A204 Course Syllabus

This course is designed as an introductory chronological survey of painting, sculpture, and architecture from pre-historic times through the Romanesque period (ca. 50,000 B.C.-1300 A.D.). The primary focus will be on the history of the visual arts as they developed in Western cultures with a brief look at art from other cultures. Selected works will be studied in order to develop an understanding of how formal qualities, artistic concepts, and historical and cultural contexts are interwoven to create meaning. At the end of the course students will be able to: 1) identify major movements and artists in western art from prehistory to the 13th century, 2) associate key stylistic features of art from these periods with the historical context in which they were created, and 3) apply the interpretive skills learned through writing, reading, and discussion exercises toward understanding new, previously unfamiliar works of art.

Art Across Time by Laurie Schneider Adams (Vol. 1) *The custom bound version in the WOU bookstore.

Slide lectures and videos will be used to present stylistic, historical, and interpretive information about individual artisits and works of art. A substantial portion of each class period will be devoted to discussions of questions related to the assigned readings for that day and to practicing written and verbal skills used in the analysis of a work of art. Your contributions are an important aspect of the learning process. As the instructor, I will provide the theoretical and informational structure of the course and serve as your resource person.

1- TWO EXAMS: An essay and short answer exam will be given at mid-term and during finals week. Make-up exams will be arranged ONLY when documentation in provided that you missed an exam due to circumstances beyond your control(e.g. death in the immediate family or a doctor's excuse for an illness).

2-ONLINE WORKSHOPS: There are 9 exercises located on this website. These are to be completed by the dates indicated on the calendar. Bring your results to class on the specified dates for review and correction. LATE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT be accepted since the correct answer will be "public" knowledge after they are reviewed in class. This is not busy work, The workshops are designed to prepare you for exams.

3-PARTICIPATION: Consistant and constructive participation in class discussions and other types of interactive learning assignments given throughout the term is expected of each student.

4-ATTENDANCE: Regular class attendance is essential to doing well in this course. It is your responsibility to be there and be punctual. Entering the classroom late is not only disruptive to the flow of the class, it also means that you may miss an important announcement. The instructor is under no obligation to bring you up to date if you are tardy. Leaving during the break that falls approximately halfway through class will result in an absence.

5-READINGS: Read assignments BEFORE coming to class. You will be expected to participate in discussions and to answer questions about the reading assignments. The schedule of daily topics is tentative and subject to change. If you miss a class, please check with someone to find out exactly what was covered. PLEASE NOTE! Short readings, other than those listed in the class schedule may be assigned from outside the textbook. These will be announced in class and placed on reserve in the library.

6-CONSULTATION: Although it is not required, I encourage you to come and visit me during office hours or at other times by appointment to discuss and/or clarify any aspect of the course.

There are a number of support services on campus that you should not hesitate to utilize. The WOU library has a good selection of periodicals and books relating to the art of the periods we study this term. The Academic Advising and Learning Center in APSC 401 (8-8428) also offers a variety of programs to help you improve your overall academic performance. In addition to one-on-one tutoring for this class, you will be given tips on taking effective notes and study skills. These services are FREE, so take adventage of them. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Turner a 8-8501 in the PP Annex.

Avoid cheating and plagarism at all costs. This could result in failing the assignment, exam, or the course. the student Rights and Responsibilties section of your Student Handbook addresses the procedures for handling academic dishonesty. The short term benefits of cheating cannot compensate for the long term consequences!

Midterm....................................40%

Final..........................................40%

Online Workshops....................20%

**Grading Scale = A+(98-100); A(93-97); A-(90-92); B+(87-89); B(83-86); B-(80-82); C+(77-79); C(73-76); C-(70-72); D+(67-69); D-(60-62); F(Below 60)

-Don't miss class.

-Take detailed lecture notes.

-Read assignments.

-Synthesize information from lectures and readings.

-Each week review ALL material covered up to that point in the term.

-Complete your online exercises in a timely fashion.

-Be prepared to participate in class discussions.

Textbook website:

http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/art/adams99/index.htm