The science of deduction

Or writing art history. Same difference. Deducting. Writing.

It's come to my attention that a lot of people find my blog(s) because they're Googling foolproof ways to pass the AP Art History exam. So, I put this together about two years ago (it was originally a post but I made it a page) to aid you in your quest. It's not an art history crash course. If you want one of those, feel free to ask and I'll see where I can start. These are writing tips that I've picked up over my years of higher education and tutoring. They don't all come from my brain. Most of them come from my mentors' repertoires. I hope it helps in some way!

Here's the abridged version:

• Write a solid conclusion and save some time to proofread (or redraft, if it's a paper)
• Don't just tell us- show us
• Art does not exist in a void

And, for fleshier details:

• Answer the prompt. Preferably at the start. It is easy to lose sight of sometimes, so when a prompt is there, answer it. As Malcolm Tucker says, 'Come the fuck in, or fuck the fuck off.' Answering the question is at least 1/3 of the battle, and no one appreciates reading your attempts at what a high school teacher of mine called 'the squid technique,' or gushing ink all over a page because you're scared. That can work to get you out of writer's block, but it's not a good paper or exam technique.
• Answer the prompt. Seriously.
• Adjectives are not always your friend. The broad ones, especially used in conjunction with a claim-- like an artwork being "offensive"-- aren't helpful unless you give them context. And please don't only say the art's "important." Any work of art you're writing about in a class setting is important in some fashion to somebody, somewhere. This is something you can, in fact, critique. Which brings me to:
• Why are you saying what you're saying? Sometimes it might take you a little while, but if someone asks you why, you need to be able to tell them. That's okay, and your answers might surprise you.
• Don't be vague or brief, but be concise. Thou art not a Dadaist.
• Don't panic. You can always write something about what you see.
• Never be ashamed to write what you know when it is the best option. Identify your interests and know when to use them. It can be invaluable. I started to feel like a broken record about mine, but that's also how you become an expert, so keep adding new things to the gumbo. Using what you know and like is an okay tactic for finding a framework.
• Don't scrimp. Give reasonably sized explanations to art or theoretical jargon. Just because you're writing it, doesn't mean you know how to use it. It's not an impressive word if you're not using it right, and that can shoot you in the foot.
• Fact check. Ask in class, ask your professor, ask the know-it-all you think is an unapproachable snob, email your TA, or look it up from a reputable source. Wikipedia does not count as reputable. Although, JSTOR is now friends with Wikipedia, so that's an okay place to start. Fact check before you hand the thing in, and you'll be happier.
• Remember, art does not exist in a vacuum, even if it is created to exist in a metaphorical vacuum or be a comment on alienation. Lend your energy to a formal analysis (what you see) and a contextual approach. Connect what you see to the culture and history of the time, as well as possibly-- if relevant-- the artist's own biography. But do keep in mind that you're not writing a docudrama. You don't want to write 'Alias Olympia.' You want to write 'Why have there been no great women artists?'  
• Leave yourself enough time to write a solid conclusion. Graders remember the conclusion, since it is what they read last. This is important to remember, particularly in a timed environment. Good intro? Important. Strong conclusion? I'd argue... more important. You should probably also read back and make sure your concluding remarks don't contradict your introductory ones. That can happen. Your conclusion might be better than what you said to begin with, if you're anything like me.

Also, don't make inane, empty claims if you can help it. Like, "The painting is a work of art." Right, maybe, but why? (This one's not really a tip.)