Help and guidance needed for an eight page paper?

Question

Hi, I have a college paper to do which has to be about eight pages, we were supposed to go to this museum and pick a painting and do a research paper related to it, I chose a picture of a large oil field which is in the poorest county of California, what I want to do for the 8 page paper is to talk about how corporations in the USA have lost their moral values to the sole purpose of monetary profit (some examples are enron, worldcom, tyco, RJ reynolds, philip morris, and nike). If anyone can help me out, or at least give me an guidance or an idea of how to fill up seven-eight pages and maybe what I could do. - Thanks
How is this thesis:
Capitalism, defined as relative freedom of competiton for economic gain, as practiced by American corporations has its advantages and disadvantages for Americans and others, and it is arguable whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, particularly as they relate to the humane treatment of people.

Answer 1

Your basis is very strong, as is your thesis. What you have as possibilities is a good start. You might also consider talking about the oil industry and its importance in the world today. Your thesis is good, however, it is a bit wordy. I understood it well, but try to say the same thing in fewer statements. Remember, you have eight pages to do this, so don't cram it all into one sentence. Do you need the definition of capitalism in there? Watch out later, you waver as to wether or not the advantages or disadvantages are better. You want to commit to one argument and stay there. Try something more like, "Capitalism, as practiced by American corporations, takes a negative toll on the humane treatment of others." You can re-word it, that's just a quick reconstruct.

You have a great start! Good luck with your paper.

Answer 2

I don't know exactly what your assignment was, but I imagine it had something to do with the artwork, as your professor specifically instructed you to consult such a work. So don't just ramble on about capitalism and big business running the small people of America into the ground; while your concerns are valid, that's a different paper, entirely. Instead, you need to talk about the specific ways in which this picture of a large oil field depicts/captures/epitomizes some aspect of this trend. How does the artist show that the oil fields will negatively impact on the people in the surrounding community? How does it show that it will negatively impact the humane treatment of people, in general? In artwork, this is usually done using colors, textures, space, etc. Do the towers in the oil fields loom over the viewer in a threatening manner? If so, write about this, and how the artist has consciously created this image so as to make the viewer feel small and unimportant next to the imposing face of big business. Are the colors dark and depressing, the air choked with pollution? What sense is this meant to evoke in the viewer? I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Use the symbolism and ramble on about how big business supported by lobbyist and elected officials, continues to take from the underprivledged and give to the rich. Touch on the oil will be 99% consummed in larger cities like L.A. for electricty production and gas...and not used where it was taken from the ground. Kind of like the diamond mines of africa from some of the poorest places in the world end up providing jewels to the most wealthy people in the world.