Art history papers are used to analyze and explain the development and progression of art over time. To do this, they use different formats to organize and present the information. These formats may vary depending on the type of paper being written, but all typically involve a standard outline format with a focus on analysis and evaluation.
The most common format for art history papers is the traditional five-paragraph essay. This type of paper will discuss a topic in depth, breaking it down into five distinct sections: introduction, body paragraphs one through three, and conclusion.
The introduction will introduce the topic, provide background information, and state the main point of the essay. The body paragraphs will then delve into more detail about the topic, providing evidence and analysis to support any claims made in the introduction. Lastly, the conclusion will summarize all of the points made in the essay and draw conclusions based on them.
Another popular format for art history papers is structured essays or reports. Structured essays are typically much longer than traditional five-paragraph essays as they involve more detailed research and a larger body of evidence than a regular essay can provide. Structured essays or reports may take on different forms such as an argumentative or research paper; however, they all follow a similar pattern of organization which includes an introduction, body paragraphs that present data or evidence in support of a particular thesis statement, and a conclusion that summarizes all of the points made throughout the paper.
Thematic papers are another popular format for art history papers. A thematic paper focuses on specific topics within an artwork or period in art history rather than focusing solely on one artwork as an isolated event.
These types of papers can range from short two-page analyses to longer research papers that explore several aspects of an artwork or period in depth. Thematic papers usually include an introduction which introduces the chosen theme(s) to be discussed throughout the paper; body paragraphs that discuss each topic pertaining to those themes; and finally a conclusion which summarizes all points made throughout the paper.
No matter what type of art history paper is being written, it is important to remember that all should be organized logically with clear transitions between sections so that readers can easily follow along with your argument or analysis without getting lost along the way. Additionally, all sources used should be properly cited using either MLA style or Chicago style formatting guidelines as appropriate for your discipline.
Conclusion
What format is used for art history papers? Depending on their purpose and length requirements, art history papers can take many forms such as traditional five-paragraph essays, structured essays or reports, or thematic papers which focus on specific topics within an artwork or period in art history.