In other words… What make these works stylistically significant?
Cultural analysis
Compare the artworks by discussing key cultural issues associated with artists and periods
Discuss how the cultural context of each period influenced the artistic development of the period style (Make connections between cultural context and style)
In other words… What makes these works culturally significant?
Conclusion and Thematic Connection
Analyze the ways art can affect and/or reflect cultural, political and social issues
Draw conclusions about the artist / society which produced the artwork from the comparison
In other words… What “Thematic Connection” can you make between the two works of art that helps you better understand them or the culture they represent?
Research
Incorporate 3 our more sources (outside of lecture notes & textbook) to support your analysis
Properly cite your sources using MLA format
Include a list of “Works Cited”
Written Mechanics
Use of grammar, spelling and punctuation correctly throughout your paper
Proofread
In other words…there should be no mechanical errors!

Sources
3 in addition to  the module text

scholarly professional web site (for example, a museum, research institute or university)
nonfiction book published within the last 50 years
an art history textbook such as Garnders Art Through the Ages, Jansen’s, or Schneider-Adams
professional art historical publication (magazine or journal, can be online) such as The Art Bulletin
Databases such as the Oxford Dictionary of Art Online (accessible through the AAU Library website)
Credible professional websites such as those of museums, galleries, and universities, for example:
The Getty Center
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
In other words… Don’t use Wikipedia!!!

Your final essay will be graded on:

Critical Thinking & Analysis
35%
Cultural Significance
25%
Stylistic Significance
25%
Research & Citations
10%
Writing Mechanics
5%
Total
100%

Purpose
The compare and contrast research paper will assess your ability to identify and analyze the similarities and differences of artworks from different periods, while analyzing the their significant stylistic characteristics and placing them in their cultural context. The research paper will also assess your ability to draw conclusions ( thesis or “Thematic Connection”) about the artist / society which produced the artwork from the comparison using relevant information (cited sources) to support your thesis.