THE PROMPT: Take a walk along the Parkway, or in the park. Or visit a museum again. Find something new to you - and something we have not covered in this course. This time, you have the option of selecting an artifact or work of art inside or outside - public art. What you select does not need to be by a Philadelphia artist, but it needs to be accessible to you.
As before, visit and experience your target artifact. Collect information from observation, research and reflection. Digest what you've learned and produce a report in essay form for PEX REPORT #4 presented in clearly identified sections. Recommended length: 3.5 to 5 pages.
FORMAT: PEX #4 is to be in an essay format with the following sections clearly designated.
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Title: Identify your PEX #4 artifact, its location and URL, if possible.
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List Past PEX: State your PEX #1, #2 and #3 choices and locations.
Observation. Approach your artifact like a detective. In paragraph form, write a detailed description of the object and its setting. Visualize the object in detail for the reader. Avoid assumptions. This section requires close direct experience, not research.
Context. The facts from your research. The who, what and where. Consult reliable, authoritative, substantive sources (use Paley Summon to find books in print and articles. Find valued websites, conduct interviews, if that would help - anything to help you find what is relevant, interesting and essential to know about your artifact.
Analysis. This is very different from context. What is the meaning, the cultural significance of your artifact? This is the culmination of your PEX Report and can only be completed after the other observation and context sections are complete. Interpret, infer and suggest why the artifact is the way it is and what it reveals about its maker, about humanity, about society.
Bibliography. Include and use in your writing at least FOUR bibliographical sources. Finding and using good sources will help you achieve clarity and depth. Substantial, relevant, reliable and varied sources include books, encyclopedias (hard copy and/or online), scholarly articles, exhibition catalogues, robust museum websites, etc. Wikipedia, tourism websites, many news stories and most online dictionaries and are NOT considered substantial or reliable. The Museum URL for the object cannot be a source. Class lectures are not sources.