Architectural Theory  Crit 304  Otis College of Art & Design   Spring 2020      Final Paper     Description     The final paper asks you to choose one or two readings from the course to explore in further  detail and to write on questions which emerge from and extend those found in the readings.  The goal of the final paper is to intelligently and critically examine the readings in regards to  how their ideas and concepts intersect, extend, or extrapolate into our present perilous  moment, in regards to contemporary thinking on architectural theory. The readings may be  contemporaneous or divergent; they may also require a kind of triangulation of their ideas in  order to produce a working position. The essay should be understood as a deep dive (or  critical archaeology) into the selected readings in order to demonstrate a careful and nuanced  understanding (which is different than a summary or recap) of the arguments at play, and an  ability to think through the potential effects or implied changes that the authors argue for.  Depending on the texts chosen, the ideas may be in contrast to current day practices of  beliefs, or they may point to other possible futures, routes not taken, or roads previously  available now closed. It is your job to explore these avenues of thought in examining the  readings while keeping a keen eye on today. Use of specific projects (built or unbuilt) or case  studies is encouraged in order to provide examples and/ or instantiations of the concepts.  Remember to pose questions as opposed to seeking answers, and to explore the material of  the seminar fully. The paper will develop and advance the thematics of the course and build on  writing and argumentation skills. The essay should follow the Chicago Manual of Style citation  method with properly cited footnotes, images, and bibliography, consisting of 3-5 sources of  scholarly books or articles.       Note​:  ‒ 6-8 pages of text   ‒ images optional but suggested   ‒ due April 13th via email at 6 pm   - All assignments must be typewritten, double-spaced, 12-pt. font, with the student’s last name  and name of the assignment shown at the top of the page.  - Submit work as pdf named as follows: H+T3-Sp20_name-of-assignment_last-name.pdf         

Grading Guidelines for Writing    Completeness and accuracy:  A successful response accurately answers the question in a concise and precise way and  offers supporting evidence that strengthens the argument.    Comprehension and quality of argument:  A successful response demonstrates exceptional comprehension of  the readings; thesis raises provocative and insightful questions.    Clarity of writing:  A successful response uses language that is well-chosen, organized, and is free from errors in  spelling and grammar.    Written work  1. Clearly articulates an argument based on cited references  2. Demonstrates comprehension of readings and lectures  3. Clearly argues using well-chosen supporting references  4. Clearly and convincingly argues the hypothesis  5. Makes convincing use of visual evidence where required  6. Correctly uses spelling and grammar    Research  1. Demonstrates comprehensiveness and intelligent selection of sources  2. Shows insight and rigor in organization of sources  3. Sources in text are properly cited following the Chicago Manual of Style conventions of  academic writing  4. Bibliography follows the Chicago Manual of Style conventions of academic writing     All written work must follow the Chicago Manual of Style citation method, including  bibliographies, essays, and footnotes. It is the responsibility of the student to become  familiarize with this method of citation. For a quick overview see:     http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html