Dos And Don’ts Of Writing Visual Analysis Papers

There are many types of academic papers. They range between descriptive, argumentative, and narrative papers. Visual analysis papers are, however, different.

Visual analysis papers explore diverse visual concepts and explain them in written form. It may sound challenging to write these essays. Once understand the concept, it becomes easier. Read this article to get insight on how to write a visual analysis paper.

What is a visual analysis paper?

It is an essay written for History, Art, or English courses. The visual analysis describes images and discusses their composition. It is used to understand art and other visual messages such as photos, paintings, film, and writing.

The essay gives a comprehensive narrative of a visual display. You will explain how the different impressions of the image come together and make it stand out. When analyzing images to write about, consider the following:

• The message the artist is trying to convey
• Why the artwork was selected for the essay
• The socio-cultural importance of the artwork
• Changes in the reputation of the art over the years
• The style of the artist in that particular piece and in other artwork they have done

Format of Visual analysis papers

The outline of the paper includes three main sections. These are the introduction, body, and conclusion. Below is an outline of how to write the paper.

Introduction: It gives a detailed overview of the chosen visual art including its background. It should be interesting to captivate the reader to read through the entire paper.

Thesis: It describes a statement of the art piece that you will discuss and defend in your paper.

Body: It gives all the detailed aspects of visual art. It includes ideas that defend your thesis and analyze the technique of the artist. The relationship between the aspects of the piece such as color and mood is also described in the body.

Conclusion: Includes a summary of the essay and your opinion of the art piece. It should be bold with one last interesting fact about visual art.

Tips for writing a good essay

All students want to get good grades. The following tips will help you write an excellent assignment for that high grade.

• Conduct sufficient research

Before you start writing visual analysis papers, ensure you do thorough research. Learn everything about the artist, the audience, and the intention. It will give you all the information and context you need to write a good essay.

• Include detailed analysis

Go beyond the basics and identify the design of the work. This includes the lines, shapes, and patterns of the piece. Check for the emphasis by identifying the points of focus and how the proportions work together in the art.

• Write in an organized manner

Arrange the literature in a natural and organized way. It is difficult for someone to read a disordered piece of literature. Your instructor might provide a case study you can use to help you understand the format.

• Use clear and precise language

Visual analysis papers should be descriptive. The essay should remain significant to the principal concept of the artwork. Adding fluff and explanations can make you lose the concept.

• Use the right format

Ensure you follow the right guidelines and instructions given by the instructor. This will help you get a high grade and avoid penalties. In case a format has not been given, ask your lecturer what they would prefer you use.

• Write a draft copy

A draft will highly concentrate on all the research you have gathered. You will use this to generate a final clean copy.

It will help you choose the information that is most relevant for the essay. You decide what information to include and what to omit in the final copy.

• Edit and proofread

Before submitting your paper, remove grammatical errors. Ensure you read it three or four times to perfect the language of your essay. Grammar mistakes can lower your grades or make the essay confusing.

Things to avoid when writing a visual essay

The following are things you should avoid when writing your assignment.

• Don’t be biased

Sometimes, students jump to conclusions and form wrong opinions about the art. It can have a negative effect on the entire paper. Backup opinions with proper evidence and justifications.

• Avoid irrelevant discussions

Rely on the thesis statement to keep the discussion relevant to the art. Don’t write without conducting proper research on the visual piece.

• Avoid plagiarism

When conducting research, avoid using someone else’s work to write your paper. Gather information about the artwork and use your own words to compose the essay.

In Summary

Writing decent visual analysis papers requires appropriate research and an open mind. Learn the do’s and don’ts of writing visual analysis papers to get it right. You will be equipped with the right skills and tips to give you a good grade.