ART 2 ONLINE 

Syllabus 
Reading Assignments and Tentative Schedule of Topics

Fall - 2008

Textbook:

• Laurie Schneider Adams, Art Across Time, McGraw-Hill, Vol. 1, 3rd ed. (Required, in bookstore.)
• Text Online resources: http://www.mhhe.com/artacrosstime

Online Handbook:

• Art 2  Prehistoric to Gothic Online Handbook  (Required, purchase in bookstore)

Special Instructions for Online Students:

Our main course is presented through a program called Etudes.  The address is  https://etudes-ng.fhda.edu   See the yellow hand-out sheet for further instructions on how to log in.

To help you with the Schedule of Topics below, remember that your main topics/lectures are listed under "Modules" on the Etudes navigation bar.  These topics plus the textbook readings outlined below are your main sources for the course.  Your quizzes and papers are linked to both of these.

 In addition, my ECC Web Page (which is open to all students - address is:  http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/eatherton  This site provides a simple overview for each of the main areas of the course.  It is good to read the overview for each main area before digging into the text or the Etudes web pages.   If you are adding the class and there is a delay in official log-in which will happen, since I have to send the information first to ECC then they send it to CVC (you can use the open access ECC Web Page to begin your studies.  (Expect at least a 2 day delay for adds.)  For ADD students, there is a guest access to view the course.  Certain features are not available, such as practice quizzes, Discussion Board, assignments.   See the yellow sheet titled "Important Internet Addresses" given at orientation for more on this.

 ***Always check the Etudes Announcements for exact dates of quizzes and papers.       

Schedule of Topics and Readings:

Week 1:	Orientation. Introduction to the Study of Art History: Read  Introduction to Adams Text.  Familiarize yourself with Etudes.
Week 2-4:	Prehistoric and Tribal Arts:   Prehistoric - Adams, Ch. 1.    Plus pp. 51-54 for Jericho and Catal Huyuk.    Native American Art - See "Online Handbook", and ECC Web pages.   (Please note:  All pages are for the 3rd ed. of Adams) African Art - Same. Read Etudes pages for all of these areas.   Don't forget to check the "Slide Review Modules" in Etudes also (at bottom).
Week 4:	***WEB SITE CRITIQUE PAPER  DUE  - (See below for instructions)  SEND THROUGH EMAIL to latherton877@cox.net    Due: Wed. Sept. 17.  MUST BE RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT
Weeks 4- 5:	***Quiz #1 on Prehistoric and Tribal
Weeks   5-7:	Egyptian Art, Adams, Chapter 3 Sumeria, Assyria & Babylon - Ch. 2, pp. 54-79.  Compare to Mexico, pp. 349-351, Teotihuacan  Read all of the Blackboard pages on these areas.
Week   7:	***Quiz 2 on all of above.  Emphasis on Egypt.
Week   7:	Aegean Art - Cycladic, Minoan, & Mycenaean.  Adams, Chapter 4
Weeks 7-9       Week 10:	Greek Art - Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. Adams, Chapter 5 ****Quiz 3 on Aegean and Greek Art - Wk. 9   ****MID-TERM TEST  -  This test will be taken partly online with essays emailed separately as an attachment in MS Word.  Emailed essays should be sent to latherton877@cox.net
Weeks  11-13:	Roman Art and Architecture.   Adams, Chapter 7
Week 13:	****Final Paper Due - Bring to Reguired In-Class Meeting.    Meeting Date:  Thurs. Nov. 20, 7:00-8:30, Art 103
Weeks 13-14	Early Christian and Byzantine Art Adams, Chapter 8 up to p. 297.
Week 14	***Quiz 4 on Roman, Early Christian and Byzantine
Week 15-16:	Islamic, Romanesque and Gothic.    Islamic, Chapter 9, pp. 318-326.  Romanesque, a few selected examples from Ch. 10.  Gothic - Ch.11 up to p. 422. ***Final Quiz  or Quiz 5

                                                                                                                                                                       

Web Site Critique Assignment:  Week 4  -  Due on Wed., Sept. 17th by midnight. 

Email to latherton877@cox.net   as an attachment in MS word.                                                                                                  

This assignment involves selecting two web sites from a prescribed list on our Etudes course.  For the list - go to "Modules" on the Etudes course, then to "Welcome & Introduction", then to page 2 to "Web Critique Paper Instructions".  There you will find the instructions, followed by a full list of web sites to choose from.

Please Note:  DO NOT GIVE A CRITIQUE OF ANY OF MY PAGES OR OF THE ECC WEB PAGES. THE IDEA IS TO LEARN ABOUT SITES AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS!  You are to analyze the web sites in full, including a brief summary of what you learned as well as a thoughtful critique of each, discussing how you feel they are most important for a study of Prehistoric, Tribal, Ancient or Medieval Art History. (Must be limited to those eras) This is a 2 page, double spaced  summary (one page for each, if you wish) be concise and direct, but still thorough. You are encouraged to choose two of your most favorite and different eras.

Please include the exact URL address at the top of each critique.

Criteria and Format to use in this analysis:

1. Scholarship - Does the site include references to persons who are credentialed, connected to a University or Art/Archaeology Institution, or indicate the background history of the major writers and contributors as knowledgeable in the field.  Essentially answer who wrote the pages and how qualified are they.

2. Depth of knowledge - In your opinion, is it exhaustive and/or overly technical, short on depth and relatively superficial, or just right?  

3. Artistic quality, interest, both visually, and intellectually - Is it stimulating? Eye Catching? Multi-media? Witty? Many pictures or none. Does it make you want to pursue the subject more?

4. Include a fact, new art example, or new insight which you found most profound and exciting from each site. Explain why you thought it was profound. Do not omit this part of the paper, it is a major part of the grade.  Tell me what you learned!  This should be at least a paragraph for each.

 Please follow the above instructions for a good grade.

Final Research Paper - Due Week 13, bring to class meeting:   (Counts as the Final Exam - 200 pts.)

This is a 5 page  (double spaced) research paper in which you analyze several art works, (approx. 1-5), their stylistic characteristics and meaning, and place them into the context of the history of the era.  This is based on art works that you have seen personally or that are relevant to some visit to a museum where you had direct experience with the era.  In most cases a museum visit is required.   You need to choose one topic from a list of topics (see separate hand-out at orientation),

   You must use at least 4 sources from books other than your textbook (although you should read the text first on the topic),  two of those may be from the internet.   You must  include a bibliography at the end and source or reference notes in your paper, when quoting or citing specific information.   These notes may be in the form of formal footnotes at the bottom of the page, or you may use parentheses with the last name of the author and the page number within the content of your paper.  (MLA method)

Please Note:  You must include references in the content of your paper. 

It is imperative that you not plagiarize, that is, copy long or short sections from a source or website without using quotation marks and without crediting your source.  You will receive a D or F grade on this paper if this is done.  All material that is controversial, overly technical, or written in a rhetorical or poetic style which you want  to capture should be in quotation marks with the page and source indicated in parentheses.  All else should be condensed and written in your own words.   (See ECC's Writing Center, Library or other source books on writing research papers if you need help.)   (Also here is a source to help you with writing -  http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/sblake/Guidewritingresources.htm  

Following are the criteria I will use in grading this paper.

• 1.  Whether you have included 4 sources and most of those sources are recent.
• 2.  How well you cover the subject overall.
• 3.  How well you describe the style and meaning of the art works. (Essential)
• 4.  How well you connect the art to the historical context. (Essential)
• 5.  If you plagiarize, it will be an automatic D or F.

 For details on this paper and a list of topics to choose from, see separate 'hand-out' given at the Class Orientation.  (Also found on the Etudes syllabus page).                                                                                                            

Summary of Quizzes and Mid-Term: 

    Mid-Term:                  

  The Mid-Term is part objective (taken online) and part essay (emailed to me).  Details regarding the content of the Mid-Term will be posted on the Etudes Announcements.   The online objective part of the Mid-Term may be taken only once.  (This is the only online test you are given only one try.)             

All tests cover:

--General development and history of major periods            

 --Name and importance of major archaeological sights          

--Kind of materials and techniques used at specific times.    

--Some names of major patrons or artists.                             

 --Art terminology, and some artistic processes.                      

 --Some identification of major monuments or art works.            

  --Stylistic characteristics.                                                           

--Influences from one culture to another.                                            

--Function, meaning or symbolism of major works.

  Quizzes:

There will be 5 textbook/Etudes quizzes. 

•   Quizzes are objective format: Multiple Choice, T-F, matching, multiple response, some with images.

For all online quizzes you have 1 week to complete them. The quizzes are timed to 60 or 90 minutes.  In addition, you are allowed two tries on each quiz.  The first try is like a practice quiz before the "real" one.  The practice one does not count.  All quizzes are worth 100 points each for a total of 500 points.

Please note: if you fail to complete two quizzes in succession, or the Mid-Term without contacting me, you may be dropped from the course. It is an indication to me that you are no longer participating in the course. However, you should drop in Admissions and email me if you choose to drop to insure the W or No Grade.  Do not assume I will drop you.  (See comments on drop dates below.)

Etudes - Discussion Board Replies:                              

Throughout the semester in the Etudes Module pages or on the ECC Web Page summaries, I will be asking questions. This is your chance to interact with me and other classmates. To insure that you participate, I am requiring that you respond to at least 6 total of these questions (3 before mid-term [week 8] and 3 after). These should be answered on the Etudes "Discussion & Private Messages" link  (what I commonly call the Discussion Board).  Some of my questions are merely rhetorical - for you to think about, not to answer, but most are possible subjects to answer on the Discussion Board.  Although there is no specific grade for these, they must show thought, logic and reflection on your readings. For some, I will answer you and give checks or check pluses (if you are getting a check minus, I will notify you).

Please note: failure to complete 6 discussion board postings, plus possibly a group posting (the 7^th) will result in a lowering of your grade.   While, there is no specific grade, this is a requirement for the class. It also enters in to my decision whether to elevate you if you are on a borderline between two grades.  If you answer more than the required 7 postings, you will receive extra credit.

One of the Discussion board postings may involve a group work project (the 7^th posting).  Details on this will be announced through Blackboard.

Dropping the Class:

 IF YOU DECIDE TO DROP THE CLASS, it is your responsibility to drop in Admissions.  Do not assume you will be dropped automatically.  I have over a hundred students and it is impossible to be responsible for all non-participants. To drop without any notation the date is Sept. 19.  The last date to drop with a grade of W is Friday, Nov. 14.  For either drop, I would appreciate your emailing me, plus fill out a slip in admissions.   If after Nov. 14, you disappear from the course, I am still required to give you a grade, and must give F's on all incomplete work.  I cannot give you a withdrawal or drop after Nov. 14!

Extra Credit:

Extra credit assignments are given throughout the semester for:

• one page summary emailed on relevant ECC Performances or outside talks.
• critiques of selected videos or TV Shows or books relevant to class - see page on extra credit on Etudes.
• posting important, provocative research or issues (beyond the required 7) on  the  'Discussion Board' (Issues must be supported by text, the Web, or scholar sources)
•  I do not give a grade for extra credit, but a check or check plus, and it counts toward your attitude/ effort/attendance grade at the end of the Semester, showing me you are giving extra effort. I particularly use this grade if you are on a border line (within 2 points of a higher final grade).

How to Contact Me:

Office: Basement of the Art & Behavioral Science Building - Art 13. -  By Appointment only.   

Email: latherton877@cox.net    Please do not forget the numbers in the middle!
Telephone:  To call and leave a message, dial 310-660-3593.  Then when you are asked for the extension, enter 4613;  leave your message after the tone. 

If you have an emergency, please use the earthlink email.

Summary of Requirements:

Five Quizzes	500 pts.
Web Site Critique Paper	100 pts.
Mid-Term	200 pts.
Final Paper	200 pts
Total Points	1000 pts.

Chat Times:   There will be optional chat times throughout the semester.   This is our primary chance to talk live---so it is very important.  Especially, you should try to attend these before the Midterm test.