Grading Rubric, Museum Visit Paper, Raymond V O IC E Voice is strong & clear Writer is engaged with topic Descriptions are substantive & articulate Ideas flow logically with smooth transitions Voice is clear Writer is engaged with topic Descriptions are articulate Ideas flow logically Voice is clear, but developing Writer is moderately interested in topic Descriptions are detailed Ideas appear as a list Voice is inconsistent Writer seems disinterested with topic Descriptions are weak 20-- 18-- 16-- 14-- S T R U C T U R E Paper is organized & cohesive, with an introduction, body & conclusion Information is well ordered & creates momentum Prose shows attention to clarity, word choice, grammar, & spelling Paper is organized with an introduction, body & conclusion Information is ordered Paper is 3-4 pages, double-spaced, with page numbers Prose is clear; there are a few grammatical & spelling mistakes Paper has an introduction & body Information is ordered according to writer’s interest Prose has several grammatical & spelling mistakes Paper lacks structure Information is poorly ordered Prose needs attention to clarity, grammar and spelling 20-- 18-- 16-- 14-- GRADE & COMMENTS A EXEMPLARY B VERY GOOD C DEVELOPING D NOT ADEQUATE F IE L D I N F O Field information is clearly stated in introduction Description of the exterior, interior and atmosphere is articulate and succinct Attraction to selected art work is described with pertinent information Field information is stated in introduction Description of the exterior, interior and atmosphere is articulate and clear Interest in selected art work is described with pertinent information Field information is stated in essay Description of the exterior, interior and atmosphere is adequately described Basic facts about the chosen object are included Field information? Description of the area is not clearly expressed Some facts about the chosen object are included 20-- 18-- 16-- 14-- A N A L Y S IS Initial formal analysis is perceptive & informed Observations are insightful and descriptions are engaging and vivid In-depth analysis is meaningful & compelling Initial formal analysis is perceptive Observations are smart and accurate In-depth analysis is meaningful Initial formal analysis is accurate Descriptions are clear In-depth analysis is basic to coursework and reflects some thought on topic Initial formal analysis is plausible Descriptions are simple In-depth analysis is unclear or superficial 40-- 35-- 31-- 27-- How do we talk about art? Context & Composition Geographic Context Architectural Context Socio-historical Context Style & Subject Matter Personality Event & Narrative Emotional Content Iconography & Symbolism ...

1. Grading Rubric, Museum Visit Paper, Raymond
V
O
IC
E
Voice is strong & clear
Writer is engaged with topic
Descriptions are substantive & articulate
Ideas flow logically with smooth transitions
Voice is clear
Writer is engaged with topic
Descriptions are articulate
Ideas flow logically
Voice is clear, but developing
Writer is moderately interested in topic
Descriptions are detailed
Ideas appear as a list

2. Voice is inconsistent
Writer seems disinterested with
topic
Descriptions are weak
20-- 18-- 16-- 14--
S
T
R
U
C
T
U
R
E
Paper is organized & cohesive, with an
introduction, body & conclusion
Information is well ordered & creates
momentum
Prose shows attention to clarity, word
choice, grammar, & spelling

3. Paper is organized with an introduction,
body & conclusion
Information is ordered
Paper is 3-4 pages, double-spaced, with
page numbers
Prose is clear; there are a few grammatical
& spelling mistakes
Paper has an introduction & body
Information is ordered according to
writer’s interest
Prose has several grammatical & spelling
mistakes
Paper lacks structure
Information is poorly ordered
Prose needs attention to clarity,
grammar and spelling
20-- 18-- 16-- 14--
GRADE & COMMENTS

4. A
EXEMPLARY
B
VERY GOOD
C
DEVELOPING
D
NOT ADEQUATE
F
IE
L
D
I
N
F
O
Field information is clearly stated in
introduction
Description of the exterior, interior and
atmosphere is articulate and succinct
Attraction to selected art work is described
with pertinent information
Field information is stated in introduction

5. Description of the exterior, interior and
atmosphere is articulate and clear
Interest in selected art work is described
with pertinent information
Field information is stated in essay
Description of the exterior, interior and
atmosphere is adequately described
Basic facts about the chosen object are
included
Field information?
Description of the area is not
clearly expressed
Some facts about the chosen object
are included
20-- 18-- 16-- 14--
A
N
A
L
Y
S
IS
Initial formal analysis is perceptive &

6. informed
Observations are insightful and descriptions
are engaging and vivid
In-depth analysis is meaningful & compelling
Initial formal analysis is perceptive
Observations are smart and accurate
In-depth analysis is meaningful
Initial formal analysis is accurate
Descriptions are clear
In-depth analysis is basic to coursework
and reflects some thought on topic
Initial formal analysis is plausible
Descriptions are simple
In-depth analysis is unclear or
superficial
40-- 35-- 31-- 27--

7. How do we talk about art?
Context & Composition
Geographic Context
Architectural Context
Socio-historical Context
Style & Subject Matter
Personality
Event & Narrative
Emotional Content
Iconography & Symbolism
“Style is the combination of form and composition
that makes a work distinctive.”
‒Stokstad & Cothren
“Style is the shaper of form.” ‒Barnet

8. Form
Form refers “to purely visual aspects of art and architecture.”
‒Stokstad & Cothren
Elements of Design Principles of Design
Material & Medium Unity & Variety
Scale & Proportion
Line (Actual & Implied) Balance
Texture
Shape Emphasis & Subordination
(Geometric & Organic)
Mass & Volume Visual Rhythm
Color (Value & Harmony)
Space & Perspective Time & Movement
Principles of Design
Introduction to Art History
UNITY AND VARIETY
Most artworks that have an effective visual impact combine
both unity and variety.

9. Unity refers to the use of forms and colors that are alike,
conveying a sense of oneness and a sense
of belonging together.
Variety refers to the use of different forms and colors, which
often provides visual interest.
BALANCE
Visual Weight refers to the apparent "heaviness" or "lightness"
of visual forms.
Symmetrical Balance is achieved by identical or near-identical
(mirror-like) correspondence of
forms--and therefore visual weight--on either side of a central
vertical axis.
Asymmetrical Balance occurs when forms on either side of a
central vertical axis do not match, but
a balance of visual weight is nevertheless achieved.
Radial Balance occurs when elements in a composition radiate
outward from a central point.
EMPHASIS AND SUBORDINATION
Emphasis refers an area in a work of art that stands out more
than other areas. The emphasis of a
composition usually catches your attention first.
Subordination refers to certain areas of a composition that are
less visually interesting so that
areas of emphasis stand out.
Focal point: When the emphasis of a composition is on a

10. relatively small, clearly defined area. One
shouldn’t confuse focal point with vanishing point.
VISUAL RHYTHM
Visual Rhythm: The repetition of accented and de-accented
elements to create a visual "beat" in a
work of art. Note, too, that repetition with variation is
interesting, whereas repetition without
variation can be monotonous.
TIME & MOTION
“Time is the element in which we live and motion is the very
sign of life.” Mark Getlein
Many, but not all, artworks address factors of time and
movement. The work of animators and
filmmakers is of course deeply concerned with time and motion.
Museum Visit Journal
Adapted from arthistoryteachingresources.org
This is your chance to write a short paper (3-4 pages or 750-
1,000 words) on a visit
to a museum of your choice. Once you are there, you will
choose one art object to be the
focus of your journal entry. Your object can be from any
cultural period, not just one that
we are discussing in class.

11. Take these instructions and your “How do we talk about art?”
handout with you on
your visit. Use these questions in any order when looking at the
collection. If you’re able to
write a few notes near each question or record your thoughts on
a device while you’re at
the museum, you’ll have the beginnings of your journal entry
ready to work on at home.
Your journal will be graded on the quality of your “close
looking,” on what you see
at the museum, and how you contextualize your object though
your own observations.
1) Your Museum Experience
as you walk up to it
from the street. How does the museum or gallery building relate
to its surroundings?
Is it similar, different, larger or smaller than the urban fabric
around it? How is the
exterior marked or decorated?
shape the beginning of
your visit? Who else is there? What is the general atmosphere?
you tell how the
art is organized? How are

12. the 3D and 2D art works displayed? Are objects grouped by
date, theme or artist?
color, lighting, interior
arrangement and circulation flow.
2) First Impressions: After exploring the exhibits, find an
object that attracts you in
some way.
yourself before you read the
object label. Your first impressions might change once you have
read about the work,
and the connections or changes you make between your initial
impressions and later
conclusions can form an interesting part of your journal entry.
3) Form: After selecting an artwork, consider how the
elements and principles of
design were used by the artist.
For instance, how big is
the work? How does the size affect your reaction to the work?

13. the
textures and the quality
of the surface of the work? Use adjectives in your analysis, such
as shiny or dull, hard
or flexible, rough or smooth.
about the composition? Is
it balanced, asymmetrical, unified or dynamic?
4) Context of the Art Work
the materials used in
creating the work, and when and where the piece was made.
est you can. Describe all of
the components depicted.
Is this artwork expressing an idea or telling a story? If so, what
is it?
concept or emotion? Do
you think that this art object has religious or political meaning,
either to the artist or
to the audience?

14. her subject?
What are some of the
reactions you overhear?
5) Context of the Art Work in the Gallery
works are near it and
decide if your chosen work relates to its surroundings. Why do
you think the curator
placed the object where it is?
for the group of artworks
displayed?
objects in the gallery now
seem more appealing or interesting? Is there any connection
between the them?
Writing the Paper

15. Take your notes, assimilate them, and then write about your
experience in a strong and
clear voice.
Your journal entry should include 1) an image of your object, 2)
an image of the exterior of
the museum, preferably a selfie, and 3) your 700-to-1000-word
paper that is saved in a 12-
point font and double-spaced.