BEGIN......Write an introduction that leaves the reader wanting more…

Your introduction should explain your interest in the subject and the personal connection that you have to this. Use it to narrow down your focus and make it more specific. For example: “I am choosing to focus on… (Artist / art movement) because…it astounds me how…/ I find it fascinating that…/ I’m curious to know why…/I hope to show / share / highlight / discover…”. Aim to draw the reader in with each step.

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Other aspects to consider:

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• What is the relationship that you want to establish with the reader?
  For example, do you have a deep understanding of this subject that you will share? – Is your tone that of an expert sharing insights? Or, alternatively, is the reader on a journey of discovery with you? – Are you using an investigative question at the start that you then set out to answer?

• Introducing key aims or investigative questions
  For example: “I’m particularly interested in how moving to the coast influenced the work of Per Bak Jensen - metaphysical realism; capturing his surroundings has had a big impact on my own creative development…”Doing this will also help when it comes to writing a conclusion, planting markers to revisit.​

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The meat in the sandwich

In this main section you might wish to:

• Focus on specific artworks  – analyse and unpick these in depth, in relation to your own work and experiences.

• Reference wider contexts – this might include other works (by your chosen artist, yourself, or relevant others), or other significant moments, events, or  connections – for example, of personal, historical or cultural significance (see below)

• Include explanatory illustrations – for example, overlaying artworks with explanatory graphics / text to support your insights.

• Consider where to place most emphasis – for example focusing on TECHNICAL, VISUAL, CONCEPTUAL or CONTEXTUAL analysis. (You might cover all of these but, for example, if your focus for the year has been developing observational and technical skills with painting, conceptual insights might be less relevant).

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Writing your thoughts

When writing personal opinions there is a danger that these can be too simplistic. Consider the progression in the points below:

• Your initial reaction – informed by instinct, taste, likes and dislikes, interest in / relevance of subject matter.
  This can offer valuable insights when justified E.g. “I like this because…”. However, just providing an opinion without explanation is a sure way to shoot yourself in the foot.

• A basic / superficial understanding of wider contexts. This might demonstrate growing understanding but can be even more dangerous: “I’m interested in fashion because I like how Tim Walker images fuse art with photography”; “I like photography because it uses a camera to capture time”. Not good; quiet despair.

• Based on a deeper understanding / complex grasp of wider contexts – demonstrating a confident stance and justified, well-informed opinions: “I’m interested in space in photgraphy particularly how the depiction of multiple viewpoints – stimulated by Andreas Gursky explorations of form – revolutionised…”; “I’m interested in how Pop Art draw inspiration from sources in popular and commercial culture through the printed image which sore images emerged as a response to Abstract Expressionism, it strikes me as a mischievous movement that counter-balanced…”

• From an alternative perspective – Perhaps more of an expectation at degree level, but are you able to place yourself in sombody else’s shoes? For example, can you argue or justify an alternative viewpoint e.g. from a feminist, modern, or post-modern perspective? 

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Concluding your essay

This is an opportunity to:

• Summarise your study and show the benefits of doing it.

• Revisit your introduction – specifically the aims or investigative questions set out at the start. (You do not need to have definitive answers though; reflective, new, unanswered questions can have value too).

• Summarise key findings that have come from your research and analysis.

• Offer reflective, personal opinions on your research, and how this has shaped your own practical work.

• Share thoughts on potential opportunities for future exploration – themes / artists / experiments you might explore if given more time.

• Include a short reflection on the process of the study itself – the research and thinking skills that you have developed.

No need to cover all of these in your limited word count. Identify the insights that resonate most; don’t let your hard work whimper out in these final stages.

Including a bibliography

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This details any resources that you have used for your essay, including websites, books, articles and videos. Try to list these as you go along rather than having to back-track. Set it out like this:

• Author – put the last name first.

• Title – this should be underlined and in quotation marks.

• Publisher - in a book this is usually located on one of the first few pages.

• Date – the date/year the book/article was published.​