Hum2220 sm2018 research project instructions

1. Greek & Roman Humanities
Professor Will Adams · Wadams5@valenciacollege.edu
Osceola Campus – Building 3, Room 208
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:00 – 9:35 AM
Research Project Description
For your research assignment, you will be tasked with researching a piece of art, analyzing it in
the form of a 4-page research essay, and then reinterpreting it in your own creative way. The
following will guide you through the recommended process to complete your assignment:
1. You will be assigned a work of sculpture, artwork, or architecture as a topic.
2. Once you’ve received your topic, perform research on it.
a. For a four-page research project, you should use no fewer than 6 credible sources.
b. Apart from the databases available through Valencia’s libraries, none of your
sources may come from the Internet.
3. After you’ve completed your research and have a good understanding of the piece of art’s
meaning, use what you’ve learned to create your own interpretation of it.
• You may, and in fact are encouraged to, change the medium from the original
work of art to your own. For instance, if you choose a painting, you may
reinterpret that as a painting, a song, a film, etc.
• Be sure the medium you choose caters to your own abilities and interests, not
the original artist’s.
• Possible media to consider for your interpretation include photography, fashion
design, painting, dance, sculpture, modeling, film, or poetry.
• Be creative and “think outside the box”!
4. Finally, write a research essay that first discusses the original artwork, as you understand it
from your research.

2. • This section should make up the bulk of your paper’s length – at least 3 pages. In
addition, you should not use first or second person point-of-view when writing
this section of your paper.
• After discussing the original artwork, then discuss your own interpretation. Be
sure to explain your own perspective and artistic choices. This is the only section
of your paper in which you are allowed to use first-person point-of-view (i.e.
“After completing my research on Michelangelo, I concluded that…”).
• Collectively, the written body of your essay should total 4 full pages.
• Your text should be double-spaced, set in Arial size 12 font, and have standard 1”
margins. Use proper MLA style citation for in-text citations, the Works Cited
page, and the cover page (refer to attached MLA style guide for help).
5. OPTIONAL: You may email in a draft of your project for my feedback on Tuesday, July 3rd
to wadams5@valenciacollege.edu.
6. You will submit both the artistic and the written components of your project in class on
Tuesday, July 17th
.
In conclusion: Have as much fun as you can with this! This assignment isn’t meant as a
punishment, but rather as an opportunity for you to synthesize academic skills with personal
expression. The more passionate you are about your chosen topic, the less “work” this
assignment will be.