History and Political Science

History and Political Science
The Significance and Symbolism of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing

Project description
<The Significance and Symbolism of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing>

Example format of paper for preliminary thesis statement and outline (typed):
Paragraph 1: Introduction with clear, debatable, and focused thesis statement.
Paragraphs 2-3: Description of artwork(s). Describe the features most relevant to your thesis
statement. Include discussion of substance (materials, dimensions, how was it created?), content
(iconography, subject matter), and formal analysis (use of line, color, light, texture).
Paragraphs 3-4: Discussion of the current state of scholarship about the artwork(s) selected or the
state of scholarship about similar or related artworks. In order to do this, you will need to read
books and articles – check the library catalog, google books, jstor.org, bibliography of history of
art, etc.
Paragraph 5: A clear methodology. What is your approach to the analysis of the artwork(s)?
Possible methodologies: Style, Iconography, Social History (Economy, Religion, Gender Issues,
Politics, Biography), Psychoanalysis (how and why people behave as they do).
Paragraphs 6-9: Evidence to support your thesis statement.
Paragraph 10: Concluding paragraph.
*Different sections of the paper should be indicated by subheadings