AP Art History Ms. Jennifer West
Walton High School Jennifer.West@cobbk12.org
Fall 2013 770-578-3225
Room D-139 http://waltonaparthistory.blogspot.com/
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course offers the serious student the opportunity to explore, in depth, the history of art from ancient times to the present, and will include both European and non-European cultures. Through readings, research, digital images, videos, and museum visits, students will view significant artworks from around the world. Writing skills will be stressed through the description, analysis, and comparison of these works. Students are encouraged to draw on their educational background of history to address significant historical events, art periods/styles, specific artworks, and issues/themes that connect the artworks studied within this course.
AP EXAM
All components of the course must be completed to receive credit for the course on the high school transcript. All students must take both the Fall Semester exam in December and the AP Art History Exam in May 2014. The Fall semester exam is mandatory and may not be exempt. However, if eligible for incentive, students may add the 10 points to the Fall semester exam. The AP Art History Exam is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 12:00pm. Information about test fees, collection dates, and registration details will be available soon.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (taken from the AP Art History course description)
1. Students acquire a fundamental art vocabulary.
2. Students understand the purpose and function of art.
3. Students develop skills in identifying, describing, interpreting, and analyzing works of art.
4. Students understand works of art within their historical context by examining issues such as politics, religion, patronage, gender, function, and ethnicity.
5. Students examine the relationship among works of art, their culture, and the global culture.
6. Students articulate visual and historical concepts in verbal and written forms.
TEXTBOOKS
Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History, 13th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2009.
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History, 3rd Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008.
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT
As this course is very analytical in nature, the students will be writing extensively both in class and at home. I strongly recommend that each student purchase the following text as a guide to develop his/her skills as a critical writer. These can be purchased very inexpensively, and students can purchase any edition from the 5th up to the most current.
Barnet, Sylvan. A Short Guide to Writing about Art, 7th ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2002.
MATERIALS:
Students are expected to bring all appropriate materials to class each day. Leave your Stokstad textbooks at home, unless otherwise instructed. In class we will be using the Kleiner books, so there is no need to bring your text from home. Students should have a binder designated solely for AP Art History (2” minimum). Suggestions for tabbed dividers are Notes, Short Essays, Long Essays, and Multiple Choice Tests. A separate folder will be required for housing each student’s Q-card collection. Colored pencils and highlighters will be extremely beneficial in this course and should be brought to class each day. In addition, students will need basic arts/crafts supplies at home (scissors, glue stick, colored pencils, markers, etc.)
ASSIGNMENTS & PROJECTS
- Students are required to read approximately one chapter per week from their primary textbook, as well as complete supplemental readings from Web sites, articles, and other texts (see instructional materials list).
- At times, videos will be used to supplement the textbook. Students are required to watch and analyze these videos, take notes, and prepare for a short quiz the following class period.
- Students will complete an analytical Q-card for specified artworks within each chapter. These will include thorough identification information, strong visual analysis, and areas of contextual analysis. These will be kept throughout the entire year and should be housed in a separate designated folder.
- Students should demonstrate active daily note taking and participation in class discussions.
- Students will be given frequent pop quizzes on reading assignments and topics covered in the previous day’s class. These will often include multiple-choice questions from previous AP exams.
- Students should be prepared to answer questions in discussions based on reading assignments.
- Students should anticipate an extensive exam at the end of each chapter or unit. These will include multiple choice, short answer and slide questions, in addition to timed essay questions.
- Students are expected to visit local museums independently throughout both semesters, and will be given various tasks to complete based on the themes and topics covered in the course.
HOMEWORK:
Students should expect some sort of homework assignment each night. This can vary in the form of readings, writings, drawings, sketches, and even critical thinking!
EVALUATION & GRADING
· Tests 40%
Unit tests will be given at the end of a long chapter or a combination of shorter chapters. These will mimic the AP Exam, and will include slide identification.
· Quizzes 20%
Both announced and unannounced quizzes are given to reinforce reading assignments, previous lectures, important contextual issues, and specific content information.
· Sketchbooks 15%
Sketchbook assignments will be given each unit in an effort to allow students to practice for the AP Exam in a non-essay format. More details will follow.
· Homework & Daily Grades 10%
Daily grades are given for class and homework assignments to include practice essays, chapter study guides, and reading assignments. Notebook checks will be part of these daily grades.
· Fall Final Exam 15%
A semester exam is given to assess a student’s knowledge of all information taught up to the semester point. Exam components will mimic the AP Art History Exam.
LATE WORK
Late work will not be accepted in this class. If an assignment is not turned in at the start of class on the due date, students will receive a zero. NO EXCEPTIONS.
MAKE-UP WORK
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all make-up work when returning from a legitimate absence. If you are absent on the day an assignment is due, you are expected to submit the assignment on the day you return to class. Missed tests should be arranged with the instructor and be completed within one week of the original testing date. Quizzes cannot be made up, as the lowest quiz score will be dropped from the gradebook at the end of each semester. Projects are never accepted late.
AREAS OF STUDY
1. Prehistoric
2. Near & Middle Eastern
3. Egyptian
4. Aegean
5. Greek
6. Etruscan
7. Early Christian
8. Byzantine
9. Early Middle Ages
10. Romanesque
11. Islamic
12. South & Southeast Asia
13. China & Japan
14. Gothic
15. Proto-Renaissance
16. Italian Renaissance
17. Northern Renaissance
18. Baroque
19. Neo-Classicism
20. Sub-Saharan Africa
21. Romanticism
22. Realism
23. Impressionism
24. Avant-Garde
25. Cubism
26. Futurism, Dadism, Surrealism
27. Expressionism
28. Abstract Expressionism
29. Op Art to Pop Art
30. Conceptual Art
In addition to the general chronological topics of art history, we will trace various themes across art movements, such as the human form in art, gender, religion and mythology, patronage, power and authority, cultural transition, and symbolism.
WEB RESOURCES
Students are responsible for printing their own materials from the websites, including some that require color. Much of this can be done in the Media Center during WEB periods, lunch periods, or before/after school. Students and parents are expected to visit the instructor's website often to acquire study guides, projects, review materials, note templates, handouts, presentations, calendars, etc. www.waltonaparthistory.blogspot.com.
The following websites should be bookmarked and referenced frequently. It is recommended that each student take the time to browse each website, as we will be utilizing them in class projects.
RESPECT & RESPONSIBILITY
This is a college-level course intended to challenge students intellectually and foster responsible behavior. This course will introduce and prepare students for the types of work expected at the college level. In addition, the examination of artworks from around the world will deal with mature subject matter and content. Students are expected to demonstrate a growing sense of maturity and the respect for art throughout the year.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are expected to do their own work. Copying or stealing the work of others, whether on a project, written assignment, quiz or test, is considered plagiarism and is a violation of the school honor code of conduct. Students are expected to understand and observe the rules of fair use and copyright. Any student who plagiarizes will earn a “zero” for the assignment and may be subject to further disciplinary action depending on the seriousness of the incident.
OFFICE HOURS:
Students are welcome to come in for additional help during my office hours and WEB days. My office hours for Fall 2013 are Monday afternoon (3:45 – 4:15) and Thursday mornings (7:45 – 8:15). Additional appointments are available upon request. Any special arrangements should be made no less than 24 hours in advance.
TARDY POLICY:
Tardies will be dealt with in accordance with school policy (see page 12 of your agenda). All students who are tardy should sign in on the clipboard at the front of the classroom.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
No electronic devices of any type will be permitted in the classroom. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, CD players, or headphones of any type. Students may not have these items out in class and should keep them in their backpacks or lockers for this class period. Any electronic device seen out during an assessment (quiz, test, or alternate assessment) will result in a zero on the assignment, a U in conduct, and an administrative referral.
CORRESPONDENCE:
The easiest and most efficient way to contact me is via e-mail. I check e-mail several times throughout the day during the week. Please note that I do NOT check e-mail on the weekends or when school is not in session. My e-mail address is Jennifer.West@cobb.k12.org. Students and parents are encouraged to e-mail with concerns and/or questions.
CLASSROOM RULES:
1. Student will be in seat ready to work when tardy bell rings. Any student not in the classroom at this time will be marked tardy.
2. Student should bring all necessary materials to class each day, and will have them ready to use at the beginning of class. Students may not leave the class to retrieve such materials from lockers, cars, etc.
3. Respect yourself, your classmates, and your teachers. No racial, gender, ethnic, or sexual slurs will be tolerated in this class.
4. No gum, food, or drinks in class. Students may bring bottled water to class as long as it has a lid.
5. Visits to the water fountain, restrooms, or lockers should be made before or after class.
6. No make-up work will be accepted during class. These should be turned in before or after class.
7. It is the student’s responsibility to get any notes or missed work due to an absence of any type.
8. Students should handle textbooks and other Walton materials with extreme care. Use of these materials is a privilege, and students who abuse this privilege will not be allowed to use them in the future.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
A blog has been designed to supplement this course. Assignments, course syllabus, useful links, and additional information can be found on the website. Students are encouraged to check the course website often, as information is constantly being updated. Students have the opportunity to join the blog, which will allow them to make comments and post questions to the class.
· Ms. West’s Text Blast notifications
Students and parents can choose to subscribe to Ms. West’s Class Text Blast program. This is an easy way to stay connected to the course, through reminders, special announcements, and notifications via text. To join, simply text “@44cd” to 678-905-8082.
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