The art of Akhenaten

The instructions are pretty simple. Write a fifteen hundred word paper on any topic in the humanities. You can discuss a painter, writer, a poem, a sculpture, an opera, a theme (hubris, death, religion, feminism, etc.); you are an adult and educated in the humanities, show me what you got! I find that students write with more enthusiasm and depth if they are writing about something they are interested in, so I like to leave you with freedom to show me an area of the humanities which interests you and for you to research a topic which you enjoy. The point of this exercise is to show me that you can intelligently engage with the humanities as an educated adult and construct your thoughts in a clear and rational manner.

Now, you may not be familiar with how to pick a topic or how to construct a college level paper; especially if this is your first semester. Think about a subject which interests you, for the start. Topics might include: Akhenaten, Gilgamesh, feminism in art, Catullus, Dante’s Inferno, The Beatles, whatever.

Next, you will need to develop what we refer to as a thesis statement. A Thesis statement is the point, argument, opinion that you are putting forward and what you are trying to argue in your paper; basically, what the point of your paper actually is. I do not want book report or a biography; you have to be making a clear point about the topic you are engaging with. For example:

“The art of Akhenaten is in clear divergence from traditional forms of Egyptian art as it features many styles and attributes which are not found in the conservative tradition.”