Writing Assignment #3:
Art of the Maya Tripod vessel at the metropolitan museum of art Due: november 21
Instructions: * Go the Metropolitan Museum’s website www.metmuseum.org * Type the accession number of the assigned work of art into “search” at the top right of the page. The number is 1979.206.364 * Look at the image carefully and thoroughly. Zoom in on details. * When you are ready to write, follow these three steps:
1) Identify the work of art, telling me the name of the title of the work, the approximate date it was made, and the culture that produced it. (This can be done in one or two sentences.)
2) Describe the physical appearance of the work of art––carefully putting what you see into your own words. This is called formal analysis. Write about the colors, textures, and overall form of the work of art. Then methodically describe the piece. You could, for instance, describe this work starting at the edges and moving toward the center. Apply relevant vocabulary terms. (Aim for writing at least four to five sentences of formal analysis.)
3) Discuss briefly what the original function of this work of art was. (This can be done in about two sentences.) Important: Do not depend on the text of the Met’s website for your writing. Use your own eyes, your notes, and what you have learned in class to guide you. Do not copy or paraphrase what you see on metmuseum.org or any other source. This is plagiarism.
Formatting: Use MS Word or a similar program to type your assignment Double-space your text Use 12-point font Set your margins at 1 inch Be sure to indent the first sentence of a paragraph by hitting the “tab” button on your keyboard. This is a formal writing assignment, so please do not use contractions. Contractions are words like wasn’t, don’t, it’s. Write out both words (was not, do not, it is).
