As an alternative to the research paper for a course on Sexism in Literature, the idea of looking at feminine beauty through time and space was borrowed from Kenneth Clark's book, "Feminine Beauty." After a field trip to the Honolulu Academy of Arts and a background survey of library materials, each student chose a reproduction about which to write, complete with footnotes and bibliography. Despite some excellent papers, a realization that something was missing from the assignment led to the addition of a new facet. The students were asked to assume the identity of the woman in the art work and discuss her life and background, or alternatively, to assume the role of museum docent, explaining the woman and the art work to a group of museum visitors. A bibliography was required for the paper, but not footnotes. After researching the period, the students were asked to look through their notes and free write, working in the reference material. This time the students wrote better mechanically--the addition of "voice" or point of view added a freshness of expression; there was little evidence of plagiarism; students expanded on the topic as they became interested; from the standpoint of fostering writing as thinking, there was a much better synthesis of material; and students seemed better able to grasp the actual role of the woman in her society as they identified with her. (Copies of a handout outlining the project and procedures, as well as a comprehensive bibliography are included.) (NKA)