research essay

A Snapshot of the Classical World 500 BCE 1500 CE

RESEARCH ESSAY GUIDELINES

Length: 3-4 pages

Scientists generate data that allows them to draw new scientific conclusions. For historians, primary sources are the evidence, or data, that they analyze to say something new about the past. In this research unit, you will practice the fundamental historical skill of comparatively analyzing visual primary source material to draw your own conclusions about what happened or who those guys were or what it was like back then.

The Assignment

You are to select ONE visual primary source AND ONE different visual OR textual primary source from the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions between the years 500 BCE 1500 CE and develop a focused thesis on a comparative study. Your argument should focus on the role the artist had, the role of the actual artwork, the audience, or the cultural context connected to a larger theme.

Part I – Zoom in What are the primary sources? (a close interpretation including identification, interpretation of the purpose within the cultural context, and an understanding of the cultural significance of the formal qualities of the artworks, objects, or artifacts.) As you start examining your primary sources, you should focus on POV, evidence, and breaking down the sources as much as possible to better explain how the sources support your thesis.

Part II – Zoom out – Contextualize. What do the pieces say about the time period and region from which the source came? The actual paper will require you to expand upon the source to reveal some theme* of the civilization through the lens of the artwork. (*themes may include: textiles, monuments, the grotesque/morbid, nature, environment, power and authority… or check out the themes from an art history perspective for a more extensive list.) This is where you create an argument from your source. What can the visual tell about the time period, region, people through the lens of your theme? And that would be your thesis.

Your paper will be 3-4 pages of written complex analysis about your visuals which you provide identification and analysis of the formal qualities of artworks, objects and artifacts; interpretation of the purpose of the selected artworks, objects and artifacts within the cultural context in which they were created; an understanding of the cultural significance of the selected artworks or objects; and identification and critical analysis of the connections/similarities/differences between the selected artworks, objects and artifacts. In other words, your thesis needs to answer the question, What do these sources (at least one visual) reveal about the time period in which the artist created the sources in connection to the theme? or what do the sources (at least one visual) reveal about this civilization, about how people behaved, how they thought, what they believed in connection to a theme? Remember, your argument must come from your primary source comparisons.

Research requires background work: You may find that you need (or want) to consult more visual sources than analyzed in the final essay. For example, you may want to view a few pieces of archaic Greek sculptures as points of comparison, even though you wind up only writing about one or two in detail. What you learned about them will help you analyze the one or two with greater confidence.

Goals of the Assignment

To learn to critically analyze visual primary sources

To develop historical curiosity: i.e., to learn to ask all the good questions you can think of about a primary source

To develop a focused, original thesis from your initial questions about multiple sources

To practice targeted secondary source research to inform your analysis of primary sources

To learn library research skills with print and online sources

To grow comfortable with the often meandering, non-linear process of historical research

To write an organized, tightly focused, thesis-driven paper from a limited number of sources

To write a comparative complex analytical paper understanding historical scholarship

To practice Chicago 17th edition style footnote citation and bibliography format

The overall objective of the essay is to show that you can read closely, think critically, come to insights of your own, and persuade your audience of your point of view through clear, focused writing.

Sources

The minimum source requirement for this project is:

1. 2 primary sources at least one visual;

2. 1 encyclopedia-style, big-picture overview of your empire from a library database (as in no Wikipedia);

3. and 1 more focused secondary source for background (more if needed).

a. This can include book chapters and scholarly articles these need to come from a library database or you will need to get approval from Ms. Cutler or Stevie

The Process

1. PERUSE THE TEXTBOOK. Start with the table of contents. What looks interesting to you? About what do you want to learn more? Make a mental note, make an actual note. Read, skim, thumb through, glance at textbook. Identify 1 or 2 broad regions, periods of interest, empire, region, polis, building, medium, etc. that interests you.

a. Advice: This is the easiest part. Think about an area of the world that interests you. Do you want to know more about sculpture? frescos? Next, consider what kind of history you want to do. Political? Intellectual? Economic? Or do you want to write a paper that might touch on all three? And what about time period? Are you more interested in the earlier part or later part of the timeframe? Finally, think about what kinds of sources might be useful. Buildings? Paintings? Clothing/textiles?

b. Keep in mind, too, that the topic or area you have chosen might change; this is only a starting point.

2. FIND AT LEAST ONE VISUAL PRIMARY SOURCE AND ONE ADDITIONAL PRIMARY SOURCE (visual or textual.) Once you have identified a region that interests you find two visual sources. How do you do this? Start with the textbook. Did you also know that there are some primary source excerpts in the textbook also? Check out Sources From the Past or eyewitness in Traditions and Encounters. You can also try the databases Ms. Cutler and Stevie put together, especially ArtStore.

3. FINALIZE YOUR TWO PRIMARY SOURCES, and make a photocopy/printed copy for yourself, including the title page and copyright page of the volume or the URL for an online source.

4. A CLOSE READING OF THE PRIMARY SOURCE. Analyze the sources comparatively. Answer the questions from How to Analyze a Visual Primary Source. In doing so, you should start looking at SECONDARY SOURCES.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Start a Chicago 17th edition bibliographic entry for your source, including a short description of the primary source, and an explanation of why you find the source interesting. *Your sources will need to be approved before you can move forward. Make sure you have two that will generate lots of questions but also that are close enough for a comparative study (same artist, same region, same time period…)

6. CREATE A THESIS. Remember, your thesis needs to answer the question, What do these visuals reveal about the time period in which it was created in connection to the theme? or what do the visuals reveal about this civilization, about how people behaved, how they thought, what they believed in connection to a theme? Remember, your argument must come from your visual comparisons.

7. IDENTIFY TWO (2) BACKGROUND SOURCES on your topic, one broad and one more narrow.

8. WRITE THE PAPER

This assignment must be typed, double space, 1 margins, titled, with correct headings. Please use Times New Roman 12 font.

create a arguable thesis : about realism in art? or clothing for class/status/wealth or economy

the visual source that i have now is below

focusing on creating a very good thesis and stay on topic surrounding the thesis

there is also an example of a good work: women in ancient athens and sparta

please write as a high school freshman international student use easy words