Write a solid paragraph-length analysis (150-200 words) for EACH of the following prompts (450-600 words total). Each analysis must clearly and succinctly address its relevant topic and work(s), without “fluff”. Separate your three analyses with a full line of blank space between each (prompt headers are not necessary).
PROMPT/ANALYSIS 1 [150-200 words]: Using descriptive criticism, analyze the Third Movement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 [Austrian. 1787. Classical] (Links to an external site.), focusing on the artist’s use of melody and rhythm in depicting the work’s subject matter. Remember that descriptive criticism should not include any interpretation or evaluation. You may not do any research for this analysis.
PROMPT/ANALYSIS 2 [150-200 words]: Using interpretive criticism, analyze the Third Movement of Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 [German. 1883. Romanticism] (Links to an external site.), focusing on ONE specific aspect of the work’s form that you believe is important in transforming the work’s subject matter into its possible content. Remember that interpretive criticism should not include any evaluation. You may not do any research for this analysis.
PROMPT/ANALYSIS 3 [150-200 words]: Using evaluative criticism, analyze the First Movement of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 [Norwegian. 1868. Romanticism] (Links to an external site.), focusing on whether you believe the work demonstrates the standards of perfection, insight, and inexhaustibility. You may learn more about this work by reading the album’s liner notes (pp. 9-11) (Links to an external site.). However, you may not quote or paraphrase any of this article’s information in your analysis.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Outside research is NOT permitted for this assignment. While you may review the course material as needed, you may not conduct ANY research on your assigned works. Doing so will be considered academic dishonesty, resulting in the analysis earning a “0” grade.
Your completed analyses must be submitted by the posted due date via the submission link and textbox provided for this assignment. You may submit your analyses up to one day after the due date, without requesting permission, with a 20% late penalty.
Properly punctuate and format work titles as explained in the “Writing About the Arts” guide. After doing so the first time in your writing, you should refer to each work simply by punctuated title OR by artist and work type (e.g., Picasso’s painting) – not by both.
When discussing any type of art work, avoid such meaningless wording as, “The red gave the painting a pop of color!”. Instead, use descriptive wording, such as, “The artist’s use of red adds a strong contrast to the painting’s overall color scheme of browns and greens.”
When discussing a work of literature, you may quote select lines from the work if necessary and if you properly enclose the lines in quotation marks. However, such quotations will NOT count toward the assignment’s minimum word count requirement.
For a work of music, focus on emotions and/or relevant content rather than on random imagery (e.g., NO “it reminded me of a field of flowers” or “dancing in a ballroom”) or cartoons (e.g., NO “Tom & Jerry” associations or references to Disney films).
Your analyses must meet the assignment’s word count requirement (450-600 words), though doing so does not guarantee that it will earn a passing grade. Even more important than meeting the required word count is the content quality of your analyses.
Make sure to carefully proofread your analyses for writing quality, including grammar and mechanics (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.), before submitting them. If you need help with your writing, you are encouraged to make use of Tutor.com.
Your completed analyses should be carefully compared to the below rubric before being submitted for grading. Your analyses will be graded for both content (75%) and writing (25%) using this rubric. You will also be given brief comments about your work.
