write an essay on coding as an art

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What is Creative Coding?

by guest blogger Andrew Bryant

An artist explains the concept and technique of making art using computer programming.

Artist and coder Andrew Bryant

Coding is the practice of writing instructions for a computer to execute. We know that it’s a tool for building technology. But did you know it is also a medium of artistic expression?

Creative coding is the practice of making art with code. As computers have become more integral in our lives, artists have turned to the language the computer speaks, code, to communicate their ideas.

In creative coding you can work with data, text, images, audio, video, and more. You can combine different types of inputs and outputs. There are countless possibilities of what you can come up with.

What does creative coding look like?

Here’s an example of a piece I made from a photo I took near Valdivia, Chile.

“Southern Chile 2” image by artist Andrew Bryant using creative coding

I didn’t draw those black squares one by one. I wrote a program that generated them. Their sizes and positions were decided randomly by the program rather than by me.

With creative coding you can create art that would otherwise be impossible to make. Because computers are good at doing calculations quickly, with them you can do things like draw thousands of shapes in seconds. That isn’t something you can do by hand.

Another cool thing about creative coding is that you can add randomness to art, like I did with the squares drawn on top of the photo of the boats. Computers are precise machines. A program can give you the same result each time you run it. But you can also write programs that allow some values to be randomly generated. These programs produce different results each time it’s run. Each run of the program becomes unique. You have control, but at the same time you don’t. The type of interaction between man and machine is a fascinating one to experience and explore.

How to do it

Every artist’s process looks a bit different, but I’ll share mine. It all begins with an idea. I start with something I want to explore. It could be a photo I took, or something I drew in my sketchbook. It might be a programming concept that I want to try out, or a modification to an existing piece that I want to make.

With that spark of inspiration, I sit down and get to work. I use the Processing programming language, or one of its implementations in other languages, to write my programs. After seeing the result of running a program, I modify it based on what I like or don’t like. I repeat that cycle of review and modification until I’m satisfied. Along the way I save images and videos of what I make. It helps me see my creative progress.

I also learn about art, programming, and creative coding through books, resources on the internet, and by interacting with other creatives.

“Dream Port” image by Andrew Bryant using creative coding.

Benefits of creative coding

Creative coding gives you a deeper understanding of the tools and ideas that are the foundation of our digital lives. The programming techniques needed to make a work of art are the same ones used to make the software we enjoy. Creative coding shows how it all works to a broader audience, not just those who work as programmers.

Creative coding pushes those who practice it to reach across disciplines. People who come from other forms of art will begin thinking like a programmer by turning an idea in their heads into instructions for a computer. People, like myself, who learned programming first will learn about the arts and the techniques used to make art resonate with its audience.

“Going Somewhere” image by Andrew Bryant using creative coding.

In this article I’ve shared an overview of what creative coding is and how I go from an idea to a finished work of art. Creative coding is at a very interesting intersection of art and technology. I hope you’ll now look at coding in a new way, and maybe want to learn more about it. If so, there’s a growing community of creative coders waiting to welcome you!

Andrew Bryant is a creative coder. His art blends computer algorithms and lived experiences in both digital and physical spaces. It inspires viewers to create new relationships between technology and themselves and their communities. You can find more of his work on  Instagram .

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Coding As ... Art?

Make all. the. things..

At first glance, it may be hard to find the relationship between coding and art — the dominant tech culture and perceived mathiness don't necessarily scream "creatives apply here". But talking with LaunchCoders who are also artists in Kansas City, known for its booming arts community, we found the connections are definitely there. We sit down with these four creators to hear about how their arts and code experiences compare.

What skills or qualities have you found are helpful in both art and code, and why?

Mariah:  The ability to envision the big picture and then break it down to its individual parts is quite helpful in art and code. Both require determination to see a project through, even when it seems hopeless. They require faith that there is an answer, even if it may take a while or tweaking to figure it out.

Tricia:   Creativity, problem-solving, tenacity and thinking "out of the box" are helpful in both art and code. 

Rob:   The ability to pay attention to details helps me create a more stable algorithm.

What about writing code feels similar to making art?

Ashley:   Starting with an idea and not really knowing where it is going to take you. You have a problem and don't really know how you're exactly going to solve it, but by the end, you have this beautiful masterpiece that you couldn't have imagined in the beginning.

Mariah:   Whether I'm coding or designing, any complex task I do starts with paper. I'm writing, drawing, or graphing out aspects in a very readable way. Then, I apply the specific skills to accomplish the tasks. And yes, there are usually tweaks or even major overhauls along the way, but I always start with that blank page.

Tricia:   I'm learning various ways to wrap up complex topics in a short snippet of code that people who know the code can decipher. When looking at one of my knitting patterns, a developer friend said it reminded them, a bit, of BASIC. Also, I'm starting with almost nothing and picking this from here and that from there, altering each just a bit, and putting them all together to create something unique. I love seeing it and knowing, I MADE THAT!

Rob:   It's all about how to finish a good product.

In what ways are making art and writing code different?

Ashley: C ode is text-based, art is based on shapes and colors. Also, art is visual, while code is reading. That's the hardest part for a visual person like me.

Mariah:   The way I practice coding and the way I practice dance are quite different. In dance, I do the same skill over and over, hundreds of times refining and building that muscle memory until it is a natural extension of myself. In code, I practice the same skills a lot too, but I'm using them in new ways each time, to solve different problems. Also, there is a huge consideration for my body and overall health that never goes away when I'm performing. I will stretch while I watch TV, I eat chocolate while I code.

Tricia:   Coding is more analytical. There are more rules and you have to learn a LOT before you can make something even a little complex. With art, you can make something unique with simple techniques that you can learn in a few hours. With coding, it takes much longer to learn the basics.

Rob:   To make art you need the inspiration to motivate the artist, in coding it's not necessary.

Writing code is solving problems, and creativity is critical to problem solving

How is writing code creative?

Ashley:   Writing code is solving problems, and creativity is critical to problem-solving — thinking up solutions takes creativity.

Mariah:   There are plenty of creative choices to make beyond just styling a page. Thinking about what features might be important to include, what might a potential user be missing here, or if there is a more efficient way to accomplish the same idea, all require creativity. 

Tricia:   There are many paths to a finished object. You can make a simple program but, even then, the code you write will almost never be exactly like someone else's. If you decide to get "fancy" you can add "color" and design to both your code and the result. And if you are making your own thing, you get to design it from the very bottom. What you make is truly your own and truly unique.

What has surprised you about learning to code?

Ashley:   How basic computers are — they just run code that humans write really fast. I didn't realize how much you have to think for the computer.

It surprised me how collaborative coding can actually be

Mariah:   It surprised me how collaborative coding can actually be. Sure, it's possible to do by yourself, but working on code with others is actually encouraged. I've met some really great people through learning to code, with lots of diverse backgrounds and interests. We talk about coding, but also sports, museums, family, favorite restaurants, all sorts of topics.

Tricia:   The level of frustration I feel when it doesn't work. I fail more in code than I do in art. I get very frustrated when my program is supposed to do something and it refuses to cooperate with me. It usually turns out that I am VERY close to what it needs to be and I just forgot a comma or a period or something.

What would you say to a fellow creative who is considering learning to code?

Ashley:   DO IT! You'll be better than you think you are. It's not just math and numbers. You'll get to use your creative skills every day. It gives you an advantage! Click to tweet

Mariah:   Learning to code is a lot of hard work. It's dedication and faith, especially when nothing seems to go right — but you've been there before, and you've made something wonderful. Do it again. There are plenty of people, resources, and support to help you get there. It's up to you.

Tricia:   Do it. I get such a feeling of elation when my code works — I truly feel like I have accomplished something huge. I recommend that feeling to everyone. With coding, you can truly impress yourself!

Rob:   Coding is art but in a different form!

/// Whether you're an artist, a coder, or both, LaunchCode is for you. Apply for our apprenticeship program or keep building your skills today!

5 personal pr tips for a career in tech, introduction to user experience, candidate profile: learn about bill.

Essay on Coding

Students are often asked to write an essay on Coding in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Coding

What is coding.

Coding is like giving instructions to a computer. Just as you tell a friend to pass a ball, you tell a computer what to do by writing down steps in a language it understands. These languages are called programming languages, and some popular ones are Python, Java, and HTML.

Why Learn Coding?

Learning to code is useful. It helps you create websites, games, and apps. It’s like learning to build things, but in the digital world. Coding can also help you think better and solve problems because it teaches you to break big tasks into smaller steps.

Where to Start?

You can start coding at any age. Begin with simple languages like Scratch, which is made for beginners. There are many free resources online and books in libraries that can teach you how to start. Joining a coding club at school or in your community can also be fun.

Coding for the Future

Coding is important for the future. Many jobs will need coding knowledge. Even if you don’t become a programmer, understanding coding can help you in many fields like science, business, or art. It’s a skill that opens doors to many opportunities.

Also check:

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Coding
• Speech on Coding

250 Words Essay on Coding

Coding is like giving commands to a computer to make it do what you want. It’s how we create websites, apps, and games. Imagine you’re the boss, and the computer is your helper. You need to give clear instructions so the helper knows exactly what to do.

The Language of Computers

Just like we speak English or Spanish, computers have their own languages, like Python, Java, or Scratch. These languages help us talk to the computer. When we write code, we’re writing down the steps the computer needs to follow to complete a task, like solving a math problem or drawing a picture.

Why Learn to Code?

Learning to code is powerful. It helps you think better and solve problems. When you know how to code, you can make your own games instead of just playing them. You can also make websites for your school projects or even to share your hobbies.

Coding in Everyday Life

Coding is everywhere. When you play a video game, use a phone, or even microwave popcorn, coding is involved. People who know how to code helped make all these things work.

Start Small and Grow

You don’t have to be a genius to code. You can start with easy projects and get better over time. The more you practice, the more you can make your computer do. It’s fun and like learning to build with digital legos. So why not start coding today and see what you can create?

500 Words Essay on Coding

Coding is like giving instructions to a computer to make it do things. Just like we follow recipes to bake a cake, computers follow codes to run programs. Codes are written in different languages, which are not like English or Spanish, but they are called programming languages. Some popular programming languages are Python, Java, and C++.

Learning to code is useful for many reasons. First, it helps you understand how the apps and games you use every day work. It also teaches you how to solve problems because when you code, you often have to find and fix mistakes. Coding can even help you be creative, as you can design your own games or websites. Plus, knowing how to code can lead to good jobs when you grow up, as many companies need people who can write code.

How to Start Coding

Starting to code is easier than you might think. You can begin by using simple programs that let you drag and drop pieces to make code, like puzzle pieces. These are called block-based coding platforms, and Scratch is a popular one for beginners. Once you get the hang of it, you can move on to typing out code in a text editor, which is how professionals do it.

Tools for Coding

To code, you need a computer and coding software. The software can be simple, like Notepad, or more complex, like an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) which helps you write and test your code. Many coding tools are free and easy to download from the internet. There are also lots of books and websites with coding exercises for beginners.

Coding Projects for Beginners

When you’re just starting, it’s fun to work on small projects. You might make a simple game, like tic-tac-toe, or a webpage about your favorite hobby. These projects help you practice and see the results of your coding right away. As you get better, your projects can become more complex and exciting.

Challenges in Coding

Coding can be tough at times. You might run into errors or ‘bugs’ that stop your code from working right. But don’t get discouraged. Finding and fixing bugs is part of learning to code. It’s like solving a puzzle. Sometimes you might need to ask for help from teachers, friends, or online communities. That’s okay because coders often work together and help each other out.

Coding is a valuable skill that lets you tell computers what to do. It can be fun, like creating your own games, and it’s also important for future jobs. Starting with easy tools and simple projects is the best way to learn. Even though it might be hard sometimes, with practice, anyone can learn to code. So, if you like solving problems and making cool stuff, give coding a try!

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Information Literacy
• Essay on Influenza
• Essay on Information Warfare

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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The Four Steps to Creative Programming with the Processing Language

• Yu Zhang 0 ,
• Mathias Funk 1

Eindhoven, The Netherlands

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• Make the lateral shift from programming to creative programming with the Processing language and amply your creative visions
• Learn to creatively program your art through practical resources and skill development
• Understand the backend of coding an art piece for presentation

Part of the book series: Design Thinking (DESTH)

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Table of contents(10 chapters)

Front matter, introduction.

Yu Zhang, Mathias Funk

Creative coding

Idea to visuals, composition and structure, refinement and depth, completion and production, an example: mountrothko, inspiration, from idea to completion, coding practice, dealing with problems, learning path, creative processes, back matter.

• Creative Computation
• Creative Coding
• Processing Software
• Computing Art
• Interactivity
• Art Education
• Design Education
• Practitioner
• Review ideas and approaches from creative programming to different professional domains
• Work with computational tools like the Processing language
• Understand the skills needed to move from static elements to animation to interaction
• Use interactivity as input to bring creative concepts closer to refinement and depth
• Simplify and extend the design of aesthetics, rhythms, and smoothness with data structures
• Leverage the diversity of art code on other platforms like the web or mobile applications
• Understand the end-to-end process of computation art through real world use cases
• Study best practices, common pitfalls, and challenges of the creative process

Book Title : Coding Art

Book Subtitle : The Four Steps to Creative Programming with the Processing Language

Authors : Yu Zhang, Mathias Funk

Series Title : Design Thinking

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-6264-1

Publisher : Apress Berkeley, CA

eBook Packages : Professional and Applied Computing , Apress Access Books , Professional and Applied Computing (R0)

Copyright Information : Yu Zhang, Mathias Funk 2021

eBook ISBN : 978-1-4842-6264-1 Published: 06 January 2021

Series ISSN : 2945-7793

Series E-ISSN : 2945-7807

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XV, 280

Number of Illustrations : 5 b/w illustrations, 28 illustrations in colour

Topics : Graphic Design , Professional Computing , Computer Graphics

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Coding is an art

Coding is an art, a creative craft, a joyful thing

A creative craft.

This is what coding is.

I studied in a technical high school where we studied programming and computers, then got into Computer Engineering but even from the get go it was clear that what they were teaching at the university was not programming but rather all sorts of engineering topics with some computer-related topics mixed in.

In a very dry manner, we were left to learn the actual programming during lab hours.

What was missing was the craft part.

People go home at night and continue working in their spare time.

This is what gave the start to the free software movement, for example, today given for granted with open source, GitHub, npm… An admirable phenomenon.

For many people programming is best done at night. Why so? I don’t know. I would say that it’s the case for me, too.

I think this is because we have no other thing to worry about. No trips to the grocery store or to the post office.

It’s easier to get in the zone , that wonderful place where all the code you need to write is perfectly organized in your head and you work like a 100x engineer because you are , at that specific point in time.

Some people are more morning types, and mornings work great for coding too.

We can force ourselves to write code at every time of the day, but when we do that at our best time, we can be so much more efficient.

Offices make it hard to focus, but we need to, because we don’t have to follow a script. We have to come up with creative ways to solve problems. I haven’t seen any other job where you walk into an office and people are wearing headphones to stay more focused. It’s very intense.

I sometimes think that the fact programming is often associated with getting paid for our programming abilities, and getting a job as a programmer, is kinda adding a gray shade over things.

If programming was considered like painting or knitting, that would have a whole another feeling. Something we all do after dinner to have fun.

This is why I love platforms like Glitch and Codepen that make code very cool. Especially to kids and newcomers in general.

This is why YouTube channels like the Coding Train are so wonderful. They make things fun.

For example I cringe when I hear that on jobs a programmer’s productivity is based on the number of lines of code they write. Really?

And pressure posed by deadlines is really adding anxiety when maybe there’s already lots of it.

I am not saying you should not get a job as a programmer, that would be stupid on my part. We have to pay the bills, right? A programming career is an awesome way to raise your income level in less developed places too, working remotely.

But if the only time you do program is for your job, you are not seeing programming as that wonderful craft it is, but rather as a means to an end. Which is fine, we have a finite amount of hours in a day and you can perfectly be an awesome professional in your day job. Plenty of people do that. I would say there’s a 50/50 division here.

In my career I hated having to track time while programming. It’s a really dumb practice that has an instant gray cubicle feeling. Sometimes I might have a bug that is very hard to solve but I can fix it in 10 seconds thanks to my experience. I might have less experience and spend 4 hours on it, do I need to be paid more for this?

Programming is also about caring about a thing. I might have a bug that’s rather easy but while I’m fixing that I start improving the code and eliminating some technical debt.

This needs to be in line with the business goal of providing more value to customers and as a side effect more money to the business.

To me programming is like playing LEGO bricks. Any kind of programming, really. I bought an Arduino kit some time ago and making that thing work is really nice, especially because it’s an actual physical device and not just things that run in a screen. I am planning to do more of that, not to do anything specific, but just to tinker around.

The entrepreneur’s feeling of “this does not make money” might prevent the inner child to play. Let’s not do that.

Let’s keep the inner child happy.

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Essays About Art: Top 5 Examples and 9 Prompts

Essays about art inspire beauty and creativity; see our top essay picks and prompts to aid you.

Art is an umbrella term for various activities that use human imagination and talents. 

The products from these activities incite powerful feelings as artists convey their ideas, expertise, and experience through art. Examples of art include painting, sculpture, photography, literature, installations, dance, and music.

Art is also a significant part of human history. We learn a lot from the arts regarding what living in a period is like, what events influenced the elements in the artwork, and what led to art’s progress to today.

To help you create an excellent essay about art, we prepared five examples that you can look at:

1. Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? by Linda Nochlin

2. what is art by writer faith, 3. my art taught me… by christine nishiyama, 4. animals and art by ron padgett, 5. the value of art by anonymous on arthistoryproject.com, 1. art that i won’t forget, 2. unconventional arts, 3. art: past and present, 4. my life as an artist, 5. art histories of different cultures, 6. comparing two art pieces, 7. create a reflection essay on a work of art, 8. conduct a visual analysis of an artwork, 9. art period or artist history.

“But in actuality, as we all know, things as they are and as they have been, in the arts as in a hundred other areas, are stultifying, oppressive, and discouraging to all those, women among them, who did not have the good fortune to be born white, preferably middle class, and above all, male. The fault lies not in our stars, our hormones, our menstrual cycles, or our empty internal spaces, but in our institutions and our education–education understood to include everything that happens to us from the moment we enter this world…”

Nochlin goes in-depth to point out women’s part in art history. She focuses on unjust opportunities presented to women compared to their male peers, labeling it the “Woman Problem.” This problem demands a reinterpretation of the situation’s nature and the need for radical change. She persuades women to see themselves as equal subjects deserving of comparable achievements men receive.

Throughout her essay, she delves into the institutional barriers that prevented women from reaching the heights of famous male art icons.

“Art is the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects that can be shared with others. It involves the arranging of elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions and acts as a means of communication with the viewer as it represents the thoughts of the artist.”

The author defines art as a medium to connect with others and an action. She focuses on Jamaican art and the feelings it invokes. She introduces Osmond Watson, whose philosophy includes uplifting the masses and making people aware of their beauty – he explains one of his works, “Peace and Love.” 

“But I’ve felt this way before, especially with my art. And my experience with artmaking has taught me how to get through periods of struggle. My art has taught me to accept where I am today… My art has taught me that whatever marks I make on the page are good enough… My art has taught me that the way through struggle is to acknowledge, accept and share my struggle.”

Nishiyama starts her essay by describing how writing makes her feel. She feels pressured to create something “great” after her maternity leave, causing her to struggle. She says she pens essays to process her experiences as an artist and human, learning alongside the reader. She ends her piece by acknowledging her feelings and using her art to accept them.

“I was saying that sometimes I feel sorry for wild animals, out there in the dark, looking for something to eat while in fear of being eaten. And they have no ballet companies or art museums. Animals of course are not aware of their lack of cultural activities, and therefore do not regret their absence.”

Padgett recounts telling his wife how he thinks it’s unfortunate for animals not to have cultural activities, therefore, can’t appreciate art. He shares the genetic mapping of humans being 99% chimpanzees and is curious about the 1% that makes him human and lets him treasure art. His essay piques readers’ minds, making them interested in how art elevates human life through summoning admiration from lines and colors.

“One of the first questions raised when talking about art is simple — why should we care? Art, especially in the contemporary era, is easy to dismiss as a selfish pastime for people who have too much time on their hands. Creating art doesn’t cure disease, build roads, or feed the poor.”

Because art can easily be dismissed as a pastime, the author lists why it’s precious. It includes exercising creativity, materials used, historical connection, and religious value. 

Check out our best essay checkers to ensure you have a top-notch essay.

9 Prompts on Essays About Art

After knowing more about art, below are easy prompts you can use for your art essay:

Is there an art piece that caught your attention because of its origin? First, talk about it and briefly summarize its backstory in your essay. Then, explain why it’s something that made an impact on you. For example, you can write about the Mona Lisa and her mysterious smile – or is she smiling? You can also put theories on what could have happened while Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.

Rather than focusing on mainstream arts like ballet and painting, focus your essay on unconventional art or something that defies usual pieces, such as avant-garde art. Then, share what you think of this type of art and measure it against other mediums.

How did art change over the centuries? Explain the differences between ancient and modern art and include the factors that resulted in these changes.

Are you an artist? Share your creative process and objectives if you draw, sing, dance, etc. How do you plan to be better at your craft? What is your ultimate goal?

To do this prompt, pick two countries or cultures with contrasting art styles. A great example is Chinese versus European arts. Center your essay on a category, such as landscape paintings. Tell your readers the different elements these cultures consider. What is the basis of their art? What influences their art during that specific period?

Like the previous prompt, write an essay about similar pieces, such as books, folktales, or paintings. You can also compare original and remake versions of movies, broadway musicals, etc.

Pick a piece you want to know more about, then share what you learned through your essay. What did the art make you feel? If you followed creating art, like pottery, write about the step-by-step process, from clay to glazing.

Visual analysis is a way to understand art centered around what the eyes can process. It includes elements like texture, color, line, and scale. For this prompt, find a painting or statue and describe what you see in your essay.

Since art is a broad topic, you can narrow your research by choosing only the most significant moments in art history. For instance, if you pick English art, you can divide each art period by century or by a king’s ruling time. You can also select an artist and discuss their pieces, their art’s backstory, and how it relates to their life at the time.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Free Coding & Programming Essay Examples and Topics

Are you assigned to write a coding or programming essay? But do you understand the difference between the two? Numerous people use these terms interchangeably. Here, our experts have explained what they mean and how they differ:

Coding is the act of translating from human language into machine one. It’s like writing in the computer’s language. Programming is a broader process in which coding plays a role as well. It concerns developing software by basically telling the computer how to complete a task. Besides, programming involves fixing related errors so that programs function as intended.

As an act of translation, coding does not involve using many software tools. A specialist can even use a text editor to write a code. On the contrary, programming consists in using special tools and appropriate devices. Coders should know proper syntax and keywords, while programmers have to learn a lot more information.

In the following sections, we have provided tips on how to write programming and coding essays, as well as appropriate topics. Additionally, under the article, you’ll find free samples that you can look through.

Essay about Programming & Coding: Tips

An essay about programming or coding will have a standard 5-paragraph structure unless specifically required otherwise. In such a paper, you should present a thesis statement that reveals your message. Then, you should provide arguments and examples to explain your position. Here, we will gather tips that will help you in this endeavor.

To successfully write an essay on coding or programming, try the following:

• Be aware of who you’re writing for. Programming is a complex and specific subject. Thus, you need to understand both the topic and the audience. Include complex terminology for the pros or scale it down for the unprepared reader.
• Don’t limit your writing. Of course, you should try to stay focused on your topic. However, do not limit yourself if some technology or framework seems relevant to your essay. Include examples from other fields if they support your argumentation.
• Always do your research. Your essay should have some theoretical framework at its base. So, conduct your research before writing. Strive to build up a robust academic foundation for your argument.
• Structure your paper beforehand. Whatever topic you are writing about, you should organize your essay in advance. Prepare an outline or the bullet points of your ideas and references. Just make sure you think about the structure beforehand to simplify your writing process.
• Work on your intro and thesis first. There is no single way to write your first paragraph. Some people prefer to live the actual text of the introduction when they already have the entire essay written. Whatever method you choose, remember to work on your thesis statement before anything else. Our online thesis generator can help you with that.
• Make sure your body paragraphs serve their purpose. First of all, understand what the goal of your body paragraphs is. The primary purpose of the sections is to support your thesis statement. You can do that by providing information from different sources, illustrating your examples, and explaining ideas.
• Conclude and restate. Restating your thesis statement in your conclusion is essential. Make sure you do not simply repeat but develop it based on previous paragraphs. Sum up what you’ve discussed in your essay. Your final goal here is to create a lasting image in the reader’s memory.
• Don’t forget to proofread. You should reread and edit any paper before submitting it. You can carefully read it aloud and search for mistakes. Or you can ask someone to check your grammar, spelling, typos, etc.

17 Programming Essay Topics

You might be asked to write a coding or computer programming essay on a specific topic. However, sometimes you are free to choose the issue by yourself. You can let our topic generator create an idea for your paper. Or you can pick one from this list.

Check these coding and programming essay topics:

• A comparative analysis of Java and C++ computer programming languages.
• The use of python programming language in modern technologies.
• Reasons why I have a passion for programming.
• The pros and cons of computer-assisted coding.
• Exploring computer coding as an art.
• Teaching coding to kids through cartoons.
• How is computer science used in television and film productions?
• The benefits of using computer software in schools.
• The best languages for competitive programming.
• The importance of linear programming in real life.
• The use of linear programming in transportation.
• The application of programming in robotics.
• Television programming and how it has changed in the last 20 years.
• Teaching English as a foreign language using linguistic software.
• A comparison between the human brain and a computer.
• Will computers replace people at work in the future?
• The development of web programming and design: why is it important?

Thank you for reading the article! We hope our tips helped you with your programming essay. We’ve included some examples for you to make our topics and tips more useful. See these free programming essays down below.

162 Best Essay Examples on Programming

Web development.

• Words: 1618

Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)

Python programming language.

• Words: 2782

Object-Oriented, Event-Driven and Procedural Programming

• Words: 1263

The History and Evolution of the Visual Basic Programming Language

• Words: 2598

What Does It Mean: SMCO, W000 in Oracle

The systems development life cycle, coding and data analysis process, face recognition technology, what is an algorithm and how does it works, multithreading models: definition and types, testing approaches and change management process, the process of building websites with css, boolean search and how to use it, object oriented programming concepts, current trends in web 2.0.

• Words: 1578

Internet Usability Importance

Timetable scheduling using generic algorithms.

• Words: 2667

Reasons why developing software for wireless devices is challenging

Experiences of beginner in python programming, software bugs types, causes and consequences, software solutions in web design, java is the best programming language, levels of computer science and programming languages, coarse- and fine-grained parallelism, case studies in website upgrade for improved user experience, statistically significant chromatin contacts, correlation and regression applied to biomass in lunar-based station, cloud-based attendance software.

• Words: 2242

The Limit of Instruction-Level Parallelism in SPEC95 Applications

The artemis financial company’s code security, the new science of networks and complexity, buffer overflow: programming case, qualitative coding with hands or software, operating systems ios vs. android: pros and cons, the agile manifesto: core values and areas of improvement, risks and opportunities of “platformization”.

• Words: 2558

Combining Programming Languages C++ and Python

The sierpinski gasket and recursion, compliance policy for coding error detection and prevention, developing the website for complex animation implementing.

• Words: 2261

Waterfall Programming Methodology

The java and c++ languages comparison, importance of data modelling in programming, the application programming interface tiers, java, lisp, clojure and ram-ral.

• Words: 1927

Analysis of Software Integrity Strategies

Agile programming methodology: pros and cons, programming methodologies critique, devops application: advantages and disadvantages, language interface, interlanguage, code-switching fossilization.

• Words: 1200

Importance of Algorithms and Data Structures

C++ and java programming languages comparison, stacks, queues, and search algorithms in programming, the hash tables data structure, recursion explained with the mirror analogy, languages for programming on the asp.net platform, software recommendation memo for linkedin.

• Words: 1218

Systems Development Life Cycle and Implementation of Computer Assisted Coding

The cost of a positive integer.

• Words: 1920

How to Become a Videogame Designer

Tools for performance testing: project scope, computer programming and code, is html a programming language, notepad++ as a free editor for html files, object-oriented programming. java and c++ programming.

• Words: 1227

Python Impressions: Versatile and Accessible Programming Language

• Words: 1103

Optimal Approximate Sampling From Discrete Probability Distributions

Front end web development job market reflection, open source software: technical communication, cctms labview interface: program development, library automation system labview solution, the problem of spam and phishing in e-mails, rapid application development (rad) protocol tutorials, failure modes and effect analysis (fmea).

• Words: 3373

Methods Used to Develop Java Applications for Government Projects

Comparison between unified modelling language and data flow diagrams.

• Words: 2596

Hashing Algorithms in the Security of Information

• Words: 1642

The Development of the Java 2 Enterprise Architecture (J2EE)

Programming solution proposal analysis, functional pedagogical array language (fpal), making informed user decisions: windows v. linux.

• Words: 5667

Investigating Operating System Architecture

• Words: 2826

Software Development and Design Patterns

Simulation of a direct detection optical fiber system.

• Words: 1928

The Concept of Document Object Model

• Words: 1273

Software Engineering: Data Modelling and Design

• Words: 1210

XSLT: Extensible Style-Sheet Language for Transformation

Image processing and visual denoising.

• Words: 2389

Rapid Application Development Model Overview

International software development ethical issues.

• Words: 2043

Outsourcing of International Software Development

• Words: 2005

Self Assure Company: Quality Systems

• Words: 2858

A Usability Test Conducted on GE Money.com.au

• Words: 2204

The Development Process of Web Sites

• Words: 1623

The Development of the Vanguard Web

Design of object-oriented programming, context-aware applications, workshop report: client-server technology bco-5502.

• Words: 2212

Software and Tech Support: Powerpoint Program

Microsoft power point: program review, video distribution systems, windows vs google. new operating system as the key to success, xbrl: review, ibm spss software analysis, the design of the communication system.

• Words: 1952

Massive Resources: Trasing the Dynabook

• Words: 1385

R-Language Software: Efficiency in Use

Comparison between server operating systems.

• Words: 1677

Software: Product or Knowledge?

Multimedia navigation and usability, object-orientation and it analysis, communication software “tomtom navigation”.

• Words: 1106

Systems, Process & Data Modeling

Agile methodology for software.

• Words: 1387

Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan

• Words: 2176

Computers: Science and Scientists Review

Python: programming language and concepts, linear programming and network models.

• Words: 1653

Why the System Architecture Should Be Used?

• Words: 1105

Modern research platform for school and work

January 23, 2024 By Scrible

Color Coding: A Simple Tool for More Effective Academic Writing

The art of writing, particularly in academic settings, is a journey that can be both challenging and rewarding. One innovative approach garnering attention in recent years is using color coding in writing. This method, which involves assigning different colors to various elements of writing, has been shown to significantly enhance the effectiveness and organization of student writing (Ewoldt & Morgan, 2017; Room 213, 2019).

The Benefits of Color Coding in Writing

Color coding as a writing strategy offers a multitude of benefits. It helps organize thoughts and ideas, which makes complex writing tasks more manageable (Color Coding Your Writing, n.d.). According to the ZANCO Journal of Humanity Sciences (2021), color coding can improve academic writing skills, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes. This approach allows students to clearly distinguish between different types of information, such as arguments, evidence, and counterarguments, thereby enhancing the clarity and coherence of their writing.

Moreover, research by Geigle (n.d.) highlights how color coding can positively affect students’ emotional engagement with writing tasks. By reducing anxiety and increasing interest, color coding makes writing more enjoyable and less daunting for students.

Implementing Color Coding in the Classroom

In practice, color coding can be applied in various ways:

• Structuring Essays : Assign colors to different parts of an essay – introduction, main arguments, evidence, and conclusion – to help students visualize the structure of their writing (Thierolf, 2024).
• Highlighting Different Source Types : In literature reviews, different colors can be used for primary sources, secondary sources, and review articles, aiding in source organization (Kruse, 2019).
•   Revision Process : Students can use color coding to identify areas that need improvement, such as grammar, argument strength, or evidence support (The Writer’s Palette, n.d.).

Academic Research Supporting Color Coding

Various studies have supported the academic benefits of color coding. Ewoldt and Morgan (2017) discussed using color-coded graphic organizers to assist students with learning disabilities in writing, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing organization and structure. Additionally, the study by Zainal Abidin et al. (2022) in the International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences highlighted the positive impact of color coding in online learning environments, where it helped reduce stress and improve organization in academic writing.

Color coding in academic writing is more than just a visually appealing strategy; it is a practical tool that enhances students’ understanding, organization, and engagement with writing tasks. As educators continue to seek innovative ways to support student learning, color coding emerges as a valuable and research-backed technique that can transform the writing experience in classrooms.

To see how Scrible facilitates color-coding in the classroom, read Elevate Your Writing with Color Coding .

Color-code Strategy for Improving Writing Academic Paragraphs in EFL Classes. (2021). ZANCO Journal of Humanity Sciences, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.21271/zjhs.25.2.15

Color-coding your highlighting when reading articles and book chapters. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from www.raulpacheco.org/2015/10/color-coding-your-highlighting-when-reading-articles-and-book-chapters/

Ewoldt, K. B., & Morgan, J. J. (2017). Color-Coded Graphic Organizers for Teaching Writing to Students with Learning Disabilities. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 49(3), 175–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059916681769

Geigle, B. A. (n.d.). How Color Coding Formulaic Writing Enhances Organization: A Qualitative Approach for Measuring Student Affect.

Geigle, B. A. (2014). How Color Coding Formulaic Writing Enhances Organization: A Qualitative Approach for Measuring Student Affect [Humphreys College]. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED554555.pdf

Jacobs, E. (n.d.). Color Coding Your Writing. Https://Www.Brandeis.Edu/. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from www.brandeis.edu/writing-program/resources/faculty/wi-instructor-resources/color-coding.htmlColor Coding Your Writing. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from www.brandeis.edu/writing-program/resources/faculty/wi-instructor-resources/color-coding.html

Kruse, M. (2019, January 29). 11 Ways to Use Color-Coding Strategies in the Classroom – . Reading and Writing Haven. www.readingandwritinghaven.com/ways-to-use-color-coding-strategies-in-the-classroom

Rizky, W. (2018). THE EFFECT OF COLOR CODING STRATEGY IN STUDENTS’ WRITING PROCEDURE. State University for Islamic Studies.

Sherah. “The Writer’s Palette: Color-Coding as a Revision Strategy.” Https://Cambridgecoaching.Com/, blog.cambridgecoaching.com/the-writers-palette-color-coding-as-a-revision-strategy. Accessed 19 Jan. 2024.

Supporting Organization in Persuasive Writing. (n.d.). TWO WRITING TEACHERS. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from twowritingteachers.org/2014/04/07/supporting-organization-in-persuasive-writing/

The Research Is In — Color-Coded Writing Instruction Works | Essaypop Help Center. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://intercom.help/essaypop/en/articles/5330969-the-research-is-in-color-coded-writing-instruction-works

Thierolf, M. (n.d.). Rainbow it Up! The Color-Coded Essay. The Educators Room. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from theeducatorsroom.com/rainbow-color-coded-essay/

Visualizing Essay Elements: A Color-Coded Approach to Academic Writing | Essaypop Help Center. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://intercom.help/essaypop/en/articles/5330969-visualizing-essay-elements-a-color-coded-approach-to-academic-writing

“Visualizing Essay Elements: A Color-Coding Approach to Teaching First-year Writing” | Manifold @CUNY. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from cuny.manifoldapp.org/read/visualizing-essay-elements-a-color-coding-approach-to-teaching-first-year-writing-5e1beee3-eb79-410c-9ca7-9a3af4a3e636/section/ff7f752a-532c-46c6-8d86-4b144e132fc6

Zainal Abidin, N. S., Rahmat, N. H., Razlan, Z., Soon Sim, M., Adam, S., & Kamarulzaman, M. H. (2022). Colour Your Writing: The Case for Online Learning. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i7/13930

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How to Write an Essay on Art: Topic Ideas and Best Art Centers In Africa

As we’ve stated before, we will provide you with all the information you might need to master crafting a good art essay, but before we can dive into what are the most interesting art topics you can use for your paper, it’s important to review the basics.

This is why we’ll cover the definition of what an art essay is, how to write it, and some examples you can use as reference.

What Is Art Essay 

Art essays are essays that essentially analyze bodies of artwork, be it a painting, a musical piece, a book, Japanese calligraphy, or even a work of architecture. It’s an essay about art, and what makes the whole of this work of art. Interpretation, keen observation, and research are all needed to produce a decent essay about art.

Analysis can range from the visuals to the aesthetics, to the time period it was created in. But how do all of these elements work? That’s what the analysis will convey in words. Later on in this guide, we’re going to go through all the potential topics which could arise. 

How To Write An Art Essay?

Most essays fall into a certain category and have a standard outline of how they’re written, this includes art essays. When it comes to writing an art essay, it’s important to remember that no matter what the topic is, the outline of how the essay will be written normally stays the same. 

No need to worry. In the following paragraphs, we will be showing you art essay introduction examples, examples in general, and many valuable tips. Use this information to craft an excellent essay on art, whether it’s a short essay on art or a long one. 

Let’s start with the outline, then we’ll be moving on to the different types of art essays, and we’ll be looking over tips on how to improve your writing.

Art Essay Outline

The standard outline for this type of essay is: 

• Introduction: Strong art essay examples have an introduction that clearly conveys the position of the writer. It should have a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, declare what the essay will convey as a whole, and have a thesis statement in the last sentence of the introduction. Some students place the thesis statement in the first line of the main body, which is appropriate as well. 
• Main Body: The paragraphs in the main body should support and convey what has already been stated in the introduction. The points should be analyzed extensively in the paragraphs, and they should be organized in a coherent fashion. Don’t go off-topic.
• Conclusion: This part should repeat the claim in the thesis statement and back it up with some final supporting arguments. It should be concise and short, and it shouldn’t present any new ideas. It should help the reader rethink and review what he just read. It is the final front to convince the reader why your point should be taken seriously.

This is simple and common enough to follow, and if you’ve written an essay before, this outline should be familiar to you already.

Essay On Art Types

Art essays analyze works of art, but the way in which the topics will be handled have certain differences. It’s not really dependent on the topic of your essay. It can be primitive art, horror art, political cartoon, European art, Asian art, Mayan art, Middle-Age art, a dive into the renaissance era or the lives of influential artists, comparison of various art movements; you name it. But it’s more about how you talk about it than what you’re talking about. Here are the most common types: 

Argumentative: Proving a point by backing up with credible arguments. Example: “Are video games a modern form of art?”.

Cause and Effect: An essay that highlights a cause and then extensively analyzes and highlights its effects. Example: “What sparked the era of the Renaissance in the art world?”.

Compare and Contrast: This one is pretty self-explanatory. An essay on art which is a compare and contrast type, will draw comparisons on two elements. Example: “Compare contemporary architecture to ancient architecture”. 

Example Of Art Critique Essay

Here is an example from specialists.

Tips On How To Write Art Essay

You don’t necessarily have to be a college student with a design major or go to art school to be able to write about world art. Lacking an art education is in no way a disqualifying factor from talking about, say, art's influence on academic writing, ancient Egyptian art, Muslim art, or even Chinese circus art. An essay about art does not simply describe the artwork in question. It needs to analyze in-depth and satisfy the requirements of the writing task. It’s also important to be sure that the sources you’re using are credible. Don’t forget to reference and cite them throughout your essay when it’s needed. 

Lastly, when stuck on a topic, it helps to ask questions to yourself. Consider the following: 

• In your perspective, what did the creator want to convey through his work?
• What impression does it leave on you personally? 
• Does the creator use certain symbols and images that provoke certain emotions or is the artwork vague? 
• What is the mood of the piece? 
• When was it created, and what possible external factors might have influenced its creation? 

Asking yourself relevant questions like the ones above will definitely provide a sense of clarity.

Art Essay Example

Here is a template for you on "Art Analysis of Mona Lisa":

Quotes On Art To Write Essay

What is a good quote about art? Well, there are actually many of them lingering on the internet from artists and prodigies from the past and the present. They touch on virtually every art style and can help you define art topics better if you build them around those. For those who feel uninspired, perhaps refreshing your perspective by reading these quotes will spark the fire once more. 

On that note, if you’re a fan of the arts and want to have more time indulging yourself in that world, then you might want help with your homework.

Here are some quotes that will make you think twice: 

• “Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does, the better” (André Gide)
• “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time” (Thomas Merton) 
• “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable” (Banksy)

Art Essay Topics To Write On

If you are looking for options and ideas on what you should write about in your essay, then keep reading because we’re going to be looking at the plethora of topics you can choose from in the following paragraphs. We’re giving you plenty of options. This will help you find a topic that is ideal and won’t be too boring or uninteresting to work with.

Topics On Different Epochs

The epochs, or "Epoque" in french, speak of the different eras of art’s timeline. From the Renaissance up till now, there are numerous epochs with different trends. That’s why you won’t run out of topic ideas if you choose to write about one of the epochs. Here are some easy-to-get-into topics on the different art epochs for your essay: 

• Compare Baroque to Renaissance
• The Beauty of Rococo
• The Emergence of Art Nouveau 
• Compare Contemporary Art to Abstract Expressionism 
• The Lasting Influence of Futurism 
• The Era of Symbolism 

And if you want to look at more options simply type in "art timeline" on your search engine, since there are many remaining epochs that are intriguing and worthwhile.

Art: Compare And Contrast Topics

Compare and contrast essays are pretty straightforward, but perhaps you’re still conflicted as to what topic you should be using. Here are some solid topic ideas for compare and contrast essays: 

• Compare Realism and Naturalism 
• Compare Gothic and Romanesque 
• What are the differences and similarities between the Dada movement and the postmodern movement? 
• Compare Art Deco and Art Nouveau 
• Compare Pop art and Pop Surrealism
• Compare Roman Mythology and Greek Mythology 
• Compare the artwork of Ancient India and China
• What are the differences between the Renaissance and the Neoclassicism works of art?
• Romanticism vs. Impressionism 
• Cubism vs. Dadaism 
• Surrealism vs. Abstract Expressionism 
• Minimalism vs. Contemporary Art 

The goal of the essay is to find the differences in both elements, but it is also important to include the similarities between the two since this adds more depth to your analysis than only including the differences. 

Art Therapy Topics Ideas

Art therapy is the merging of the fields of psychotherapy and art and is used to help individuals improve their cognitive brain functions. It is also used to help self-awareness and self-esteem and to decrease stress levels. Art therapy is quite an interesting topic to write about, but if you’re feeling stuck, then here are some fresh ideas on what you can write about: 

• The Art Therapy Industry
• Art Therapy for Trauma Survivors
• Art Therapy for Children and Families
• The Positive Impact of Art Therapy
• The Benefits of Art Therapy For Your Psyche
• Art Therapy and The Elderly
• Art Therapy to Reduce Stress Levels And Find Inner Peace
• Techniques Used in Art Therapy 

Consider the options stated above and choose one for your essay topics about art. This particular field should be quite interesting for students who are intrigued by human psychology and the art world and might prove fulfilling to research.

Art History Topics

Art history is the study of visual culture, from paintings to sculptures, and architecture. Additionally, art history provides us with the complex story of human history and civilization through the study of these artworks and designs. Art history covers everything, starting from prehistoric art all the way to contemporary.

If you’re going to write an art essay, chances are that you’re already enrolled in an art history class. Here are some interesting art history topics to consider: 

• The Secrets of The Mona Lisa 
• Leonardo Da Vinci’s Works
• Occult Art In Ancient Religion
• Hermetic Art 
• Medieval Art 
• Megalithic Sites 
• The Ancient Pyramids of Egypt 
• Easter Island’s Heads
• The Techniques Used in Renaissance Art 
• The Emergence of Realism 
• Christian Art 

Choose one of the topics above if you’ve found an ideal subject to cover and if you haven’t you can still use one of our ideas to make a practice essay. Practicing your writing before handing in the essay will surely help your grades. Look at our art essay example for more clarity.

Argumentative Essay Topics On Art

If you want to prove an argument and your point through sharp analysis and by showing credible proof of your claims, then write an argumentative essay on art. There is a lot to be said and covered but for those who have no ideas on what topic they should write about in their argumentative essay, then let’s look at some:

• Money Laundering Through Art
• Why Contemporary Art Feels Soulless compared to earlier epochs
• Is the art world too rigid?
• Do art schools kill individuality? 
• The importance of the existence of art 
• How art reflects society’s current conditions 

Choose what to do with our art argumentative topics, and keep on reading since we will present an example of an art analysis essay at the end of this guide. 

Cause And Effect Topics: Art

Cause and effect essays are exactly what they sound like. It’s an art essay about an event. Students will write extensively about the cause of the event, and its long-term and short-term effects. There are many major happenings in art history that can be referenced for a cause-and-effect essay. However, for those who are struggling to come up with ideas, let’s take a look at some of ours: 

• Why were the world fairs destroyed right after being built? 
• What sparked the Renaissance movement? 
• What sparked the period of Romanticism?
• How did WWI affect artists and their artwork?
• How did WWII affect artists and their artwork? 
• How has religious doctrine affected the artwork of its culture? 
• How has art evolved in modern times? 
• Why is there such a stark difference between ancient architecture to modern architecture? 
• What caused the emergence of pop art? 

Artists’ Bio Topics

Writing about artists’ bios is essential to having a complete understanding of the artwork and the artist. Their motives and life story will always have a great impact on their work, therefore it can be interesting to write an essay about their lives. Here are some ideas:

• Leonardo da Vinci
• Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardic
• Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino
• Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni
• Francois Boucher
• Jean-Antoine Watteau
• Jean-Honoré Fragonard
• Kazimir Malevich 
• Pablo Picasso 
• Piet Mondrian 
• Frida Kahlo 
• Jackson Pollock 
• Georgia O'Keeffe
• Salvador Dali 
• Jorge Luis Borges
• Isabel Allende
• Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Márquez
• Cindy Sherman 
• Liu Xiaodong 
• Cecily Brown 
• Miquel Barcelo 
• Takashi Murakami 
• Günther Förg
• Luo Zhongli 
• Pierre Albert-Birot 
• Guillaume Apollinaire 
• Louis Aragon 
• Alice Bailly 
• Johannes Baader 
• Johannes Theodor Baargeld
• Claude Monet
• Berthe Morisot
• Camille Pissarro
• Alfred Sisley
• Auguste Renoir
• Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas

Explore Diverse and Rich East African Art

The diversity of East African art history is mirrored in the people and cultures that make up the continent. Examining the richness and vibrancy of East African culture art will provide you with countless ideas for your next art essay. African art contains an incredible range of items, mediums, and subjects, from the complex cave art of South Africa's Cederberg Mountains to the abstract masks of several ethnic groups. 

For Western observers, one startling feature of African art may be how unlike it is to historical paintings created in the European Renaissance style, which strongly focuses on vanishing-point vision and a certain kind of naturalistic portrayal.

In the same way, traditional African art center East should be studied independently for the themes and motifs that run across much of it, such as creating objects and costumes for ceremonial and religious use.

To give you some ideas, you can consider the following topic ideas on East African arts and crafts from our essay writer :

• The Development and History of Traditional Crafts in East Africa Over Time
• Natural Materials Used in East African Arts and Crafts
• The Contribution of Art and Craft to East African Cultural Traditions
• The Impact of East African Art and Craft on Modern Fashion and Interior Design
• The Effect of Tourism on the Arts and Crafts Sector in East Africa

And if you'd rather have a PRO craft you an uncontested paper, then ask us - ' write my essay for me ,' and we'll take care of it right away.

4 Best East African Art Gallery Centers

You could now be driven to research the history of East African art making and base your essay on this fascinating culture. However, we have yet to supply you with additional information that you will find beneficial in furthering your understanding of African art and craft. Let's now explore a few of the most noteworthy East African art centers, such as museums and galleries, that have a major role in advancing this field in the region.

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town, South Africa

In 2017, Cape Town welcomed the opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA). It is the largest museum in the world devoted to modern African art and its diaspora, created by the highly regarded London-based Heatherwick Studio.

What's important is that Zeitz MOCAA supports and advances the careers of African artists by giving them a venue to display their work and interact with viewers. The museum also sponsors initiatives that allow artists to expand their networks and gain new skills.

The museum has also significantly boosted the local economy by luring visitors and generating employment in the cultural sector. The Zeitz MOCAA Foundation also supports cultural organizations and initiatives across Africa, which furthers the growth not only of South African art but the overall continent's cultural sector.

Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya

Established in 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya, Circle promotes modern East African art. They want to develop a robust and long-lasting art market for East African artists by assisting and promoting the most cutting-edge and fascinating artists working in the area. 

This East African art gallery has enhanced exposure for renowned and young artists, both abroad and domestically, through group and solo exhibits as well as involvement with international art events. 

They are creating a solid and persistent market for East African artists by collaborating closely with local, nationwide, and foreign investors and curators. They are constantly modifying their programming and improving existing web platforms to keep showcasing insightful and tough contemporary art from East Africa.

Zoma Museum, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Zoma Museum, a distinctive establishment honoring famous East African art, architecture, and culture, is situated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Utilizing green building methods and materials, the museum's design itself places a strong emphasis on sustainability. The structure has solar power and rainwater collection elements that decrease energy use and carbon impact. The museum is an example of environmentally friendly building techniques and encourages environmental awareness.

This African art center East also strives to promote and conserve Ethiopia's rich cultural legacy while giving up-and-coming artists a place to display their creations. Additionally, the Zoma Museum Foundation contributes to local development initiatives, providing clean water and healthcare services.

The museum is a gathering place for intellectuals, artists, and fans of the arts, allowing them to interact and share knowledge. The museum's activities and displays foster intercultural awareness and understanding while highlighting Ethiopia's rich creative legacy worldwide.

Murumbi African Heritage Collection, Nairobi, Kenya

African art pieces, antiquities, and publications that make up the Murumbi African Heritage Collection were put together by Joseph and Sheila Murumbi, two influential figures in Kenya's political and cultural history. 

The significance of this collection lies in the fact that it safeguards African cultural heritage. Many of the items in the collection are rare and priceless representations of significant times in history and cultural customs. In order to prevent their loss or destruction, the collection acts as a depository for these priceless items.

For academics, students, and the general public, the Murumbi Collection also offers priceless educational materials. The collection consists of books, images, and other items that shed light on Kenyan history and politics, as well as the art and culture of Africa as a whole.

If you've discovered a whole new passion for researching vibrant East African art making and wishing - 'I prefer to ask someone to write my essay on this amazing culture,' contact us for immediate assistance.

Art Analysis Essay Example

Here is an example of an art analysis essay from our professional writers. Check the one on "The Critique of Dali’s The Persistence of Memory":

Dali's use of color for everything else besides the three clocks and the ghostly figure is dark and heavy. On the other hand, the colors he uses for the central figures are very light. This naturally leads our eye to them, and it could be conveying that these figures are the dream-like elements that always appear in surrealist works of art.

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The writer’s palette: color-coding as a revision strategy

Revision is an essential part of the writing process, but it can feel daunting. You’ve toiled over ideas, finally gotten words onto the page, and now you need to revise. This step can seem overwhelming, especially if you’re pressed for time or tired of looking at the same draft. 

Visualization strategies are a great way to take a step back from your text and ease the revision process. One of my favorites, color-coding, can make the revision process feel less like cleaning up a mess of words and more like transforming your draft into a work of art. 

At its most basic, color-coding is just using specific colors to identify elements of your writing. In a short story, for example, you might turn all dialogue red, character’s actions blue, and scene descriptions purple. Using colors as a visual aid can help you assess and organize drafts without getting lost in your prose. 

This brief video from the UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center explains how to use color-coding as a brainstorming strategy, but it's also a powerful and flexible revision tool. Here, I’ll walk you through a few common ways color-coding can help you revise your academic writing.

Revising Application Essays and Personal Statements

Although application essays are more personal than many other forms of academic writing, first drafts tend to be full of generalizations. These can be useful for brainstorming or to get your ideas flowing, but impactful application essays and personal statements are ultimately built from detailed, writer-specific sentences. Color-coding can help you identify generalizations in your early drafts and decide where to focus your revision efforts. 

Use one color to highlight sentences that only you could have written. In a contrasting color, highlight anything that could reasonably be cut and pasted into another applicant’s essay. Revise any text highlighted in the second color to be more concrete, specific, and distinctly about you. 

Ensuring You’ve Addressed the Prompt

This is my favorite way to use color-coding, especially when a writing prompt requires you to address multiple questions or issues.

To begin, break your prompt into its component parts and assign each its own color. Here’s an example from one of my recent coaching sessions: 

Compare and contrast two representations of zombies in North American popular culture, one from the 20th century and another from the 21st. Discuss their similarities and differences, keeping in mind the historical context of each. How do these relate, if at all, to Zora Neale Hurston’s discussion of Marie M?

While there are multiple ways to break down any prompt, this student used six colors to categorize her assignment: 

• Historical context of White Zombie (1931)
• Historical context of Zombieland (2009)
• Similarities between the films
• Differences between the films
• White Zombie and Marie M
• Zombieland and Marie M

After you’ve coded the prompt, highlight sentences in your draft in the corresponding colors. 

When you’re finished, zoom out or hold your printed draft at arm’s length. Your visualization will help you quickly determine if you’ve addressed each question. You can also use it to evaluate how much attention you’ve dedicated to each topic.

Assessing Structure and Flow

A color-coded draft also gives you valuable information about the organization and flow of your essay, as it draws attention to transitions between topics. 

You can use color-coding to this end even when you aren’t coding your essay to a prompt. Simply read over your essay, highlighting sentences that maintain focus on one topic in the same color. When you transition to a new topic, change colors accordingly. 

When you finish and zoom out from your draft, you’ll be able to see how many topics you’ve covered, consider how they’re grouped, and assess the coherence and organization of your ideas at a draft-level. 

So, there you have it: a clear, organized, and colorful way to help you revise your writing. Color-coding is an incredibly flexible strategy, so experiment to find out how it can work best for you. No matter how you use it, color-coding can help you see through clutter and make revision feel more creative and less like cleaning up after yourself. 

Sherah earned BAs in Art History and English Literature/Creative Writing from Agnes Scott College and an MA in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies from Georgia State University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Visual Analysis: How to Analyze a Painting and Write an Essay

A visual analysis essay is an entry-level essay sometimes taught in high school and early university courses. Both communications and art history students use visual analysis to understand art and other visual messages. In our article, we will define the term and give an in-depth guide on how to look at a piece of art and write a visual analysis essay. Stay tuned until the end for a handy visual analysis essay example from our graduate paper writing service .

What Is Visual Analysis?

Visual analysis is the process of looking at a piece of visual art (painting, photography, film, etc.) and dissecting it for the artist’s intended meaning and means of execution. In some cases, works are also analyzed for historical significance and their impact on culture, art, politics, and the social consciousness of the time. This article will teach you how to perform a formal analysis of art.

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A visual analysis essay is a type of essay written mostly by students majoring in Art History and Communications. The process of visual analysis can be applied to painting, visual art, journalism, photo-journalism, photography, film, and writing. Works in these mediums are often meant to be consumed for entertainment or informative purposes. Visual analysis goes beyond that, focusing on form, themes, execution, and the compositional elements that make up the work.

Classical paintings are a common topic for a visual analysis essay because of their depth and historical significance. Take the famous Raphael painting Transfiguration. At first glance, it is an attractive image showing a famous scene from the Bible. But a more in-depth look reveals practical painting techniques, relationships between figures, heavy symbolism, and a remarkable choice of colors by the talented Raphael. This deeper look at a painting, a photograph, visual or written art is the process of visual analysis.

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Formal Analysis of Art: Who Does It?

Most people who face visual analysis essays are Communication, English, and Art History students. Communications students explore mediums such as theater, print media, news, films, photos — basically anything. Comm is basically a giant, all-encompassing major where visual analysis is synonymous with Tuesday.

Art History students study the world of art to understand how it developed. They do visual analysis with every painting they look it at and discuss it in class.

English Literature students perform visual analysis too. Every writer paints an image in the head of their reader. This image, like a painting, can be clear, or purposefully unclear. It can be factual, to the point, or emotional and abstract like Ulysses, challenging you to search your emotions rather than facts and realities.

How to Conduct Visual Analysis: What to Look For

Whether you study journalism or art, writing a visual analysis essay will be a frequent challenge on your academic journey. The primary principles can be learned and applied to any medium, regardless of whether it’s photography or painting.

For the sake of clarity, we’ve chosen to talk about painting, the most common medium for the formal analysis of art.

In analyzing a painting, there are a few essential points that the writer must know.

• Who is the painter, and what era of art did they belong to? Classical painters depict scenes from the Bible, literature, or historical events (like the burning of Rome or the death of Socrates). Modernists, on the other hand, tend to subvert classical themes and offer a different approach to art. Modernism was born as a reaction to classical painting, therefore analyzing modernist art by the standards of classical art would not work.
• What was the painter’s purpose? Classical painters like Michelangelo were usually hired by the Vatican or by noble families. Michelangelo didn’t paint the Sistine Chapel just for fun; he was paid to do it.
• Who is the audience? Artists like Andy Warhol tried to appeal to the masses. Others like Marcel Duchamp made art for art people, aiming to evolve the art form.
• What is the historical context? Research your artist/painting thoroughly before you write. The points of analysis that can be applied to a Renaissance painter cannot be applied to a Surrealist painter. Surrealism is an artistic movement, and understanding its essence is the key to analyzing any surrealist painting.

Familiarizing yourself with these essential points will give you all the information and context, you need to write a good visual analysis essay.

But visual analysis can go deeper than that — especially when dealing with historic pieces of visual art. Students explore different angles of interpretation, the interplay of colors and themes, how the piece was made and various reactions, and critiques of it. Let’s dig deeper.

A Detailed Process of Analyzing Visual Art

Performing a formal analysis of art is a fundamental skill taught at entry-level art history classes. Students who study art or communications further develop this skill through the years. Not all types of analysis apply to every work of art; every art piece is unique. When performing visual analysis, it’s essential to keep in mind why this particular work of art is important in its own way.

Step 1: General Info

To begin, identify the following necessary information on the work of art and the artist.

• Subject — who or what does this work represent?
• Artist — who is the author of this piece? Refer to them by their last name.
• Date and Provenance — when and where this work of art was made. Is it typical to its historical period or geographical location?
• Past and Current Locations — where was this work was displayed initially, and where is it now?
• Medium and Creation Techniques — what medium was this piece made for and why is it important to that medium? Note which materials were used in its execution and its size.

Step 2: Describe the Painting

Next, describe what the painting depicts or represents. This section will be like an abstract, summarizing all the visible aspects of the piece, painting the image in the reader’s mind. Here are the dominant features to look for in a painting:

• Characters or Figures: who they are and what they represent.
• If this is a classical painting, identify the story or theme depicted.
• If this is an abstract painting, pay attention to shapes and colors.
• Lighting and overall mood of the painting.
• Identify the setting.

Step 3: Detailed Analysis

The largest chunk of your paper will focus on a detailed visual analysis of the work. This is where you go past the basics and look at the art elements and the principles of design of the work.

Art elements deal mostly with the artist’s intricate painting techniques and basics of composition.

• Lines — painters use a variety of lines ranging from straight and horizontal to thick, curved, even implied lines.
• Shapes — shapes can be distinct or hidden in plain sight; note all the geometrical patterns of the painting.
• Use of Light — identify the source of light, or whether the lighting is flat; see whether the painter chooses contrasting or even colors and explain the significance of their choice in relation to the painting.
• Colors — identify how the painter uses color; which colors are primary, which are secondary; what is the tone of the painting (warm or cool?)
• Patterns — are there repeating patterns in the painting? These could be figures as well as hidden textural patterns.
• Use of Space — what kind of perspective is used in the painting; how does the artist show depth (if they do).
• Passage of Time and Motion

Design principles look at the painting from a broader perspective; how the art elements are used to create a rounded experience from an artistic and a thematic perspective.

• Variety and Unity - explore how rich and varied the artists’ techniques are and whether they create a sense of unity or chaos.
• Symmetry or Asymmetry - identify points of balance in the painting, whether it’s patterns, shapes, or use of colors.
• Emphasis - identify the points of focus, both from a thematic and artistic perspective. Does the painter emphasize a particular color or element of architecture?
• Proportions - explain how objects and figures work together to provide a sense of scale, mass, and volume to the overall painting.
• Use of Rhythm - identify how the artist implies a particular rhythm through their techniques and figures.

Seeing as each work of art is unique, be thoughtful in which art elements and design principles you wish to discuss in your essay. Visual analysis does not limit itself to painting and can also be applied to mediums like photography.

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The Structure: How to Write a Visual Analysis Paper

It’s safe to use the five-paragraph essay structure for your visual analysis essay. If you are looking at a painting, take the most important aspects of it that stand out to you and discuss them in relation to your thesis. Structure it with the simple essay structure:

Introduction: An introduction to a visual analysis essay serves to give basic information on the work of art and briefly summarize the points of discussion.

• Give a brief description of the painting: name of artist, year, artistic movement (if necessary), and the artist’s purpose in creating this work.
• Briefly describe what is in the painting.
• Add interesting facts about the artist, painting, or historical period to give your reader some context.
• As in all introductions, don’t forget to include an attention-grabber to get your audience interested in reading your work.

Thesis: In your thesis, state the points of analysis on this work of art which you will discuss in your essay.

Body: Explore the work of art and all of its aspects in detail. Refer to the section above titled “A Detailed Process of Analyzing Visual Art,” which will comprise most of your essay’s body.

Conclusion: After you’ve thoroughly analyzed the painting and the artist’s techniques, give your thoughts and opinions on the work. Your observations should be based on the points of analysis in your essay. Discuss how the art elements and design principles of the artist give the painting meaning and support your observations with facts from your essay.

Citation: Standard citation rules apply to these essays. Use in-text citations when quoting a book, website, journal, or a movie, and include a sources cited page listing your sources. And there’s no need to worry about how to cite a piece of art throughout the text. Explain thoroughly what work of art you’re analyzing in your introduction, and refer to it by name in the body of your essay like this — Transfiguration by Raphael.

If you want a more in-depth look at the classic essay structure, feel free to visit our 5-PARAGRAPH-ESSAY blog

Learn From a Visual Analysis Example

Many YouTube videos are analyzing famous paintings like the Death of Socrates, which can be a great art analysis example to go by. But the best way to understand the format and presentation is by looking at a painting analysis essay example done by a scholarly writer. One of our writers has penned an outstanding piece on Leonardo Da Vinci’s La Belle Ferronnière, which you may find below. Use it as a reference point for your visual analysis essay, and you can’t go wrong!

Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian artist born in April 1452 and died in May 1519who lived in the Renaissance era. His fame and popularity were based on his painting sand contribution to the Italian artwork. Leonardo was also an active inventor, a vibrant musician, writer, and scientist as well as a talented sculptor amongst other fields. His various career fields proved that he wanted to know everything about nature. In the book “Leonardo Da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance” by Alessandro Vezzosi, it is argued that Leonardo was one of the most successful and versatile artists and anatomists of the Italian renaissance based on his unique artwork and paintings (Vezzosi, p1454). Some of his groundbreaking research in medicine, metal-casting, natural science, architecture, and weaponry amongst other fields have been explored in the book. He was doing all these in the renaissance period in Italy from the 1470s till his death.

Visual analysis essays will appear early in your communications and art history degrees. Learning how to formally analyze art is an essential skill, whether you intend to pursue a career in art or communications.

Before diving into analysis, get a solid historical background on the painter and their life. Analyzing a painting isn’t mere entertainment; one must pay attention to intricate details which the painter might have hidden from plain sight.

We live in an environment saturated by digital media. By gaining the skill of visual analysis, you will not only heighten your appreciation of the arts but be able to thoroughly analyze the media messages you face in your daily life.

Also, don't forget to read summary of Lord of the Flies , and the article about Beowulf characters .

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing Essays in Art History

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

These OWL resources provide guidance on typical genres with the art history discipline that may appear in professional settings or academic assignments, including museum catalog entries, museum title cards, art history analysis, notetaking, and art history exams.

Art History Analysis – Formal Analysis and Stylistic Analysis

Typically in an art history class the main essay students will need to write for a final paper or for an exam is a formal or stylistic analysis.

A formal analysis is just what it sounds like – you need to analyze the form of the artwork. This includes the individual design elements – composition, color, line, texture, scale, contrast, etc. Questions to consider in a formal analysis is how do all these elements come together to create this work of art? Think of formal analysis in relation to literature – authors give descriptions of characters or places through the written word. How does an artist convey this same information?

Organize your information and focus on each feature before moving onto the text – it is not ideal to discuss color and jump from line to then in the conclusion discuss color again. First summarize the overall appearance of the work of art – is this a painting? Does the artist use only dark colors? Why heavy brushstrokes? etc and then discuss details of the object – this specific animal is gray, the sky is missing a moon, etc. Again, it is best to be organized and focused in your writing – if you discuss the animals and then the individuals and go back to the animals you run the risk of making your writing unorganized and hard to read. It is also ideal to discuss the focal of the piece – what is in the center? What stands out the most in the piece or takes up most of the composition?

A stylistic approach can be described as an indicator of unique characteristics that analyzes and uses the formal elements (2-D: Line, color, value, shape and 3-D all of those and mass).The point of style is to see all the commonalities in a person’s works, such as the use of paint and brush strokes in Van Gogh’s work. Style can distinguish an artist’s work from others and within their own timeline, geographical regions, etc.

Methods & Theories To Consider:

Expressionism

Instructuralism

Postmodernism

Social Art History

Biographical Approach

Poststructuralism

Museum Studies

Visual Cultural Studies

Stylistic Analysis Example:

The following is a brief stylistic analysis of two Greek statues, an example of how style has changed because of the “essence of the age.” Over the years, sculptures of women started off as being plain and fully clothed with no distinct features, to the beautiful Venus/Aphrodite figures most people recognize today. In the mid-seventh century to the early fifth, life-sized standing marble statues of young women, often elaborately dress in gaily painted garments were created known as korai. The earliest korai is a Naxian women to Artemis. The statue wears a tight-fitted, belted peplos, giving the body a very plain look. The earliest korai wore the simpler Dorian peplos, which was a heavy woolen garment. From about 530, most wear a thinner, more elaborate, and brightly painted Ionic linen and himation. A largely contrasting Greek statue to the korai is the Venus de Milo. The Venus from head to toe is six feet seven inches tall. Her hips suggest that she has had several children. Though her body shows to be heavy, she still seems to almost be weightless. Viewing the Venus de Milo, she changes from side to side. From her right side she seems almost like a pillar and her leg bears most of the weight. She seems be firmly planted into the earth, and since she is looking at the left, her big features such as her waist define her. The Venus de Milo had a band around her right bicep. She had earrings that were brutally stolen, ripping her ears away. Venus was noted for loving necklaces, so it is very possibly she would have had one. It is also possible she had a tiara and bracelets. Venus was normally defined as “golden,” so her hair would have been painted. Two statues in the same region, have throughout history, changed in their style.

Compare and Contrast Essay

Most introductory art history classes will ask students to write a compare and contrast essay about two pieces – examples include comparing and contrasting a medieval to a renaissance painting. It is always best to start with smaller comparisons between the two works of art such as the medium of the piece. Then the comparison can include attention to detail so use of color, subject matter, or iconography. Do the same for contrasting the two pieces – start small. After the foundation is set move on to the analysis and what these comparisons or contrasting material mean – ‘what is the bigger picture here?’ Consider why one artist would wish to show the same subject matter in a different way, how, when, etc are all questions to ask in the compare and contrast essay. If during an exam it would be best to quickly outline the points to make before tackling writing the essay.

Compare and Contrast Example:

Stele of Hammurabi from Susa (modern Shush, Iran), ca. 1792 – 1750 BCE, Basalt, height of stele approx. 7’ height of relief 28’

Stele, relief sculpture, Art as propaganda – Hammurabi shows that his law code is approved by the gods, depiction of land in background, Hammurabi on the same place of importance as the god, etc.

Top of this stele shows the relief image of Hammurabi receiving the law code from Shamash, god of justice, Code of Babylonian social law, only two figures shown, different area and time period, etc.

Stele of Naram-sin , Sippar Found at Susa c. 2220 - 2184 bce. Limestone, height 6'6"

Stele, relief sculpture, Example of propaganda because the ruler (like the Stele of Hammurabi) shows his power through divine authority, Naramsin is the main character due to his large size, depiction of land in background, etc.

Akkadian art, made of limestone, the stele commemorates a victory of Naramsin, multiple figures are shown specifically soldiers, different area and time period, etc.

Iconography

Regardless of what essay approach you take in class it is absolutely necessary to understand how to analyze the iconography of a work of art and to incorporate into your paper. Iconography is defined as subject matter, what the image means. For example, why do things such as a small dog in a painting in early Northern Renaissance paintings represent sexuality? Additionally, how can an individual perhaps identify these motifs that keep coming up?

The following is a list of symbols and their meaning in Marriage a la Mode by William Hogarth (1743) that is a series of six paintings that show the story of marriage in Hogarth’s eyes.

• Man has pockets turned out symbolizing he has lost money and was recently in a fight by the state of his clothes.
• Lap dog shows loyalty but sniffs at woman’s hat in the husband’s pocket showing sexual exploits.
• Black dot on husband’s neck believed to be symbol of syphilis.
• Mantel full of ugly Chinese porcelain statues symbolizing that the couple has no class.
• Butler had to go pay bills, you can tell this by the distasteful look on his face and that his pockets are stuffed with bills and papers.
• Card game just finished up, women has directions to game under foot, shows her easily cheating nature.
• Paintings of saints line a wall of the background room, isolated from the living, shows the couple’s complete disregard to faith and religion.
• The dangers of sexual excess are underscored in the Hograth by placing Cupid among ruins, foreshadowing the inevitable ruin of the marriage.
• Eventually the series (other five paintings) shows that the woman has an affair, the men duel and die, the woman hangs herself and the father takes her ring off her finger symbolizing the one thing he could salvage from the marriage.

How Color Coding Works in Written Analysis

Go buy some stock in Paper Mate because you’re about to bump that bottom line. Red Flair pens and blue Flair pens should be on your list of required classroom supplies and your list for Santa because they are going to change completely the way you teach students to analyze both fiction and non-fiction.

Why Analysis is SO HARD

The two most challenging skill sets to teach to mastery are paraphrasing and analyzing. These two processes require the brain to make connections that no other skills require. Put way too simply, analysis is explaining how a fact, excerpt, detail, or example illustrates the truth of the topic sentence and, by extension, a thesis statement.

Analysis is explaining how a fact, excerpt, detail, or example illustrates the truth of the topic sentence and, by extension, a thesis statement.

Explain it like that, and you’ve already lost your adolescent audience. But make it visual and give them some markers, and you’re on your way to pulling from those minds the most amazing literary analysis and rhetorical analysis you’ve ever read. Here are some steps for introducing the concepts, and they apply to both fiction and informational text:

Step 1: Get on the Same Page with Terminology

Give students this list of terms: fact, opinion, analysis, commentary, detail, statistic, example, elaboration, and evaluation. On a white board or chart paper, create a T chart and have students sort the words into just two columns and then label the columns. Students might do this in pairs first before the class talks about it as a whole group. As you work with the class to categorize, write all “fact” words in blue and all the “opinion” words in red. The final T chart might look something like this before you decide as a class what the labels will be:

From now on, every time students plan, write, back map, etc., they are doing so in blue and red. Blue is FACT and red is OPINION . What you call them is up to you, but you need to be consistent, and ideally, every teacher in your department or team uses the same terminology. When I taught at Grimsley HIgh School in Greensboro, North Carolina (Go Whirlies!), our department chair went to a Jane Schaffer workshop and came back and trained our sixteen-member team like a religious zealot. We all bought in and started using CONCRETE DETAIL and COMMENTARY . A few years later, our Department of Public Instruction came out with a writing rubric that used SUPPORT and ELABORATION , so I used those for years and years. Now I’m on CONCRETE DETAIL AND ANALYSIS .

Step 2: Illustrate to students that the job of analysis is to connect each concrete detail to the truth of each topic sentence.

For training purposes, we live only at the paragraph level for a while, and we put topic sentences first. The topic sentence is always OPINION, so it is always RED. A concrete detail is always factual; it is something a student can point to in a passage, so it is always BLUE. Analysis is opinion that connects the BLUE support to the RED topic sentence. Depending on the level of student, a paragraph might have two or three blue concrete details, and each detail will have corresponding RED analysis.

Step 3: Scaffold with Meaty, Debatable Topic Sentences

The teacher is the best reader and writer in the room, so modeling is a must here. A topic sentence must be debatable; if it isn’t, the student will hit a brick wall. They need to get good at building debatable topic sentences, so I start by giving them the whole thing. We then move to a topic sentence with a hole that needs a debatable word, and then we move to completely original topic sentences. It took me a while to figure out that when a student can’t come up with a concrete detail or corresponding analysis, the problem is the topic sentence.

Step 4: Work on Creating Really Specific Concrete Details

I tell my students that a good concrete detail is like a laxative. (I know, gross. But they get it.) If a detail is specific enough, the analysis will flow. If the detail is too general, analysis is not going to happen. We do sorting exercises to help students understand the difference between concrete details, general details, and the author’s own commentary. Once students can tie a solid concrete detail to a solid topic sentence, then we start working on analysis.

Step 5: Scaffold with Guiding Questions

When I’m training students (and yes, it’s formulaic, but the brain looks for patterns, so just let it go), I give them a red topic sentence, a blue concrete detail, and then two to four questions to help them write a statement that connects the blue to the red. I create exercises in which I give students ten sentences of “analysis” and have them decide in teams which ones will work. Once they can recognize analysis and then write it within a framework, I start letting them write full, original analysis.

Step 6: Write in color.

Here’s where the pens come in. Students will write each element in a graphic organizer in red and blue. Once their templates are approved, they can move on to paragraph construction. This is an example of a literary analysis paragraph for Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, but a rhetorical analysis paragraph would look similar.

Step 7: Work on sentence combining and transitions.

If you’re a Jane Schaffer fan, you call this weaving . It’s a style thing and is actually one of the easier parts of the process. Creating this flow is part art and part science, part finesse and part grammar.

Step 8: Refine.

We hangout in Steps 4 through 7 for a LONG time. Once they stop writing themselves into a corner with junk details and shallow analysis, they can get to a full essay.

Step 9: Work on Thesis Statements.

I know this seems out of order, but I want students to master sentence-level and paragraph-level analysis before they create that idea that will control an entire essay. With my freshmen and sophomores, I would always use this order, but with my AP English Language & Comp students, we might hop in and out of thesis work based on which mode we’re in.

Step 10: Tack on Introductions and Conclusions

An introduction is icing on the cake, and a conclusion is a gorgeous piece of decor on top (If it’s the right one, it’s perfect. If it’s awful, it should just be scraped off). I teach my AP Lang students to write a thesis statement, jump in, and skip the conclusion. (Scandalous!)

Step 11: Circle Back to Style with Transitions and Word Choice

This step could fit anywhere, but I dropped it here because these two issues may just be my lowest priorities. With AP Lang, I might move word choice up a bit, but transitions are the least of my worries.

Want an anchor chart to help students improve commentary? Grab that here.

I’m a recovering high school English teacher and curriculum specialist with a passion for helping teachers leave school at school. I create engaging, rigorous curriculum resources for secondary ELA professionals, and I facilitate workshops to help those teachers implement the materials effectively.

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