ART 2000-03    Spring 2010

 

ORAL COMMUNICATION

& THE VISUAL ARTS

 

 

 

203 Humanities 3:30-4:45 T Th

 Dr. Rita Tekippe

 

Text Box:

 j0287438  

  

http://www.westga.edu/~rtekippe/

OFFICE HOURS: ONLINE: MTWTh 6-7PM

324 HUMANITIES: MTWTh 1:00-2:00 PM

 678-839-4953 – LEAVE A MESSAGE; e-mail through CourseDen only

 

Required materials:

·   Stokstad, Art, A Brief History 3rd  edition, 2007  (any edition is okay).  This text is for general information and a starting place for your research) Major research will be conducted in library resources.

·   I-Clicker Student Remote (Standalone, Copyright 08ISBN 0-7167-7939-0) Available at Bookstore, or if you have one from another class, you may use that. Bring to class EVERY DAY.

·   ThumbDrive,  for PowerPoint presentations

·   Maimon, Writer's Resource Guide Copyright 10ISBN 0-07-736360-4 (the same one you use for your English class)

    Optional Texts: 

  • Henry M. Sayre. Writing About Art

  • Sylvan Barnett, A Short Guide to Writing About Art  or similar guidebook; 

  • Tim Hindle  Making Presentations

 Course Description: The aim of this course is to develop a student’s ability to formulate and organize thoughts about art in a clear and succinct manner and to give verbal expression to those ideas in effective visual presentations. Students will learn to analyze art and to formulate informed judgments about provocative issues pertinent to the visual arts, demonstrating mastery through a series of written assignments and oral presentations, delivered with the aid of PowerPoint. This will fulfill requirements for Area B of West Georgia’s Core Curriculum by addressing the following priorities:

  •  To demonstrate the ability to recognize and identify appropriate topics for oral presentation

  •  To demonstrate proficiency in necessary library research skills

  •  To demonstrate the ability to synthesize and logically arrange oral presentations

  •  To demonstrate the ability to adapt oral communication to specific purposes and audiences

  •  To demonstrate the ability to utilize appropriate technologies to locate and to present material

  •  To develop students better prepared for career demands in the 21st Century

  •  To develop increased awareness of the diverse sources of information and tradition

  •  To develop enhanced problem solving and critical skills

Objectives: To learn to research, write, and speak effectively, clearly, and persuasively about a variety of topics and/or objects in the visual arts. Your written and oral presentations about works of art will show mastery of skills in judgment, analysis, organization, and concise verbalization, while addressing pertinent issues for select areas of investigation. Research skills will be essential tools for this process.

CourseDen: We will use CourseDen to access course materials, to submit topics and supporting materials for approval,  and to post written evaluations for the presentations, as well as I-Clickers to give feedback in the classroom.  CourseDen is also where we will communicate with one another, through e-mail, discussion, gradebook.  All written assignments will be submitted and returned through a CourseDen dropbox.  Announcements will be posted there. You are responsible for any information that is posted in CourseDen, as well as checking for e-mail and announcements each and every day, and for posting your evaluations for each presentation day, for each presenter. You will use it to submit your presentation proposals, abstracts & bibliography for each topic, and your final term project.

It is advisable to work with a DSL or other fast connection.  To access CourseDen go to: http://westga.view.usg.edu. You should use ONLY this site to communicate with me by e-mail. If you have difficulties with CourseDen connections, you should contact the helpdesk at distance@westga.edu 678-839-6248 during their office hours (MF 9-5) They are very knowledgeable and helpful when you are having difficulties with your computer within the CourseDen system. If they are unavailable, please leave a message and they will return your call. After hours: 24 hour/7days a week help available at http://help8.view.usg.edu  or 1-877-708-2910.  You may also use the computer labs on campus

FAILURE OF YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM DOES NOT EXCUSE YOU FROM COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS -- YOU WILL NEED TO FIND A COMPUTER THAT DOES WORK AND MEET THE DEADLINES

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: UWG adheres to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need accommodation, contact Disability Student Services at 678-839-6428.

Academic Honesty: (see http://www.westga.edu/~handbook/index.php?page=honorcode and appendix A of the student handbook) The University has adopted a policy for promoting high ideals and the greatest possible learning for each individual. Improper academic conduct on the part of the student shall be interpreted to mean obtaining and use of information by means other than those permitted by instructor, including supplying such to other students. Also improper is plagiarism, i.e., purchase and use of ghost-written papers and reports, or incorporating into a report, term theme, research paper, or project, ideas and data obtained from another person without credit to the person from whom such information was obtained.  Further, inclusion of published or unpublished writings of another person without noting sources according to scholarly procedures acceptable for the discipline of art history shall be considered plagiarism. The definition of academic misconduct applies equally to improper use of electronic sources of information and opinion. At West Georgia, the student is urged to seek truth and beauty in and for themselves, as well as skills needed for a productive life.  Academic honesty is essential in preserving one's own integrity, that of the institution, and in gaining a true education.  The West Georgia student pledges not to lie, cheat, or steal in the pursuit of his or her studies and is encouraged to report those who do.

Plagiarism: This course requires that you adhere to high principles of intellectual honesty and personal integrity and that you demonstrate individual achievement in scholarship. Accordingly, any hint of transgression in this area will be dealt with harshly. Plagiarism in any of your writing assignments or other work will result in failure of the course. Thus, you are responsible for knowing what constitutes plagiarism and you may not plead ignorance. If you have any doubts, ask me or a librarian. To review the principles, take the time to visit these sites:

http://libguides.westga.edu/content.php?pid=10699&sid=71588 

http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/ 

You are responsible for understanding and heeding what is presented in these websites.

For further clarification, see http://www.westga.edu/~engdept/Plagiarism/plares.html

Citation of sources for art history must be according to the Chicago Style, and must be presented in footnotes (preferred) or endnotes, NOT parenthetical references.

NOTE: The dishonest use of I-Clickers also constitutes improper academic conduct and is cause for the charge of Plagiarism.

Class Requirements:

·   ·     Attendance and Participation.

·   ·     Preparation/Presentations. Due approximately every fifth class throughout the term,  for a total of 5.

·   ·     Library Research

·   ·     Evaluations. You will complete I-Clicker evaluations in class for each presentation and also a written/checklist online for each (anonymously).  These must be completed the day of the presentation, by 12 midnight

·   ·     Portfolio. Accumulated papers and presentation evaluations.

·   ·     Final Term Paper.

Grading:                            

Each presentation, w. abstract, bibliography    1 = 7, 2 = 8, 3 = 8, 4 = 10, 5 = 12                 45 points

Attendance   on T days                                                                                                                5

Participation/evaluation    points for A, B, C, D days                                                             20

Online Evaluations for each presentation by classmates                                                       20

Final Term Paper                                                                                                                            10

   COURSE TOTAL                                                                                                                         100  points

 

Presentations: The topics noted will be our focus for the specific periods, as noted on the calendar, and the subjects of your research for your presentations. For the first classes, we will cover principles of presentation, dress code for presentations, audio-visual aids, research methods, & a preliminary perusal of the topics.  We will also cover the methods for preparing PowerPoint presentations and the use of CourseDen.

Presentation Topics: You will choose five of the following nine topics and prepare a presentation for each. You must choose one of each pair/period, and then choose one more (different topic from the first four) for your final presentation. The first four of them will be 4-5 minute presentations, while the last one will be 8-10 minutes, time permitting.

The term will be divided as follows:

·   Period 1: Principles of Presentation, reading test

·   Period 2:  Images of Rulers and Rulership

·                                                 Or The Bayeux Tapestry

·   Period 3: Art of Religion and the Afterlife

·                                                 Or Women and Women’s Issues in Art

·   Period 4: Architecture and the Decorative

                                          Or Minor Arts and Luxury Art

·   Period 5: Arts Symbolism, Expressionism, Abstraction

                                          Or Sculptural Forms

                                          Or UWG Centennial

·   Period 6: One more category of the above which you have not previously chosen or another theme of your choice (must be approved by me) or a presentation on your own artwork

 

·   May 4th, 5:00 PM:  deadline for Final Papers

 CALENDAR:  Keep your eye on the calendar for the outline of what we will be doing throughout the term. We will meet each class period on Tuesdays and Thursdays -- first for the Module dedicated to learning the principles of presentation. You are responsible for all of the material and procedures covered and information imparted during these preliminary meetings, and that will be the basis of requirements for your presentations.  After that, the calendar days are coded as follows for what will happen:

·           T = Tekippe lecture on the upcoming  topics and possibilities

·           A = Group A will give Presentations

·           B = Group B will give Presentations

·           C = Group C will give Presentations

·           D = Group D will give Presentations

You will be assigned to Group A, B, C, or D and must make your presentations on the days assigned to your group.

Assignments: For each topic, I will give preliminary lectures (on T days), which will include suggested works and approaches and ensuing classes will be dedicated to your student presentations.

For each, you will conduct further research and refine your specific subject for the topic, then type a 1-page abstract, and a bibliographic list of sources for your research, select your visual aids, and prepare for an oral presentation (timed). This abstract and bibliography will be prepared in MSWord and submitted through the Assignment Dropbox for the specific period, and will become  part of your cumulative portfolio. You must submit your  proposed topic, await its approval.  Once approved, you will submit preliminary abstract and bibliography  You should review your evaluations and self-critique your speech to help you prepare for the next one. They will be available to  you at the beginning of each of the topic periods following the one in which the presentation is made.

You should begin selection of your subjects as soon as possible, but if you have questions as to whether they will be acceptable, ask me.

Audio-visual materials should be arranged in PowerPoint presentations and these should be well-organized and polished.  They should be professional in appearance. You must always base your presentation on specific imagery, and always present the images you discuss as part of your talk.

For each presentation, you should consider how the formal elements used to create the work of art contribute to the message conveyed and also how the artist has made deliberate choices that affect the work and its impact upon its viewers. To do this well, you will be reliant upon the assigned text, as well as your own careful observation and consideration of the ways in which you absorb and interpret visual information. The principles involved will be discussed in some depth at the start of the term and will be under further consideration as we progress. You should continue to consult your text and your research materials for your various projects and feel free to consult me as necessary during office hours.

THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP PRESENTATIONS, FOR ANY REASON

Evaluation Points:

After each presentation, I will display the grid of Presentation Ratings and you will respond by using the I-clicker devices.  The results from these will be posted in CourseDen, and you will view them there as a sort of critique that will help you to evaluate yourself and to make adjustments for the next presentation you make. These are meant to supply you with information in the form of feedback and constructive criticism, which I will review before I pass it along. It is crucial that these evaluations be thoughtful, with a view to helping one another to improve performance. Mean-spirited criticism will not be tolerated. Be sensitive to others’ feelings, while giving honest appraisals and practical advice.

While the use of the I-Clicker will identify you to me as present in class and as an evaluator, the ratings and comments will be posted anonymously to your fellow students as presenters.  Moreover, these will be available to you on a private and confidential basis -- not visible to anyone besides you.  

Portfolio Requirements:

Your abstracts, bibliographies, and evaluation results from me and from your fellow students for each of your presentations throughout the semester , and your final paper will become the portfolio for review at  the end of the term. These are due on the day when we are scheduled for our final exam period, although we do not have an exam. These will help to assess your progress over the course of the semester.

Your final term paper  will consist of a more extensive and thorough development of one of the subjects you have chosen for a class presentation. This will be more like a regular term-paper, in that you will use a formal written paper presentation format, including full documentation and footnotes. Your paper should be 4-6 pages in length (typed, double-spaced), prepared in MSWord, and submitted through the Assignment Dropbox in CourseDen. More explicit directions will be posted on the website by the end of week 2.

Reading/Preparation guidelines:

The images from the art history survey will be appropriate choices for your presentations, and you should browse the pictures to select subjects for your presentations.  Since you will need digital images for the PowerPoint, you will likely be able to find them on the web or in the UWG library ArtSTOR database. While they are protected by copyright, they are allowable for our purposes here under educational fair-use provisions.  BUT BE CAREFUL of web images – there are many copies and fakes of well-known works, as well as prints and reproductions – these are not acceptable to use. You must submit the images you will use for the presentation when you propose your topic choice, and I will tell you whether the image and the topic are acceptable.   Make sure you re looking at the original by verifying the authority of the website you are using.  Any of the images from your text, if they fit into the category/theme may be used.  If you select a work from the text, you may also use other related works which do not appear there (by the same artist, from the same frame/topic area, of the same subject, etc.) You may also present main topic images from other sources, with my approval. Some of the works/images fit into more that one category, depending upon what you choose to emphasize in your treatment, so you should be clear about what you see as the theme of your investigation.  For each presentation, your selection must be submitted for my approval by the specific date on the calendar noted for that choice. If you do not have your choice approved by the deadline, you will not be allowed to present.  Once your choice is approved, it will be posted to the website, and you may check there to see if someone has already selected a topic/work.  This will ensure that works and topics are appropriate and that there will not be duplications. 

You may approach the task of preparing a presentation in any way you choose, but the categories below are set up so that you can select them in the text and read what is presented there and then add to that from other sources which you will find in your own research. You must not be reliant upon internet sources – rather, go to the library and seek information from other scholars. There are bibliography references at the back of your textbook for each of the chapters, and you can also consult the library catalogs, for both books and journal articles.  See Plagiarism warnings above.

As soon as you select the topic work for any presentation, e-mail the title of the work, with the artist if known, and an image, by attachment.  I will notify you if it has my approval, then you may proceed with your preparations for presentation.  Make sure your image is of a good size for presentation on the large screen.  It should be a JPG, at least 300X400, and of good resolution.  If you use web-images, make sure they are of sufficient quality for your presentation. If you find images elsewhere (slides, books or journals or such), they can be scanned for use.

BE WELL-PREPARED.  For the PowerPoint, you must prepare them ahead of time and bring them into the classroom on a thumbdrive.  You may not download images from the web in the classroom on the day of presentation.  You may have simple notes on a notecard, but do not plan to read your presentation from paper or notecards, or from the PowerPoint slides.  Prepare ahead, rehearse, and be thoroughly familiar with your subject.  Make sure it meets time requirements for the day. We will go over these issues in depth. in class.

Your PowerPoints need to be well-done and professional and they are considered as part of your evaluation. Avoid over-emphasis on glitzy tech effects, as they are not the point of what we are trying to accomplish here, but do take care that your presentation has a respectable level of polish. Take care not to crop images or to distort them from their original proportions.  Stay focussed on the artistic image you have selected and its importance AS ART.

Website: http://www.westga.edu/~rtekippe/ This site is sometimes important for you – it will be useful to you for viewing the syllabus and other information related to class, especially the presentation schedule. On the website for Art 2201 is a  list of vocabulary terms, various diagrams and aids to understanding of the art concepts for which you are responsible.  ________________________________________________________________________________

If, at any point, you have questions or problems, contact me.

I will be happy to consult with you on advice about working with online issues, preparing for presentations, or any other concerns.

Call, set an appointment, or contact me by e-mail or phone.

For technical issues, contact helpdesk. 678-839-6248