• AP Studio Art Syllabus

    Carnegie Vanguard High School

    Raymond Rodriguez, B.F.A., Teacher            rrodri16@houstonisd.org

     

    Introduction:  I am extremely excited to be a member of the Fine Arts team at Carnegie Vanguard High School.  This is my 11th year teaching art at Carnegie.  I have a strong visual arts background, having studied architecture at Texas A&M in College Station before transferring and obtaining my Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 2003.  While my focus has been on drawing and painting, I appreciate and teach the visual arts in all its many forms.

     

    Course Description and Instructional Goals:  This course follows the guidelines provided by the AP College Board for submitting the Studio Art Portfolio at the end of the school year.  The Studio Art Portfolio has three sections: Breadth (Section III) requires students to submit 12 slides of works of art that demonstrate a variety of concepts, media, and approaches to art; Concentration (Section II) requires students to submit 12 slides that demonstrate a series of works organized around a compelling visual concept that grows out of a coherent plan of action or investigation.  These 12 cannot be the same as those submitted in Section III;  Quality (Section I) requires the students to submit 5 actual works of art that best exhibit their strengths in synthesizing form, technique and content.  The work should show evidence of exceptional quality, obvious evidence of thinking, and a sense of confidence and verve.  The works should also address complex visual and/or conceptual ideas, show an imaginative, inventive and confident use of the elements and principles of design, show successful engagement with experimentation and/or risk-taking, be notable for sensitivity and/or subtlety, show purposeful composition, and demonstrate informed decision-making.  Materials should be used effectively with excellent technique.  These five works can come from breadth and/or concentration.  The work from this class must meet the standards of an introductory college course and qualify for the AP portfolio Evaluation when submitted for the AP exam.  The instructional goals below are straight out of the College Board AP Course Description Acorn Book:

    --Encourage creative as well as systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues.

    --Emphasize making art as an ongoing process that involves the student in informed and critical decision-making.

    --Develop technical skills and familiarize students with the functions of the visual elements.

    --Encourage students to become independent thinkers who will contribute inventively and critically to their culture through the making of art.

    --Course includes group and individual student critiques and instructional conversations with teacher, enabling students to learn to analyze and discuss their own artworks and those of their peers.

    --Couse teaches students to understand artistic integrity as well as what constitures plagiarism by helping students develop a personal “voice” through understanding and analysis of outside work with historical context.

    Both Advanced Placement guidelines and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) have been integrated into lesson planning and curriculum.

     

    Text:  While there is no hard copy text required for the course, the teacher will make occasional use of Davis Art Publications in digital format, including The Visual Experience, Experiencing Clay and Experience Painting .

     

    Supplies/Materials Needed:  Generally speaking, AP Studio Art students will be responsible for providing whatever materials are necessary for successfully completing projects within their desired choice of Concentration, as outlined in the AP Guidelines.  Some basic supplies will be made available, but it is possible that some students may require other materials which they may need to furnish at their own expense.   All students need to come prepared for class every day!

     

    Performance Standards:  Instruction in Art III will be presented through multiple instructional strategies including direct instruction, class critiques, whole class and group dialogue (verbal and written) and differentiated lessons created to support students in their artistic development.

     

    Successful students will:

    --Demonstrate successful use of the Elements and Principles of Art, as well being able to justify artistic choices and evaluate completed art products.

    --Use critical thinking skills to solve visual problems.

    --Use educational technologies as tools for learning when appropriate, i.e.:  online text and videos and laptop computers.

     

    Support and Tutoring:  Students who have questions or are experiencing difficulty are strongly encouraged to seek help immediately.  I am usually available during lunch upon request, with the exception of every other Tuesday when I have meetings.  It may also be possible to arrange times before school or during Study Skills Enrichment Period (SSEP).    Because my lunch and planning time is valuable, students are required to demonstrate positive citizenship skills before requesting instruction outside of class.  Students must arrive promptly after the bell.

     

    Grading:  Assignments in PreAP Art Level II are divided into categories and have the following weights:

    a)     Projects will be assessed at 50% of a cycle’s grade

    b)    Tests will be assessed at 30% of a cycle’s grade

    c)     Quizzes and Homework will be assessed at 20% of a cycle’s grade.

     

    Late Assignments:  In general, no points are deducted from a cycle average for late Project work before the end of a 9 week cycle, since I care about the quality of the artwork produced by my students.  Tentative due dates will be established and progress on the work will be assessed, but students have until the end of the grading cycle to complete or improve their work. 

     

    Tests are expected to be turned in on their assigned due dates.  Tests not submitted on time will have 10 points deducted for each class day that it is late, up to three days overdue, at which point a grade of 0 will be assessed.

     

    Because of the time-sensitive nature of the occasional Homework assignments that I give, no credit will be given to late homework assignments except in cases of extenuating circumstances.

     

    Extra Credit:  Extra credit is offered up to a maximum of 10% in the Project and Test categories.

     

    Online Grade Access:  Parents and students may access tentative grades through Gradespeed.  It should be noted that grades are not final until the end of each grading cycle, and in some cases a placeholder grade may be assessed.  Missing assignment will be assessed at 0 until such time as the missing work is made up.

     

    Classroom Expectations:  It is expected that all students:

    --will arrive to class on time and be prepared with required materials.

    --will follow directions.

    --will be respectful to self and others at all times.

    --will complete all assignments and assessments honestly.

    --will be actively engaged and participate in class discussions.

    --will not eat or drink in the classroom at anytime.

    --will not use cellphones, ipods or any other electronic devices without the express approval of the teacher.

    --will make the best use of class time and stay on task.

    --will be engaged in the work of the class and not work from another class.

    --will stay awake in class at all times.

    --will treat others with kindness and respect.

    --will allow the teacher and other students to speak without interruption.

    --allow classmates to focus on work without distractions.

    --will handle class resources with care.

    --refrain from making discouraging or hurtful comments toward others.

     

    ---------------LET’S HAVE AN AWESOME YEAR!!!!!-----------------