Analysis of Distinctive Features of Investigation in the Arts - Assignment Example

ATS1340: WORDS WORK Semester 2, 2012 Final Exam Name: __________________________________________________ Signature: ________________________________________________ Student ID: ______________________________ Date: _______________ The exam consists of 5 sections: 1. Analysis of distinctive features of research and study in the Arts 2. Critical thinking 3. Topic analysis 4. Style in academic writing exercises 5. Grammar: rules and relevance The time permitted is 2.5 hours. There is an additional 10 minute reading period at the commencement of the exam. Extra time for special consideration is to be added to this base line. The exam is to be conducted under test conditions. An English-to-English dictionary is permitted. Please ensure ALL other electronic communication devices (i.e mobile phones) and all other electronic devices (eg: iPods) are turned off and stowed away. Section 1: Study in the Arts – short answers /20 You are expected to write at least 400 words in total addressing the following topics. Approximately 100 words on each question are advised; dot point answers are acceptable. 1. Identify and explain three main methodologies utilized in Arts research? Positivist /Empirical Methodology: it is used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. This method is uses empirical observation of the ‘outside’ world. Interpretive/Hermeneutical methodology: This is a way of gaining knowledge that analyses a primary text for example a historical document. The method emphasises on the interpretation of meanings. It is more subjectivist as it acknowledges the role of the interpreter. Bibliographical/non-empirical methodology: this is carrying out of critical literature review. It is analyses the theoretical discourse and it has an emphasis on the synthesis of the theoretical position. 2. Explain what Max Weber meant by the FACT/VALUE distinction in his discourse of the social and natural sciences? In what areas do the social sciences and the natural and/or physical sciences overlap? In what areas are they different? It is assumed that the world turns value into a subjective experience. The Fact-Value distinction distinguishes between arguments held through reason and those supported by collective opinion. Max Weber said that ‘It’ is not ‘Ought’. He means that ‘is’, that is fact, is not ‘ought’, that is value. Weber was of the view that statements of fact are different from statements of value. In his opinion, facts come from science and they are subjective whereas values are objective and they cannot be amended through discussions. Science overlaps with learning which is used in social sciences. However, sciences have a focus on laws and general truths. Both social and natural sciences involve abstraction and they both involve selection. Social sciences inspect an individual’s role in society and the way he relates and interacts. The natural science is interested in those natural events that have a possibility of being formulated into abstract laws. On the other hand, social science is interested in qualities of human beings and the meanings we give to their actions. Natural sciences use experiments and applications whereas social science deals with moral philosophy. 3. Explain what is meant by the following statement: “It is important to note that in much Arts discourse often the topic of critique is the discourse itself.” The object of art is a surplus of the artistic endeavour. Making of arts is significant when there is an explanation attached to it. The other kinds of sciences work with objects that are offered in advance but in the arts arena, it is the viewpoint that forms the object. This means that there are times that one has to speculate on modifications or alternatives to a discourse that has already been established. This is where you substantiate by providing arguments and evidence instead of putting across plain unsupported opinions. 4. What was suggested in the Unit as being the primary unit of data in Arts research? How and from where this data is typically extracted and compiled? What are the main implications of this aspect of Arts inquiry for Arts research and writing techniques? The primary unit of data in the Arts research is human affairs; the way people interact and manage themselves and the king of life in the social organism. It has its main focus on normative and existential features of the human life. This data is compiled through several methods including the bibliographical/ non-empirical method where the researcher analyses the theoretical discourse itself. This is done through doing a critical literature review and coming up with theoretical positions to examine. Another method is use of reflective or auto-ethnographical method where the researcher uses self-reflection on the experience the researcher had in the process of research. Some studies involve a combination of several methods of data collection. The implications of arts research is Arts are less concerned with material reproduction of individuals and societies. It contributes to effective functioning of the society by helping it to understand and analyse how knowledge is produced and applied. Writing research papers follows the structure of a introduction, body and the conclusion. Section 2: CRITICAL THINKING TECHNIQUES /20 Write approximately 75-100 words for each question: 1. Identify and explain the three different types of causes identified in the lecture on Critical Thinking analysis techniques. Provide examples to illustrate your answers: eg: cause/s of the War in Iraq [10 marks] Critical thinking stresses the importance of asking and answering questions. It proceeds through a constant questioning of assumptions and by explaining a particular idea from a general point until the ultimate ground of explanation is reached. The types of courses include: Immediate course: this is the cause that happens immediately the problem occurs and it is the root cause of the happening for example the immediate cause of war in Iraq was possession of weapons of mass destruction. Contributing course: this is not the main cause but is related to the immediate cause. It contributes to the problem not being resolved. For instance, the contributing cause in Iraq’s war is that the government of Iraq refused to surrender the weapons of mass destruction Ultimate cause: the ultimate cause is what sustains the problem. for example, the ultimate cause on the Iraq war was the president and the rebels chose to fight than to surrender. 2. Define what are necessary and sufficient conditions? Using the example of specifying the properties of a square explain the difference. [4 marks] A is necessary for b if and only if B can’t occur without A. That means that whenever you have B, then you have A. Or in other words whatever is B is A A is sufficient for be if and only if A guarantees B. This means that whenever you have A you have B and whatever is A is also B. All squares are rectangular, all squares are equilateral and only squares are equilateral and rectangular. 3. Explain and provide examples of three of the following types of logical fallacies/flawed arguments: Fallacy of the excluded middle (everything is either A or –A) Fallacy of the limited alternative Bandwagon fallacy Ad hominem argument ‘Slippery slope’ argument [6 marks] a) Bandwagon fallacy: This argument has the view that since the majority have chosen a course of action or they believe a particular argument, then it is true. Its goes with the precedent ‘Everybody is doing it’. For example 90% of students use Apple computers, then apple computers should be the best type of computers. However, acceptance of an argument by a majority does not prove that it is valid or true. b) Fallacy of the limited alternative This is the error insisting on something without making full inquiry or having evidence that should there be alternative courses of action, then they have been explored and that they re fully exhausted or they are exclusive. c) Ad hominem argument This is argument against man. It is to argue against or refuse someone’s point of view by being derogatory to them; abusing the person’s character, qualifications, intentions, personality among others. The person arguing this way does not provide evidence why he thinks the other person’s views are incorrect. Section 3: TOPIC ANALYSIS, EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTIONS & ESSAY PLANNING /20 1. Read the following essay topic. In the space below explain what type of essay it is. Also detail how you would develop your response to this topic by drawing upon the five attitudes to knowledge discussed throughout the unit. Write at least 200 words in your response. [14 marks] “A degree in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences teaches you skills that are highly sought by employers in every sector of the workforce: high-level communication, research, and analytical and critical thinking. Your Arts or Social Sciences degree will immediately tell employers that you have superior skills in all of these areas.” To what extent do you agree? Are there other aspects of Arts study that are at least as valuable as the vocational benefits of studying in the Arts? In your opinion, which are the elements of studying an arts degree that should be stressed to prospective students and why?” I strongly agree with the fact that the degree in social sciences teaches the skills that are sought by employers. This is because you learn high-level communication, research, and analytical and critical thinking skills. Applying the reproductive attitude, the facts speak for themselves because communication is at the heart of every sector. Good communication skills coupled with critical thinking is very valuable to every employer. Communication skills involve reading, writing and speaking which are all ways of expressing oneself in the job sector. Everything from the application to the responses to an interview is evidence of the importance of a degree in the social sciences sector. Social sciences stresses on people, their relationships and their actions in their interactions. Every sector of employment is about people and their relations for the maximum profitability of the organization. Therefore, the skills in social sciences as the arts play a big role. There is also the aspect of self-enrichment. Study in arts nourishes the aspects of human life which helps in self-understanding and development. There are vocational benefits of a program of study in the Arts departments. The faculty comprises of linguists, political spin doctors, social managers in public administration among others who benefit the students with know how in those areas. There should be a stress of communication and research skills because every person who is taking a degree is expected to refer to works done by scholars in the arts domain. In doing this the person should be well acquitted with locating the data and being able to analyse it. Critical thinking skills should also be emphasized because taking a degree in arts and social sciences is a learning process which cannot be able to take place without critically analysing the knowledge that a learner is exposed to. To communicate ideas and fulfil the requirements of the course, a prospective student should have writing skills. A great emphasis should be placed in grammar as it is a requirement of every good academic work. 2. Based on the model of an Effective Introduction outlined in the unit, identify which TYPE of introduction sentence best fits each of the following sentences: [6 MARKS] NB: One sentence MAY represent TWO different sentence types A. This paper will initially discuss the methodology of study in the arts, its relation to other tertiary disciplines and its beneficial effect on individuals, with particular regard to the technique of critical thinking. It will then examine the social and economic benefits granted to society through the study of arts disciplines such as languages, history and culture. Sentences type/s: General topic and Specific topic B. Using a literature review, this paper argues that both the techniques used in study in the arts and the subject matter of arts disciplines are unique and important, both for the development of individuals and a functioning democratic society. Sentence type/s: Thesis sentence C. Study in the arts and humanities involves both the production and examination of knowledge concerning the interactions between human beings. Sentence type/s: General topic D. A number of conflicting opinions exist not only in relation to the defining characteristics of study in the ‘liberal arts’ (or ‘arts’), but also its allegedly beneficial effects for individuals and society as a whole. Sentence type/s: Problem sentence E. In particular, it is characterised by a critical analysis of existing ideas and knowledge in order to produce new knowledge (McWilliams, S, 1999, pg. 2) . Sentence type/s: Specific Topic Section 4: Style in academic writing /20 Read the following extract and identify 20 style issues in the writing (either positive or negative) Ethnicity are one of the crucial features of identity in both groups and individuals. Since social role and social status, as well as impression management are deeply related to identity, it is possible to argue that both ethnicity and identity are socially constructed and relational. Moreover, the process of observing other people through recognising, classifying and stereotyping also adds a contextual characteristic to ethnicity and identity. Examining the three aspects, social construction, the relational and the contextual, allows us to understand a flexible form of identity, especially in this modern global society. At the same time, a position in theories of ethnicity is determined as mostly supporting the instrumental/constructive view. However, it is also accurate to say that only focusing on this view overly narrows scholarly discussion of this issue. Considering the problem of identity crisis, it would appear fair to take up a position in between the instrumental/constructive view and symbolic view. Since ethnicity is a part of the elements, which construct identity, this essay will focus on phenomena of identity first, and then move on to the discussion of theories of ethnicity, with an example of returnee children to support my argument. When we refer to identity, we tend to think of the question “Who am I?” To respond to this broad question, we naturally search frames or titles to define ourselves. In other words, we examine the social role and social status of the individuals. From here, it is clear that we tend to look for our social position, and we scale ourselves by socially constructed measures. According to Giddens, social role is ‘socially defined expectations that a person in a given status or social position’ (p.14). As he uses the word ‘expectation’, there is an implication that the role is a passive figure. Section 5: Grammar /20 [4 marks each question] 1. Explain the grammatical rule of subject/verb agreement. In the subject verb agreement, the subject of the sentence must agree with the verb. First they must agree in terms of number, that is, singular and plural as well as in person; 1st, 2nd, 3rd. A singular subject must take a singular verb and similarly, a plural subject must take the plural form of the verb. The subject/verb agreement becomes an issue with the present tense. For example you cannot say; ‘they am going to drink Soda’. But in the past tense you can say: ‘I ate delicious food’ (1st person) and you can as well say ‘we ate delicious food’ (2nd person). 2. Explain the grammatical rule of pronoun/antecedent agreement A pronoun takes the place of a noun; its work is to represent a noun in a later stage in a sentence or in the following sentence. The pronoun must agree with its antecedent, that is, the noun it is representing. It agrees with it in terms of number, person, gender, type and personal/impersonal status. The types include the subject, object, possessive. Personal pronouns stand in for people. They include I, we, you and they. Impersonal pronouns (it, they) represent objects. 3. When are apostrophes used in writing? Give examples: Apostrophes are used in sentences to show possession of something. For example:The teacher misplaced the Children’s books. It shows that the books that were misplaced were the children’s. An ‘s’ is added on the possessor and the apostrophe is placed between the word and the s. In cases where the possessor of the object has a name that ends with an s, the apostrophe is placed after the word. For instance: Jesus’ love. The same case applies to plurals. A good example in a sentence is: Witnesses’ Protection 4. Define what a clause is? Provide an example: A clause is a part of a sentence that has a subject and a verb. It makes either full or partial sense in the sentence. Clauses are the main building blocks in a sentence and they carry the key meaning of the sentences. There are two types of clauses: the dependent clause and the independent clause. Example; Life is a daring adventure or it is nothing at all. ‘Life is a daring adventure’ is the independent clause while ‘it is nothing at all’ is the dependent clause. 5. Explain the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause? An independent clause (Main clause) makes sense by itself and is not reliant on the rest of the sentence to communicate a full thought. It could be a complete sentence on its own right. The dependent (subordinate clause) has a subject and a verb but does not make full meaning by itself. It depends on the main clause to make sense. It adds meaning to the main clause. Read More

Social sciences inspect an individual’s role in society and the way he relates and interacts. The natural science is interested in those natural events that have a possibility of being formulated into abstract laws. On the other hand, social science is interested in qualities of human beings and the meanings we give to their actions. Natural sciences use experiments and applications whereas social science deals with moral philosophy. 3. Explain what is meant by the following statement: “It is important to note that in much Arts discourse often the topic of critique is the discourse itself.

” The object of art is a surplus of the artistic endeavour. Making of arts is significant when there is an explanation attached to it. The other kinds of sciences work with objects that are offered in advance but in the arts arena, it is the viewpoint that forms the object. This means that there are times that one has to speculate on modifications or alternatives to a discourse that has already been established. This is where you substantiate by providing arguments and evidence instead of putting across plain unsupported opinions. 4. What was suggested in the Unit as being the primary unit of data in Arts research?

How and from where this data is typically extracted and compiled? What are the main implications of this aspect of Arts inquiry for Arts research and writing techniques? The primary unit of data in the Arts research is human affairs; the way people interact and manage themselves and the king of life in the social organism. It has its main focus on normative and existential features of the human life. This data is compiled through several methods including the bibliographical/ non-empirical method where the researcher analyses the theoretical discourse itself.

This is done through doing a critical literature review and coming up with theoretical positions to examine. Another method is use of reflective or auto-ethnographical method where the researcher uses self-reflection on the experience the researcher had in the process of research. Some studies involve a combination of several methods of data collection. The implications of arts research is Arts are less concerned with material reproduction of individuals and societies. It contributes to effective functioning of the society by helping it to understand and analyse how knowledge is produced and applied.

Writing research papers follows the structure of a introduction, body and the conclusion. Section 2: CRITICAL THINKING TECHNIQUES /20 Write approximately 75-100 words for each question: 1. Identify and explain the three different types of causes identified in the lecture on Critical Thinking analysis techniques. Provide examples to illustrate your answers: eg: cause/s of the War in Iraq [10 marks] Critical thinking stresses the importance of asking and answering questions. It proceeds through a constant questioning of assumptions and by explaining a particular idea from a general point until the ultimate ground of explanation is reached.

The types of courses include: Immediate course: this is the cause that happens immediately the problem occurs and it is the root cause of the happening for example the immediate cause of war in Iraq was possession of weapons of mass destruction. Contributing course: this is not the main cause but is related to the immediate cause. It contributes to the problem not being resolved. For instance, the contributing cause in Iraq’s war is that the government of Iraq refused to surrender the weapons of mass destruction Ultimate cause: the ultimate cause is what sustains the problem.

for example, the ultimate cause on the Iraq war was the president and the rebels chose to fight than to surrender. 2. Define what are necessary and sufficient conditions? Using the example of specifying the properties of a square explain the difference. [4 marks] A is necessary for b if and only if B can’t occur without A. That means that whenever you have B, then you have A.

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