ARCH 201 EXERCISE ONE: Due October 8^th 2004

Illustration from Rendering in Pen and Ink by Arthur Guptill

If those who have studied the art of writing are in accord on any one point, it is on this: the surest way to arouse and hold the attention of the reader is by being specific, definite, and concrete. The greatest writers—Homer, Dante, Shakespeare—are effective largely because they deal in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up pictures.

William Strunk Jr.

You are asked to recall a true place from your own experience and explain what makes it so. The words you choose, and their arrangement matter. Architects use materials, space, and light to evoke emotion and accommodation, you will use words. Your writing will be a minimum of a page in length, typed. Know that it will take several drafts and revisions for the description to succeed. Remember, you are bringing the experience to someone who has never been there, do not presume knowledge that is not in evidence. Refer to The Elements of Style by Strunk and White as a resource for great writing.

In addition, you are asked to illustrate your description with one image: a drawing by you, a photograph you took there, or an image not from the place but so similar in feeling as to evoke the experience you describe. Again, the image cannot be trivial, or of poor quality. It, too, must evoke. Choose wisely. A standard for a drawing which succeeds in this manner is shown above.

PROCEDURE: Always type your work and use 8.5” x 11” paper. Staple the pages together, sign, and hand in projects on time (late projects will not be accepted). When designing is included, draw fearlessly and add written notes. Your final grade will depend upon the quality of your projects, but advanced drawing skill is not required. You should not miss any lectures: class material is interconnected, interdependent, and cumulative. If you are sick or have an emergency, let me know. Do not be late to class.

Work hard and enjoy the class.