Book Description
Key Benefit: A Short Guide to Writing About Art, Eighth Edition, the best-selling book of its kind, equips students to analyze pictures (drawings, paintings, photographs), sculptures and architecture, and prepares them with the tools they need to present their ideas in effective writing.
Key Topics:This concise yet thorough guide to âseeing and sayingâ addresses a wealth of fundamental matters, such as distinguishing between description and analysis, writing a comparison, using peer review, documenting sources, and editing the final essay.
Market: This book is a perfect complement to any art course where writing is involved
Customer Reviews:
Good reference.......2007-01-26
This is a great book to refer to when writing an art history paper. I was an art history major in college, and this was the book that was recommended by the majority of my professors. I definitely recommend buying yourself a copy, because the copies at my art library were always checked out!
How to read a potato in a painting as a potato and not a solar symbol?.......2006-09-05
This book is about writing on art.It has sections to equip you with what to keep in mind while writing an essay, research paper or review of an exhibit.
The book has sample examples for comparitive essays and reviews with a good analysis on the organization of the material, its purpose and aptness for the reader.
The checklist on writing on art can be extended to writing on books too. The many references to artists of all times with your interest will give you a walk through the whole of history of art.
The sections on what is art, interpretation, the importance of seeing for creating art and quotes by many writers and artists are interesting to read.
Useful in some ways, not in others........2003-07-05
I recently read the 6th edition of this book in hopes that it would help me to improve my ability to understand and write about art. I found that the book is a direct, well-written primer for someone finishing high school or beginning their undergraduate degree, but for someone with a bit more experience, it turns out to be a mixed bag.
I know next to nothing about visual art. I'm the quintessential "knows what I likes, and likes what I knows" type of guy. On the other hand, I'm a graduate student in English, so I'm well-practiced in writing essays and in applying various theoretical and critical methods. I read this book in the hopes that it would help me to better understand art. That is, I wanted to learn, as Sylvia Barnet puts it, "How does art mean?" The beginning of the text does introduce some basic questions and ways to think about different kinds of art, ranging from painting, to sculpture, to architecture, to photography, to video art, etc. However, this is not meant to be an instructional book to teach someone about art. It is more like an assistant text for a freshman-level art history course. A great deal of the book is spent discussing how to organize essays, sentence structure, revising, formatting, and some instruction on critical methods. But, again, this book is not a book on writing. It's not about art, it's not about writing, so what is it? Well, like it says, it's about writing about art. A good deal of this book was useless to me, but some of it was enlightening. If you've already got some experience studying the visual arts, or some experience writing, or you just want a really indepth study on either, pick out something else. If, however, you just want an easily understood, basic primer on writing and art, this isn't a bad choice at all.
points out the obvious.......2001-11-22
A professor highly recommended this book to my art history class. I was disappointed in it. I had hoped it would offer some useful advice but instead it merely outlines the things anyone writing on a college level (and the book seems to be aimed at college students) should already know. Perhaps it would be better suited to high schoolers.
Handy reference work.......2000-09-28
My Art History department adopted this book as its official style-manual a few years ago, and we assign it as a textbook for our writing and methodology class. To my great dismay, however, our bookstore has had some trouble ordering it this year, and so I have encouraged my students to "cut the Gordion knot" by ordering it from Amazon. The chapters on choosing a topic and organizing an argument are, I think, useful and well-written, but the greatest value of this book is Chapters 9 and 10, which provide clear instructions for writing footnotes and bibliography. This may be a mechanical task, but it is a frustrating one for many students, because there are so many possible formats to use (MLA, Turabian, etc.) Barnet's system has the virtue of being designed specifically for research papers about art and art history, and the format he recommends is clear and logical. The book also reprints the instructions for contributors from the Art Bulletin, the most prestigious art-historical journal in this country, and so will be of value for graduate students and recent PhD's preparing their first works for publication.
Average customer rating:
- An Excellent Intro to Film Study
- I've looked at clouds from both sides now
- TWO THUMBS DOWN
- fine, blessedly concise guide
- Intelligence and accessibility
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A Short Guide to Writing about Film (Short Guides Series)
Timothy Corrigan
Manufacturer: Longman
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Similar Items:
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Understanding Movies
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American Cinema/American Culture
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Film Art: An Introduction
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A History of Film (History of Film)
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Anatomy of Film
ASIN: 0321412281 |
Book Description
Doubling an introduction to film study and a practical writing guide, this brief text introduces students to film terms and the major film theories, enabling them to write more critically.
Examples from newer movies provide a fresh list of references for students introduced to film study and writing films. The author presents several approaches to film analysis and writing about film–auteurs, genres, ideology, kinds of formalism, and national cinemas, and introduces students to a range of film terms and film theories.
Recent movies are used to fresh examples. Multiple approaches to writing about film as well as theories about film are given.
Please enter here.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Intro to Film Study.......2007-09-10
Timothy Corrigan, in the preface to "A Short Guide to Writing About Films, sixth edition," says, "Writing essays about films is, in short, one of the most sophisticated ways to respond to them." In this concise book, he lucidly explains how to write screen reports, movie reviews, as well as theoretical and critical essays on films.
Here's a sample of his lucid writing. Defining terms often used in film study: mise-en-scene -- "the arrangement of the so-called theatrical elements before they are actually filmed; these include sets, lighting, costumes, and props"; shot/reverse shot -- "an editing pattern that cuts between individuals according to the logic of their conversation"; jump cut -- "a cut within the continuous action of a shot, creating a spatial or temporal jump or discontinuity within the action."
Moreover, this updated edition explains the supplementary features often included in DVDs such as story boards, behind-the-scene documentaries, and interviews with the cast and crews.
Even if you don't intend to write about films, reading this blessedly brief book will enhance your enjoyment of watching films. Five shining stars.
-- C J Singh
I've looked at clouds from both sides now.......2003-08-08
One thing I can say is I enjoy a good film. O.K. if it moves I'll watch it. But until I read this book I really was just looking with out seeing.
It is nice to have this guide confirm what one knows as common sense. Probably because the guide is designed to take you from ground zero to a level of appreciation and allow you to convey your opinion intelligently.
If you have an earlier edition you will still get the essence of the book. Newer editions add different resources and research information.
Some of the highlights are:
* A shot-by shot analysis of a sequence from the film "Potemkin"
* Suggestions on using the Internet
* Sample student writing
Some contents:
Writing about the Movies
Preparing to Watch and Preparing to Write
Film Terms and Topics
Six Approaches to writing about Film
Style and Structure in Writing
Researching the Movies
Manuscript Form
This guide is an eye opener.
TWO THUMBS DOWN.......2001-01-28
I am currently a film major who is being forced to read this book. Let me say that so far I am only to chapter three and have suffered through every page of it. It is filled with basic, common sense, (i.e., the best way to write about film is to take notes during the screening. and if you can, it's good to see the movie more than once), which is explained in several pages. Give me a break. Not only does he present basic knowlnedge but he repeats himself in so many words. The truth is, the only way to successfully analize film is to develop an eye for symbolism. No book, I don't care who writes it, can teach you that. It is something that must be personally developed. Why someone would waste their time writing a book trying to teach people how to do that blows my mind. I give it one star, cause after all, everyone deserves a little comething for at least trying.
fine, blessedly concise guide.......2001-01-07
I'm writing to second mitry's opinion of the book and to add to mitry's comment about kenosha's complaint of textual errors. I have the second edition of the book, and Corrigan speaks of Captain Willard and refers to Marlowe as "the other Captain Willard" (p. 43). It's clear from the context that he is comparing the film character with Conrad's protagonist. I doubt Corrigan would have revised the 2nd edition text here to make an error in the 3rd edition. Don't get turned off by an erroneous review!
Intelligence and accessibility.......2000-08-02
This a marvelous book, packed with information and much more accessible than far more expensive books. It's the perfect companion for almost any film course since it not only introduces students to the language and methods of film analysis (including how to take notes) but does so while guiding students through the work of writing a good essay (with great suggestions for doing research). The writing is clear and accurate (with none of the errors referred to by the Kenosha reviewer). I recommend it without hesitation to all students of film.
Customer Reviews:
Useful for Non-Majors.......2007-01-23
I teach literature to undergraduate students majoring in interdisciplinary arts and sciences, business, computer science, and nursing. Since I can't count on them having had training in writing about literature, I often assign specific sections of this text, or make it recommended reading for students with less confidence in writing about literature.
My students almost universally praise this text, and I think *their* opinions, rather than those of us teachers, are the ones that really count. They find the specific, nuts-and-bolts suggestions useful, and the explanations clear and helpful.
I recommend this text to any student (high school or college) who wants a concise guide to writing about literature, and any teacher or professor whose students usually lack a solid background in literary study.
A Necessary Evil.......2000-06-11
Written for the Intro to Lit university course market, this type of guide is a necessary evil. Barnet works: students can usually find what they need in the index or contents (How to write a good sentence, what makes a good paragraph, etc.). If you have to have one, you could do worse than to choose Barnett
Book Description
Provides students with the tools needed to be successful writers in college and their profession, while emphasizing writing as a way of examining, evaluating, and sharing ideas. Students are taught how to read critically, study, evaluate and report data, and how to communicate information clearly and logically.
Teaches students to think as biologists and to express ideas clearly and concisely through their writing.
Courses preparing students for a profession in the field of biology.
Customer Reviews:
The best book for writing lab reports in college........2007-03-06
Every time I have to do a lab report, I use this book. No exceptions. Although I cannot comment on the other aspects of the book in (check out the "Look Inside!" Table of Contents), its guidance for writing lab reports is helpful to the utmost. Before this book, I made in the high 80s on my lab reports; now it is rare that I go below a 95. The book is full of what to do and, more importantly, what not to do. For example, never give purpose to evolution (I am paraphrasing, of course). Birds did not evolve flight to escape predators or to travel long distance; they evolved flight because a series of random DNA mutations turned forelimbs into wings, and that increased their survival rate. That is just one of numerous examples, and, best of all, all of the examples given are extremely relevant to college students because the material comes from college-level lab reports. Still, all of my biology professors have this book, in one edition or anther, on their shelves. This review refers to the 5th edition.
The only writing manual you'll ever need.......2007-01-26
I've used this book since I was a freshman biology major. I'm now a Ph.D. student and I still reference this book. I've read other writing manuals designed for students in the sciences, but I've found that nothing is as clear and useful to students in the life sciences as this book.
Very Helpful........2006-02-26
My daugther is the one that uses this and she finds it very helpful to understanding the lessons.
An essential for all students........1999-02-04
As a university professor teaching budding biologists, I've found this book to be excellent. As the other reviewer said, I wished I had this book when I was a student. I, too, had to learn things the long and hard way. Pechinik has done a great service to science students. Let's hope we see more good writing out of this next generation of young scientists.
Absolutely Essential.......1998-03-27
Every biology undergraduate should read this book. I wish I'd known about it when I was an undergraduate; it contains most of the information I had to learn the hard way.
Book Description
An ideal accessory in any history course that requires writing, A Short Guide to Writing About History stresses thinking and writing like a historian.
This engaging and practical little text helps the readers get beyond merely compiling dates and facts; it teaches them how to incorporate their own ideas into their papers and to tell a story about history that interests them and their peers. Covering both brief essays and the documented resource paper, this book explores the writing and researching processes, different modes of historical writing including argument and concludes with guidelines for improving style.
For any one who will need to write about history.
Customer Reviews:
Dr. Page rules!.......2006-03-30
This is a great book and I was able to get even more out it since I am one of Dr. Page's students at East Tennessee State.
Extremely helpful book.......2002-08-23
Marius has written an extremely readable and informative book on the writing of history. He proceeds from showing readers what questions to ask in doing historical research into types of historical writing can be done, from discriptive to argumentitive.
However, the most useful part of the book is the chapter on sources and writing. He skillfully shows readers how to choose a topic and narrow their focus into a managable paper. He also discusses the use of CD-Rom and Internet sources, a necessity for any good book on the writing of history in the early 21st century, particularly due to the increase in the reliance on Internet research by college undergraduates and HS students that are comfortable with this technology. The book also makes actually doing research seem like not such a daunting scary task, which at first thought it seems like for many undergraduates. The one problem with this section is that Marius advocates the use of paper notes. As has been seen with many professional academic historians lately, the use of paper notes can end up costing the writer dearly, particularly with the use of a large amount of sources. Marius should have included a section on how to use a data base or other computerized note taking system.
Marius also uses many examples to back up his points throughout the book, even publishing one complete paper and then commenting on its strengths and weaknesses in order to give the reader a better understanding. The remainder of the book is an extremely useful three chapters on writing mechanics as well as quoting and citing a variety of sources. I found the section on footnotes quite good and useful. This section will be especially useful for the undergraduate who arrives on campus without ever having to use footnotes while in high school.
Overall, this is an outstanding book. The only real drawback is that since its publication (3rd edition) the sections on the Internet are in many ways obsolete. But with the ever changing technology and things available on the Internet, both good and bad, no book can keep up.
Helpful Resource on Historography.......2001-11-21
History prof recommended this for help in writing research papers in history department.
Compact and inspirational, the author makes his points by way of examples and citations from historians. Passionate about his subject area, he communicates this well and infuses it into his observations and recommendations for writing about historical topics.
While the jury is still out on my first paper to utilize this resource, I already know I am a better writer of history for having utilized this fine resource. Just the idea of grabbing your reader and making him want to read the rest was useful.
A Superb Guide.......2000-08-14
Richard Marius gives us in this short book an enthusiasm for the pursuit of the past that is simply infectious. Although the work is not an in-depth study of Historiography, it is a great introduction to the would be Historian on the very basic rules of researching and composing a paper on any historical subject.
concise and informative.......2000-03-15
This book is very useful not only for the preparation of historical papers but for any research paper. Especially useful are the sections devoted to conventions about mechanics and grammar and suggestions about style. Also included are outlines for the proper construction of arguments and details addressing the modes of expression used in writing. I bought this book for a history seminar in as an undergrad and have found it helpful to me ever since as a technical guide to the proper way of writing. Highly recommended.
Book Description
Emphasizing writing as a means to examining, evaluating, sharing, and refining ideas, A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry will help chemists develop the language skills the field demands. This book covers the kinds of readings and writing that chemists are called on to do-from introductory to more advanced work-in academic and industrial settings, and in public life. With comprehensive coverage on topics including graphing programs, ACS formats, Science Citation Index, Merck Index, and writing abstracts, this book is a "must-have" for any aspiring chemist. This edition also provides updated coverage on the Internet, working with computers, and electronic sources. For anyone interested in a practical and rewarding guide to communicating successfully about chemistry.
Customer Reviews:
How to read and write chemistry (for the university student).......2002-10-14
This book is meant to be a practical guide in reading and writing chemistry. There are numerous practical tidbits interspersed throughout the book. There are also exercises (many of which include "peer review" style discussion among classmates) and numerous examples (both positive and negative). The topics range from reading the primary literature through writing lab reports and even to giving oral seminars.
The authors do a good job straddling the line between keeping the text short (this is a "Short Guide" after all), while providing the essential kernals of information. Unfortunately, it reads a bit like a how-to guide for someone trying to get an "A" grade in their "Writing in Chemsitry" course. There is little discussion of format variations (except possibly in the "Writing a Research Proposal" section) probably not the author's fault, more of a page constraint issue. However, I would like to have seen less on, say "How to keep a freshman lab book" (17 pages!) and more on, "How to give an oral presentation." Surely the target audience should be the upper-year student, not the freshman.
If the biggest problem is the formulaic presentation, the best aspect is the numerous examples interspersed throughout the book. I was pleased to note that the examples, at least, are chosen to highlight the differences in scientific opinion that constantly arise and that younger scientists find baffling. Because science is generally taught as hard facts in high school, there is no indication that science is actually a refining process where theories are put to the test, elevated, or destroyed as work is done to test their validity. This process is amply demonstrated by the authors, in a wide variety of subdisciplines, all of which are fun to read, even for professors and other chemical professionals.
Therefore, I recommend this book for the senior undergraduate and graduate student who wants to refine/develop their scientific writing style. I'm skeptical about recommending the book to freshmen, in spite of the number of pages devoted to freshman topics, because I'm not as happy with those chapters.
Writing About Chemistry.......2001-12-08
In A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry Herbert Beall and John Trimbur describe how to write in chemistry. Beall is an expert in writing books about chemistry and Trimbur wrote books about reading and writing. With these two authors combined for one book, there was no doubt that this book would be a top seller. The book thoroughly discusses how to write research papers, literature reviews, critiques, persuasion essays, and lab reports. The book describes what chemists read and write about.
To understand chemistry you must find what is significant, make a model, and reason by analogy. The book describes how to read a chemistry textbook, study for tests or quizzes, and take lecture notes. All of these hints are good for a college student in chemistry.
The book gives step by step details as the chapter goes along. It gives good details for visual aids, and how to rehearse before delivering your speech if you have to do an oral presentation. The lab report chapter is very useful because it's not just enough to understand the concepts, but you must write out a lab report.
After the authors describe the steps to follow, they give an example and then practice problems. The book includes websites to look at for a chemistry article and good engines to use when searching for a certain chemistry concept.
The book covers so much information that any student at any level of study can understand the book. The book is designed mainly to get the students to communicate in the chemistry language either by writing, reading, or giving oral presentations. With all of the great things found in this book, it is no surprise that it was successful at helping students and professors alike in writing about chemistry.
Book Description
Combining up-to-date writing techniques with APA-style, this brief guide will help readers master the skills necessary for writing in psychology. This guide takes readers step-by-step through the writing process—from researching psychological literature, to choosing a topic, all the way through writing, formatting, and presenting their findings in written and oral formats. Special attention is given to interpreting and reporting the results of statistical tests, as well as preparing data displays in tables and figures. This guide also provides practical tips for more general types of writing encountered in psychology and the other social sciences. Ideal for individuals who need to learn the required writing style for professional writing in APA style.
Average customer rating:
- Writing, writing, writing
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A Short Guide to Writing About Music (Short Guides Series)
Jonathan Bellman
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Sourcebook for Research in Music
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A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Seventh Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
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Writing About Music: An Introductory Guide (3rd Edition)
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A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
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Writing About Music: A Style Sheet from the Editors of 19th-Century Music
ASIN: 0321015770 |
Customer Reviews:
Writing, writing, writing.......2000-04-12
I love to write, and I am always looking for new ways to improve my writing. Jonathan Bellamn does that, and in the context of my discipline. I have found the book stimulating, clearly written and worth every penny.
My graduate student recommended Bellman's Guide to Writing about Music to me. I would like to recommend it to everyone writing about the arts, particularly, graduate students, college and university faculty.
Enjoy!
Book Description
Comprehensive and well-balanced, this writing guide is designed to help its reader to prepare effective documents in the field of social science.
The revised fourth edition includes coverage of may important topics, including: efficiently using the Internet for research as well as traditional information resources, the need for sustained and thoughtful revision, mastering oral communication, many different citation styles.
For anyone interested in writing papers in the field of social science.
Customer Reviews:
review.......2007-08-01
everything needed to write a paper in the area of social sciences was in this book.
Guide for social science writing.......2000-05-23
Lee Cuba's book A SHORT GUIDE TO WRITING ABOUT SOCIAL SCIENCEis exactly what the title promises -- a succinct, thoughtful andhelpful guide for students and novices wanting to write for a social science readership. It is a concise yet comprehensive introduction with loads of examples to drive the major points home. It is a must for students majoring or taking classes in the social sciences. Others wishing to write for a social science market should also pick up a copy. I supervise a writing program in my unversity department and we keep this book handy on our shelf.
Books:
- A World of Art (Revised 4th Edition)
- A World of Art (Revised 4th Edition)
- After THE END: Teaching and Learning Creative Revision
- Alexej Von Jawlensky: Catalogue Raisonne of the Oil Paintings: Volume Two 1914-1933 (Alexej Jawlensky)
- Alphonse Mucha
- American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China
- American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China
- Art Forms in Nature: The Prints of Ernst Haeckel (Monographs)
- Art Marketing 101 (Art Marketing 101: A Handbook for the Fine Artist)
- August Sander: People of the 20th Century (7 Volume Set)
Books Index
Books Home
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- On His Terms
- Cell Immortalization
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- The Art Spirit: Notes, Articles, Fragments of Letters and Talks to Students, Bearing on the Concept
- Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition
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Gardner's Art Through the Ages (with ArtStudy Student CD-ROM and InfoTrac )
Learning to Look: A Handbook for the Visual Arts (Phoenix Books)
Gardner's Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective, Volume I (with ArtStudy CD-ROM 2.1, Western)
Art History, Volume I (w/CD-ROM)
Art: A Brief History (3rd Edition)
