This document outlines the instructions for a thematic essay assignment in an art history class. It consists of multiple steps designed to guide students through the writing process. Students will choose from three essay topics, read an assigned resource on the topic, and complete the assignment in five steps. Rubrics will be used to provide feedback on drafts and evaluate the final submission. Completing all steps and addressing feedback is required, even though preliminary work will not be graded, to help students focus on improvement.

1. Thematic Essay Assignment
OVERVIEW

2. Thematic Essay Assignment
 There is one written essay
assignment for this class
ArtHistoryEssay

3. Thematic Essay Assignment
 This essay is an
“explanatory” or
“informative” essay

4. Thematic Essay Assignment
 “An explanatory or informative
essay is a different kind of writing
form in which a writer educates the
readers on a particular topic. The
writer explains a topic precisely so
as to improve the knowledge of
readers. This writing form is not
intended to convince the readers
or changing their belief, but it is
written to impart useful knowledge
to them. An explanatory or
informative essay usually
describes something that most
readers are not aware of. “
http://english.edurite.com/english-writing/informative-or-explanatory-essay.html

5. Thematic Essay Assignment
 You will be given three topic themes to choose from:

6. Thematic Essay Assignment
 Each topic has an
assigned reading(s) that
will serve as your
“expert” resource on the
topic

7. Thematic Essay Assignment
 You will complete
the assignment in 5
steps

8. Thematic Essay Assignment
 I have prepared rubrics
for each step of the
assignment
Thematic Essay Assignment Name __________________________________________
I will use thisrubric to provide feedback on the first draft of your assignment.
You are required to complete the rubric yourself, and submit it attached to your assignment.
The rubric ismeant to serve asa “checklist” to help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Below Standards
Areas that need improvement
Criteria
Standards for this task
Above St andards
Areas of strength
AssignmentSpecifications
_____ Assignment followsformatting
specifications(page length; font size;
double spacing)
____ Assignment ishanded in on time in
hard copy and digital format (i.e.
uploaded to Blackboard)
____ Assignment includesstudent’s
name and essay title
____ Assignment iscomplete
WritingMechanics
____ Assignment isfree of errors in
spelling, grammar, capitalization,and
punctuation
____ Correct use of vocabulary, tenses,
and syntax (sentence structure)
____ Usesvivid wordsand phrasesto
communicate ideasclearly
____ Sentencesare varied in length, and
show alogical progression of thought
IntroductorySentence
____ Introductory statement clearly
statesthe essay topic
ReadingSummary
____ Properly identifiesthe author and
title
____ Focuseson aspectsof the reading
that are relevant to the essay topic
____ Identifiesand explainskey points
and ideasclearly and concisely
____ Demonstratesability to paraphrase
(i.e. to “re-phrase” in your own words),
rather than just re-state the author’s
wordswith minor changes
Step1 Introduction

9. Thematic Essay Assignment
 I will use the rubrics to give
you feedback on your
assignment
Thematic Essay Assignment Name __________________________________________
I will use thisrubric to provide feedback on the first draft of your assignment.
You are required to complete the rubric yourself, and submit it attached to your assignment.
The rubric ismeant to serve asa “checklist” to help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Below Standards
Areas that need improvement
Criteria
Standards for this task
Above St andards
Areas of strength
AssignmentSpecifications
_____ Assignment followsformatting
specifications(page length; font size;
double spacing)
____ Assignment ishanded in on time in
hard copy and digital format (i.e.
uploaded to Blackboard)
____ Assignment includesstudent’s
name and essay title
____ Assignment iscomplete
WritingMechanics
____ Assignment isfree of errors in
spelling, grammar, capitalization,and
punctuation
____ Correct use of vocabulary, tenses,
and syntax (sentence structure)
____ Usesvivid wordsand phrasesto
communicate ideasclearly
____ Sentencesare varied in length, and
show alogical progression of thought
IntroductorySentence
____ Introductory statement clearly
statesthe essay topic
ReadingSummary
____ Properly identifiesthe author and
title
____ Focuseson aspectsof the reading
that are relevant to the essay topic
____ Identifiesand explainskey points
and ideasclearly and concisely
____ Demonstratesability to paraphrase
(i.e. to “re-phrase” in your own words),
rather than just re-state the author’s
wordswith minor changes
Step1 Introduction
Need to workon
spelling,grammar,and
syntax
Good use of
paraphrase –thisis
clearlyyour own words
Summaryincludes
detailsnot relevantto
topic–trimdown

10. Thematic Essay Assignment
 You will also be required to
complete the rubric yourself,
before submitting
 It will serve as a kind of
“checklist” to help you avoid
unnecessary mistakes
Thematic Essay Assignment Name __________________________________________
I will use thisrubric to provide feedback on the first draft of your assignment.
You are required to complete the rubric yourself, and submit it attached to your assignment.
The rubric ismeant to serve asa “checklist” to help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Below Standards
Areas that need improvement
Criteria
Standards for this task
Above St andards
Areas of strength
AssignmentSpecifications
_____ Assignment followsformatting
specifications(page length; font size;
double spacing)
____ Assignment ishanded in on time in
hard copy and digital format (i.e.
uploaded to Blackboard)
____ Assignment includesstudent’s
name and essay title
____ Assignment iscomplete
WritingMechanics
____ Assignment isfree of errors in
spelling, grammar, capitalization,and
punctuation
____ Correct use of vocabulary, tenses,
and syntax (sentence structure)
____ Usesvivid wordsand phrasesto
communicate ideasclearly
____ Sentencesare varied in length, and
show alogical progression of thought
IntroductorySentence
____ Introductory statement clearly
statesthe essay topic
ReadingSummary
____ Properly identifiesthe author and
title
____ Focuseson aspectsof the reading
that are relevant to the essay topic
____ Identifiesand explainskey points
and ideasclearly and concisely
____ Demonstratesability to paraphrase
(i.e. to “re-phrase” in your own words),
rather than just re-state the author’s
wordswith minor changes
Step1 Introduction
MySelf-Evaluation

11. Thematic Essay Assignment
 You will not receive grades on
the preliminary steps of the
assignment
 This will help you focus on the
feedback, and areas that
need improvement

12. Thematic Essay Assignment
 But points will be deducted
from your final score if you do
not complete all steps in the
process

13. Thematic Essay Assignment
 Your are expected to
address all comments
and feedback that you
receive on your first draft
Thematic Essay Assignment Name __________________________________________
I will use thisrubric to provide feedback on the first draft of your assignment.
You are required to complete the rubric yourself, and submit it attached to your assignment.
The rubric ismeant to serve asa “checklist” to help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Below Standards
Areas that need improvement
Criteria
Standards for this task
Above St andards
Areas of strength
AssignmentSpecifications
_____ Assignment followsformatting
specifications(page length; font size;
double spacing)
____ Assignment ishanded in on time in
hard copy and digital format (i.e.
uploaded to Blackboard)
____ Assignment includesstudent’s
name and essay title
____ Assignment iscomplete
WritingMechanics
____ Assignment isfree of errors in
spelling, grammar, capitalization,and
punctuation
____ Correct use of vocabulary, tenses,
and syntax (sentence structure)
____ Usesvivid wordsand phrasesto
communicate ideasclearly
____ Sentencesare varied in length, and
show alogical progression of thought
IntroductorySentence
____ Introductory statement clearly
statesthe essay topic
ReadingSummary
____ Properly identifiesthe author and
title
____ Focuseson aspectsof the reading
that are relevant to the essay topic
____ Identifiesand explainskey points
and ideasclearly and concisely
____ Demonstratesability to paraphrase
(i.e. to “re-phrase” in your own words),
rather than just re-state the author’s
wordswith minor changes
Step1 Introduction
Need to workon
spelling,grammar,and
syntax
Good use of
paraphrase –thisis
clearlyyour own words
Summaryincludes
detailsnot relevantto
topic–trimdown

14. Thematic Essay Assignment
 Know the difference
between revising and
editing
 I will be expecting to see
both

15. Thematic Essay Assignment
 Writing a college essay
can be overwhelming

16. Thematic Essay Assignment
 This sequence of
assignments is
designed to make it
painless by walking
you through the writing
process

17. Thematic Essay Assignment
 If you follow all the steps,
you will likely achieve
success!

18. How to Get Started
 Get started by reading the
instructions for the Step 1
Assignment!