Formal Specifications
- Comps essays should range between 8,000–10,000 words, exclusive of the bibliography, but inclusive of footnotes.
- Papers must be double-spaced, with one-inch margins around the page.
- Include a non-numbered title page that includes the following information: your title, your name, the date of submission, and “Senior Integrative Exercise for the Art History Major”.
- Include an abstract of no more than 300 words that appears after the title page and before page one of your comps essay. This unnumbered page should include your name and your comps title before a single-spaced summary of your comps project.
- You should number all pages, except for page one. Remember that the title page and abstract are not included in your page count.
- When citing sources, you should use footnotes rather than endnotes.
- For all citations as well as your bibliographic entries, follow the Chicago Manual of Style. Hard copies can also be found in the reference section of the library.
- Long quotations of over 100 words should be formatted in a block quotation style. This means indenting the quotation an additional ½ inch. These should be single-spaced.
Stylistic and Organizational Concerns
- You should include a clearly demarcated introduction and conclusion. In the conclusion, you should endeavor to assess what has been learned during the course of your essay. Do not simply repeat what was stated in your introduction. You might suggest areas of further research or ruminate over what issues remain to be resolved, but you should not merely summarize what is contained in the body of your text.
- For the sake of clarity and coherence, it is recommended that you divide your essay into clearly defined sections or sub-headings. These act as guide-posts for the reader. At the end of each section, you should summarize the point of this section and attempt to transition smoothly to the next one.
- Your essay should be organized around a central question or governing idea. Each section should further the goal of answering this question or providing necessary context for exploring your thesis. Most likely, you have never written an essay of this length, but this does not mean simply adding superfluous material. Therefore, each section must feel “necessary.”
- You should work toward developing an easy and effective prose style. This means, above all, that you endeavor for clarity in your writing. However, you should also have an eye toward varied sentence lengths, precise (though interesting) word choice, and an overall professional authorial voice. Please avoid clichés or colloquial expressions.
- Quotations should be introduced and integrated into your argument. You should make it clear who is making the argument. For instance:
- Do NOT simply say: The question for committed scholars is “how could there be an effective political art?”
- Instead, say: The question for committed scholars remains, as T.J. Clark famously put it, “how could there be an effective political art?”
- Avoid ending a paragraph with a quotation. Usually when you quote an author, you will need to summarize his or her statement and why it is important before moving on to your next point.
Criteria for Comps Evaluation
- Below are the criteria readers will use in evaluating comps essays. A distinction-worthy essay will fulfill all of these criteria.
- Defines a significant and relevant historical, critical, or theoretical question within the field of art history.
- Articulates a creative and insightful thesis in answer to this art historical question or problem.
- Pursues this argument with subtlety and nuance, making illuminating insights along the way.
- Thoroughly researched with a clear comprehension of the existing literature.
- Methodologically sophisticated, using interpretive theories that are aptly suited to the topic.
- Exhibits a strong and effective organizing structure.
- Clear and perceptive visual and contextual analyses of relevant artworks.
- Well-written, using polished and graceful prose. Completely free of mechanical errors.
- Polished, professional, and effective oral presentation.
- Adheres to all final and intermediate deadlines.