Instructor: Ping Xu
(Normally meet on Monday but please keep Wednesday open)
Course Credit: 1 Credit Hour
Required Text
There is no required text for this course, however, I strongly advise you consider purchasing or checking out from the library — The Critique Handbook , by Kendall Buster & Paula Crawford. If you are a new Art Major or Art History Major, you should strongly consider purchasing and keeping this throughout your time at Truman as it will serve as a valuable resource in other classes – studio and art history. If you are an advanced art major already, you might just want to borrow the book to reference for specific assignments for the course.
- Be introduced to the various degree programs in the visual arts at Truman State University
- Receive an introduction to the Art Assessment Program
- Be introduced to the University Assessment Program, especially the University Portfolio – a graduation requirement at Truman
- Engage in activities that will provide you an opportunity to develop your verbal skills relative to your major, especially in the areas of art vocabulary/terminology and discussion/presentation
- Works as a member of a group to strengthen your skills in this important dimension of learning
Student Expectation
As a student in this course you are expected to:
- Attend all designated class meetings*
- Demonstrate your engagement in class by participating in discussions and activities and by being prepared for each class by completing and designated readings or other assignments
- Complete all assignments on time
- Complete the Incoming Student Survey
- Be a contributing member of a group and to participate in completing a collective project
- Attend and submit a brief written review of five approved cultural events
Attendance Policy
Since so much of this course is intended to provide you with an introduction to various aspects of the visual arts program at Truman, attendance at all scheduled class meetings designated for you is expected and required. If you must miss class for a University sanctioned event(s) – for example your participation in a band or ensemble trip, a University-sponsored research conference, athletic event, etc. –you will be excused from attendance but not from the responsibility for any assignments or other class work. You must communicate with me and receive prior approval from me for missing class because of your participation in a University sponsored event Failure to do so will result in courting your absence as unexcused.
If you are sick and might be contagious to others, do not attend class; but do notify me of your illness so that we can work out a plan for any work you may miss and so that I will not court your absence as unexcused.
Any unexcused absence will result in the lowering of your final grade by one letter. *Although this class is scheduled to meet on Mondays & Wednesdays, you will be provided a schedule that will note specific dates for which attendance is required. This schedule will be distributed and discussed in class.
Basis for Your Evaluation ** (Grading)
I will calculate your final grade in the following manner:
- Group project participation and word format memorandum – 200 points
- Cultural events attendance and written summary (3 required)
For each event – 50 points - Class attendance – 50 points
** Acts of Academic Dishonesty (see below) will not be tolerated. If you commit such an act your grade on the assignment/activity will be courted as an “F” or zero credit grade. This includes being dishonest in your cultural events attendance and class attendance
Academic Dishonesty
Below is an excerpt from Truman’s Student Conduct Code on Academic Misconduct/Dishonesty. You should read and understand the implications of the entire code. Please review the following related to class policy on Academic Integrity:
Acts. Of academic misconduct/dishonesty, including, but not limited to the following :
1-1. Cheating: Defined as using or attempting to use unauthorized (a) materials, (b) information, or (c) study aids in any academic exercise.
1-2. Fabrication: Defined as unauthorized (a) falsification or (b) invention of any information (including research data) or citation in an academic exercise.
1-3. Facilitating academic dishonesty: Defined as (a) assisting or (b) attempting to assist another to commit an act of academic dishonesty, whether or not that action is associated with any particular course.
1-4. Plagiarism: Intentional representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise. The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, (a) the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work or sections of a work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement; (b) the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials, including material taken from or ordered through the Internet; and/or (c) the unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced through collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators.
1-5. Sabotage: Defined as, but is not limited to, the unauthorized interference with, modification of, or destruction of the work or intellectual property of another member of the University community.