Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your son or daughter has signed up for an Advanced Placement Studio Art course, a challenging and rewarding visual arts course. This letter is to inform you about the course expectations and workload, which are very different from those of any course your child has previously encountered.
Overview of the Course:
The advanced placement (AP) courses are intended to be college level work. As such, the workload is quite intense, and the standards for behavior and grading are quite high. The challenges are more than worthwhile, however, as the students in this course benefit from small class size, motivated peers, and excellent preparation for college. This course will focus on the creation of a strong portfolio of art to be finished at the beginning of May. Students are also expected to take the AP exam in May, which is administered by the College Board (the same organization that produces the SAT exams). Although the exam costs money, the students who score well on the exam may be granted college credit from the universities/colleges they attend in the future. The grade they receive for the course from their instructor at MTA is separate from the score on their AP exam. If students choose to not take the exam, their transcript from MTA will say Advanced Studio Art instead of AP.
Summer workload:
Students are expected to complete a significant amount of summer work for this course. This is important to gauge what subject matter, media, and techniques are your strengths. The summer work will be graded as part of your first quarter grade and is due the first class meeting. Students who do not complete the work may be moved out of the AP course into Intermediate or Advanced Studio Art. Students should bring to class summer work that showcases skill, ability, craftsmanship, creativity and engagement. The work must utilize a variety of media and techniques as well as showing a strong understanding of the basic elements and principles of design (line, shape, color, texture, value, form, space, contrast, emphasis, variety, proportion, movement, plane, volume, mass)
Behavior:
This course moves quickly. Students will be responsible for managing their time both in and outside of class, keeping all work, materials, tools and equipment organized and in good working order. There is a great deal of work involved and it is a BIG commitment of time and effort. A high standard of student behavior and maturity must be maintained at all times. Students who negatively impact the environment will be required to meet with the instructor/administration which could result in being dismissed from the course. Students must: Be prepared. Be strongly self-motivated. Be curious. Be willing to take risks. Be willing to give and receive critical feedback of artwork through verbal/written critiques from both peers and instructor.
Workload during the year:
Students will be expected to complete at least eight (8) art works per quarter. Typically this is about one completed piece of art work outside of class as well as one completed high quality piece of artwork in class every two weeks. Students will be expected to be independent thinkers and will generate original ideas for artwork. Regular critiques throughout the entire process are mandatory and will help students develop skills in critical analysis of their own and other’s work.
Course Content:
Throughout the course we will study the history of art and since art is often a reflection of society, we will be dealing with some dramatic, graphic and disturbing issues. In this class students will be responsible for analyzing and discussing works of art, literature and videos that may contain nude figures, violence and otherwise graphic material. A mature attitude is required for this class.
The Advanced Placement Exam:
As mentioned above, students are expected to submit an AP portfolio as their exam in May. The cost of the exam is borne by the student. The school only receives a small part of the fee to pay for the proctors; the rest is paid to the College Board. A high score can earn valuable college credit. For more information, please visit the College Board website athttp:apcentral.collegeboard.com/courses
Please return signed to course instructor
……………………………………………………………………
AP Studio Art
Please print the name of your daughter or son and sign your name below acknowledging that you have received and read and agree to this letter. Thank you.
Student Name:______________________________________Date________________
Parent Signature:____________________________________Date________________
Your son or daughter has signed up for an Advanced Placement Studio Art course, a challenging and rewarding visual arts course. This letter is to inform you about the course expectations and workload, which are very different from those of any course your child has previously encountered.
Overview of the Course:
The advanced placement (AP) courses are intended to be college level work. As such, the workload is quite intense, and the standards for behavior and grading are quite high. The challenges are more than worthwhile, however, as the students in this course benefit from small class size, motivated peers, and excellent preparation for college. This course will focus on the creation of a strong portfolio of art to be finished at the beginning of May. Students are also expected to take the AP exam in May, which is administered by the College Board (the same organization that produces the SAT exams). Although the exam costs money, the students who score well on the exam may be granted college credit from the universities/colleges they attend in the future. The grade they receive for the course from their instructor at MTA is separate from the score on their AP exam. If students choose to not take the exam, their transcript from MTA will say Advanced Studio Art instead of AP.
Summer workload:
Students are expected to complete a significant amount of summer work for this course. This is important to gauge what subject matter, media, and techniques are your strengths. The summer work will be graded as part of your first quarter grade and is due the first class meeting. Students who do not complete the work may be moved out of the AP course into Intermediate or Advanced Studio Art. Students should bring to class summer work that showcases skill, ability, craftsmanship, creativity and engagement. The work must utilize a variety of media and techniques as well as showing a strong understanding of the basic elements and principles of design (line, shape, color, texture, value, form, space, contrast, emphasis, variety, proportion, movement, plane, volume, mass)
Behavior:
This course moves quickly. Students will be responsible for managing their time both in and outside of class, keeping all work, materials, tools and equipment organized and in good working order. There is a great deal of work involved and it is a BIG commitment of time and effort. A high standard of student behavior and maturity must be maintained at all times. Students who negatively impact the environment will be required to meet with the instructor/administration which could result in being dismissed from the course. Students must: Be prepared. Be strongly self-motivated. Be curious. Be willing to take risks. Be willing to give and receive critical feedback of artwork through verbal/written critiques from both peers and instructor.
Workload during the year:
Students will be expected to complete at least eight (8) art works per quarter. Typically this is about one completed piece of art work outside of class as well as one completed high quality piece of artwork in class every two weeks. Students will be expected to be independent thinkers and will generate original ideas for artwork. Regular critiques throughout the entire process are mandatory and will help students develop skills in critical analysis of their own and other’s work.
Course Content:
Throughout the course we will study the history of art and since art is often a reflection of society, we will be dealing with some dramatic, graphic and disturbing issues. In this class students will be responsible for analyzing and discussing works of art, literature and videos that may contain nude figures, violence and otherwise graphic material. A mature attitude is required for this class.
The Advanced Placement Exam:
As mentioned above, students are expected to submit an AP portfolio as their exam in May. The cost of the exam is borne by the student. The school only receives a small part of the fee to pay for the proctors; the rest is paid to the College Board. A high score can earn valuable college credit. For more information, please visit the College Board website athttp:apcentral.collegeboard.com/courses
Please return signed to course instructor
……………………………………………………………………
AP Studio Art
Please print the name of your daughter or son and sign your name below acknowledging that you have received and read and agree to this letter. Thank you.
Student Name:______________________________________Date________________
Parent Signature:____________________________________Date________________