how to write this 30
Writing Your Paper
Your Introduction
Set the Scene – Include the name of the artist or company in your opening lines. Other possibilities include where and when and even under what conditions you are viewing the performance.
Your introduction should also set up the central paragraphs (the meat of your paper) with a thesis statement. A strong introduction will summarize in one or two sentences what is similar or related about the paragraphs ahead while giving the reader a sense of your prevailing reaction to the work. (For more on forming thesis statements see this article at the George Mason University website (Links to an external site.))
Your Observations
Use specific and descriptive language when writing about what you’ve seen.
- Use action words that imply a quality or attribute of the movement (slithered, sauntered, bounded, careened instead of rolled, walked, leaped, or turned)
- Use vivid adjectives to describe qualities of the lighting, costuming, or other elements (cast cheerless shadows, donned gaudy colors and fabrics, carved intricate pathways)
- Generally, you’ll want to write in the present tense. What you see, hear, feel, and sense rather than what you saw, heard, felt, etc. There are cases that past tense might be appropriate but choreography or performance work is best described as something that continues to exist rather than something that has ended or passed. Whatever you choose, be aware and try not to mix tense within the same paragraph or even within the same paper.
Include your interpretation of how the work(s) develop, how they change in mood, how the themes or mood of the piece is expressed.
When offering your opinions of a specific element or how effectively the work is carried out, support these with specific examples from the work (be wary of attempting to support opinion with blanket statements of belief – “The dancer is astonishing. She is an amazing turner and moves better than anyone else on stage.†vs. “The dancer is astonishing. Her turns have a serpentine fluidity, making her a standout every time she takes the stage.â€)
Your Conclusion
Sum up your overall experiences and thoughts about the performance or restate your thesis in more detail.
Relate what you’ve seen to your study or past experiences
around 500 words is ok.
