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ART B35: Survey of Western Art History I: Getting Started

This guide will help students in Professor Horton's class with analysis of artwork from 30000 BCE to 1300 CE.

Welcome

Before you start your research, you need to create a narrow research topic or question that fits the scope of your assignment.  You also need search terms that describe your topic so that you can use them to find sources for your topic. This page will help you do these things.

Narrowing Your Topics

Developing Search Terms

Picking Your Topic IS Research

Examples of Narrowing Down Your Topic

Use the last column to help you develop your research question.  

Research Question=the question your paper is trying to answer

Developing a Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement=your answer to your research question; your position on the topic; the main idea of the paper

A well-written thesis statement has two parts:

1.The answer to your research question (your position).
2.Your reasons. 

EXAMPLE:

My research question=  Should smoking be banned in public places?