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AMS 2341 Instructions for Museum Review Paper This is a (roughly) 5-page paper that reviews some approved museum that purports to represent American (or some subset of American) society and culture. Paper is due Thurs. 6 Nov. at the start of class. You will need to briefly present your argument/findings to the class. What I�m looking for: (1) a description/summary of the museum�s intentions/purpose/mission (that would be the argument or central idea that it hopes to communicate to its visitors either explicitly or implicitly through the selection and arrangement of exhibits) (2) YOUR thesis or argument about whether it succeeds or fails, in what ways, and why (This needs to be controversial enough that a reasonable person could disagree with you. That is, it requires some proving of your point). (3) Carefully framed and intelligently discussed evidence that supports your position THE PROCESS Present / summarize the museum�s project 1. What is the topic or subject of the museum�s exhibits? Is it broken down into sub-topics or parts? 2. What is the central argument or thesis or purpose of the museum? Are there more than one? 3. What kind of evidence is offered in support of that argument (survey data, interviews, analyses of popular culture, historical documents--letters, diaries, etc.)? 4. Who is the desired / imagined audience for this (scholars, activists, housewives, businesspeople, etc.)? 5. Who funded/sponsored the museum and why? Do you think this shaped the way material is presented? How/why? Evaluate the project 1. Is the purpose/mission/project a worthy one? 2. Did the curator do a good job of meeting that mission? 3. Are the central arguments substantiated by the evidence? 4. Is the display/presentation clear and easy to follow? 5. Was it boring, stimulating? Did you learn anything? What was the visit good for? Would you recommend it to others, and if so, to whom? 6. Place this in the context of our class readings and discussion. Did it give new information on a topic or issue we have covered? Did it offer a competing theory or explanation for a problem we have discussed? Did it make complex ideas about race, gender or sexuality accessible and appealing to a general audience? * Questions above are designed to help you with the PROCESS of writing. Answer the ones that are relevant / helpful on scratch paper, THEN write the paper in more polished form. Please don�t just answer the questions in order and turn it in. *Keep in mind that the thesis or purpose of the museum you review and YOUR thesis (an argument about the quality and usefulness of it) are two different things. Be sure that your value judgments about the strengths/weaknesses of it are supported by evidence (examples, quotes, etc.). Remember that this is a review (you evaluate how well it does what it sets out to do and how important that project is) vs. a report (you summarize it). You may find it useful to read other people�s reviews of the museum, although this is not required. Please cite sources you consult and discuss. Use MLA documentation style (parenthetical reference in the text; works cited list at the end. For complete explanation, see: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/ Paper is due at the start of class on Thurs. 6 Nov. in two forms: (1) hard copy you will hand in to me; and (2) an uploaded electronic copy to TURNITIN.COM (see below). Papers should be typed, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and standard font size. Please number pages and staple papers in the upper, left-hand corner. Turn in programs, exhibit maps, tickets (whatever you�ve got) with the paper. They will be returned. TURNITIN.COM � go to www.turnitin.com. The course id number is 2343118. The password is �faces� If you are ill or have a family emergency and can document it, I will accept late papers without penalty. If not, the grade drops one full letter grade for each business day it is late. E-mailed and fax-ed papers are not acceptable. Have a 3-min. �rap� about your paper ready to present � what you reviewed, your argument, your most convincing/interesting evidence. The oral report is ALSO part of your grade (i.e if you don�t do it and do not have a documented, pre-approved excuse, you will lose a letter grade on the paper grade). I am WAY more interested in these topics than it is socially acceptable to be. I would be thrilled to talk about papers, look at outlines, talk about theses, etc. at any point. E-mail and phone work if in-person does not. ((972) 883-2338 / [email protected] / Office: Green 2.208) The Women�s Museum, Fair Park, Dallas, www.thewomensmuseum.org The African-American Museum, Fair Park, Dallas, http://www.aamdallas.org/ The Amon-Carter Museum, Fort Worth, http://www.cartermuseum.org/visiting
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