PROJECT #1:
PROCESS TO FOLLOW
(Microtheme Paper #1)


Table of Contents
*Outline Elements
*Paper Elements
     link to: Building a Bibliography
*Project Hints
*Microtheme Paper Grading Criteria
*Part 1: Visual Analysis
      link to: Sample Elevations

====================================================================================
Outline Elements

Within your outline be sure to include the following:

* One or more definitions of the movement from an authoritative source
(i.e. not Encarta or the Encyclopedia)

* Specify the architects, and their work, to be focused on (in a
"progressive" order)

* Include critics' comments describing/ evaluating the specific works to be
addressed in your paper

* Include an authoritative critic's assessment of the movement you are
focusing on, specifically in terms of its impact on the architectural world
as a whole.

Formulate your thesis statement after you have conducted this research and
know what material you have to support the point of view you will be
putting forward
 
Return to Table of Contents

===================================================================================
Paper Elements
*Introduction to the paper itself
            -overview of what is to follow in your paper
            -put your architect's work (briefly) in context (e.g. what
                movement is he or she most often associated with?)
            -thesis statement

*Presentation of your designer's philosophy and visual characteristics

*Discussion of 2 - 3 "progressive," representative examples of your architect's work

*The visual analysis of your designer's facade
    -name the analysis criterion (e.g. axis)
    -illustrate it neatly on the elevation
    -briefly describe what you are showing and how it fits your architect's design philosophy.
    -Do this for each category.

*Conclusion
    -briefly set out how your designer's philosophy influenced the form of his or her work,
    and what its impact was on others in the field

*Endnotes and Bibliography
    ***Click here to find out about Building a Bibliography 

*Image(s)

Return to Table of Contents

====================================================================================
Project Hints

*Bibliography should include a range of sources, including at least one up
to date one

*Your essay should answer the following questions:
     - what is the definition/philosophy of  the movement?
     - what are its visual characteristics?

*You should begin your essay with a thesis statement answering the questions posed above.

*Your essay should move from most general information to that which is most specific,
with a brief intro and conclusion.

*You should "Integrate" quotes into your text and "Introduce" them as well.

*You should completely and correctly label each drawing with:
    -architect's name, building name, location, and date.

Return to Table of Contents

===================================================================================
Microtheme Paper Grading Criteria

An essay earning an F
* does not answer the assignment

An essay earning a D
* does not follow the organizational strategy of the assignment
(introduction; discussion of designer's philosophy and visual
characteristics; discussion of   representative examples; meaningful
critique of work; conclusion; endnotes and bibliography; neat, correctly
formatted images)

* does not, or does not clearly, define the designer's philosophy

* uses few sources, or cites only popular sources

* does not cite sources, or exhibits many errors in citation

* offers no synthesis or "distillation" of sources

* has many sentence-level errors that impede meaning

* greatly exceeds the assigned length

 An essay earning a C
 * follows the organizational strategy of the assignment

* has a variety of sources in bibliography

* gives a description of the designer's philosophy, but not a strong one

* lacks a discussion of specific detail (of designer's work)
OR
 * offers many details but does not discuss their significance in relation
to the  designer's philosophy (i.e. does not contextualize details)

* may discuss the designer's visual characteristics but does not connect
them to philosophy

* may focus too much on the designer's biography

* has errors in citation

An essay earning a B
* follows the organizational strategy of the assignment

* has a variety of sources in bibliography

* must have proper citation format

* gives a clear description of the designer's philosophy

* makes connection between details and philosophy of design (contextualizes)

* offers a detailed discussion of at least one work

* may have some sentence-level errors

An essay earning an A
* follows the organizational strategy of the assignment

* has a variety of sources in bibliography

* must have proper citation format

* gives an excellent description of the designer's philosophy

* makes connection between details and philosophy of design (contextualizes)

* offers a detailed discussion of several works

* uses smooth prose and good transitions

* has few or no sentence-level errors

NOTE: Any essay exceeding the length of 2 1/2 pages will have a full letter
grade deducted from the overall score.

 Return to Table of Contents
 

PART 1: VISUAL ANALYSIS

To begin this assignment you will choose one of the architects listed below and analyze a facade (elevation) of one of their buildings identifying the following characteristics neatly in fine width colored pen or pencil: axis; symmetry + balance; hierarchy; rhythm + repetition; datum; and transformation.

Additional information on these ordering principles can be found in Francis D.K. Ching's book Architecture: Form, Space and Order which is on reserve in the Fine Arts Library (ask at the circulation desk).

Architects to Choose From:

Mies van der Rohe/Le Corbusier/Frank Lloyd Wright/Alvar Aalto/Michael Graves/Robert A.M. Stern/Robert Venturi/Mario Botta/Richard Meier/James Stirling/Norman Foster/Charles Moore/Aldo Rossi/SITE/Aldo van Eyck/Arata Isozaki/Tadao Ando/Louis Kahn/I.M. Pei/Gerrit Rietveld/Kenzo Tange/Helmut Jahn/Frank Gehry/Peter Eisenman/Bernard Tschumi/Erich Mendelsohn/Hans Hollein

Note: Other architects may be reported on with instructor's permission.

Click here for Project 1: Sample Elevations 
 
Return to Table of Contents

Click here to return to E103 Help Page
 
 



Last Updated: 30.1.1999
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~iucdp/topics.html
Send Comments and Suggestions to: juwells@indiana.edu or mitchelc@indiana.edu
Copyright 1997, The Trustees of Indiana University