COURSE SYLLABUS: ARTS -1316-002 Drawing Foundations

SEMESTER: Spring 2009 TIME: T 10-12:45pm

Room: AS1.118

Professor: margaret meehan

OFFICE HRS: Please email to arrange time before or after class. Arrangements need to be made ahead of
time to assure accessibility. email: mmeehan@utdallas.edu

Course Description:
This course provides a foundation for drawing and printmaking classes. Emphasis will be placed on the
process of charcoal drawing in relation to design concerns such as light, space, form and composition. The
importance of drawing as a method both to describe reality and to conceptualize ideas will be stressed.

Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will:

• have an understanding that allows both the identification and implementation of formal elements
such as mark, line, plane composition, pictorial space, and value.
• become familiar with the materials and processes associated with drawing such as pencil,
charcoal, ink, and both digital and physical forms of collage.
• understand the ideas associated with the genres of still-life, interiors, landscape and abstraction.
• Students should develop a basic understanding of the relationship between representation and
abstraction through drawing.
• develop a relationship between craftsmanship and creativity.
• know and use basic vocabulary and terminology.
• be able to form an informed opinion and critique work.

Academic Calendar:
Jan 13 Class policies and procedures: Grading, expectations.
Overall Goals and objectives of the class. Go over syllabus.

Last day to drop a class without a “W” ................. Wed., Jan. 28

March 3 Midterm
Midterm grades posted March 6th.
March 17 Spring Break
April 28 Final

Grading Policy and Assignments

All drawings, homework, and sketchbooks are due at the start of class on assigned days. All work must be
completed and presented for critiques. If you have questions about your grades do not wait until the end of
the semester to ask. Ask at the time.

Evaluation categories and criteria for grading:

1. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Has the student addressed the issues related to the problem in a manner that suggests
an understanding of the artistic concept and applicable material usage?
Has one applied the previous assignment experiences to the present work?
Has one made use of research and readings relevant to the problem?

2. QUANTITY OF WORK
How much time has a student put into the production of the work?
How much time has been put into the research and preparation of the work?
How much has one followed through with his idea and what resolution has been made
after critique.
 3. CREATIVITY OF CONCEPT AND APPLICATION
How much originality and creative manipulation has been projected into the process and
concept of one’s solution?
Does the solution suggest prospects for the future development?
Has the student combined other resources in an inventive way?
Has there been an element of risk involved?

4. ATTITUDE
Has the student found the problem challenging in an inquisitive and open-minded way?
Does the student ask questions, offer comments, listen and focus her attention?
Has the student participated in the critique in a constructive way?

Aside from all of these categories, I do take into account various learning styles and talents. Shown
improvement can affect your grade and I will place more consideration on work at the end of the semester
over that of the beginning. Those with talent, ability and experience will be expected to challenge
themselves through effort, a unique concept, and problem solving.

Drawing Assignments and class homework will be given throughout the semester. Homework should be
completed before the class begins on the day the assignment is due. Getting behind will only make things
more difficult as the semester progresses. Make sure you understand what the objectives are for all of the
projects. If you are not sure, don’t hesitate to ask. I will be glad to talk to you regarding any class related
problems.

Work hard and do your best with each assignment. Productivity is very important. The more you do and
see the faster your skills will increase. Production and productivity is the only way you can visually
demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have learned. I am looking for involvement more than
perfection. To successfully complete this course you will need to devote out of class time. Learning to draw
takes time and patience, if you do not have time or patience this is not the class for you.

Your grade will be based on the completion of assignments, their quality in relation to the assignment
details and the level of improvement over the course of the semester. As a result each drawing will not be
graded individually. You will be given an unofficial mid-term grade to mark your progress during a
conference with me to discuss your work in the course. There will also be periodic group critiques as well
as in-class verbal feedback and criticism to also gauge your progress. After the final critique in which the
whole class will look at and discuss all of the work from the whole semester, your final grade will be
posted.

Grading system:
A Inspired growth and/or consistent excellence
Strong contribution to class critiques
Punctuality and outstanding class behavior
B Consistent high quality response to assignments
Active participation in critiques
Punctuality and appropriate class behavior
C Average response to assignments
Poor attendance and poor critique participation
Below average class behavior
D Little or no effort demonstrated
Unsatisfactory participation in class critiques
Unacceptable attendance record
Bad attitude
Sketchbook
Keep your sketchbooks informed and up to date with what is going on in class. This includes notes, artist
research, handouts, drawing homework, and gallery and/or museum visits. Put additional print material
into your notebook that are relevant to the course such as articles, photos or other work, examples of ideas,
etc. will be helpful to me in determining some of your progress and commitment that might not be so easily
seen in your class work.

Only work done for the current semester and this particular class will count toward your class grade.

Attendance
Attendance IS mandatory and expected. Please be on time, and ready to work (materials out and projects
ready to critique). This is a studio class. It meets only once a week, so class time is valuable. Class
participation is essential and noted on a daily basis; this is NOT a correspondence class.
I will take role at the beginning of each class. After 3 absences your grade will drop. For every 3 missed
classes your final grade will be lowered one full letter grade. (Ex. if you made an overall B then you would
get a C as your final semester grade) There are no exceptions for illness of any kind. Over the course of the
class you have 2 days of absence that will not affect your grade whatsoever. This should allow for illness or
unforeseen circumstances. Absences are counted from the first day of class even if you register late for the
course. Coming late to class and leaving early will be penalized as a percentage of an absence. Coming to
class unprepared will also result in your grade being affected negatively.
Critiques are an important learning tool and are mandatory. No drawing assignments will be accepted late.

Should you miss a class, please contact fellow classmates or me ASAP so you do not get behind. You may
do so by email. Please do not hesitate to discuss with me any questions, concerns or problems you may
have about his course during the semester. If you don’t feel comfortable approaching me in class, then fell
free to contact me and we can set up a time to meet. I recommend you exchange phone #’s with at least 2
other classmates.
You are responsible for getting all of the information that goes on in class regardless of your absence.

Room Use and Locker Storage

We will provide you some storage space for your materials and artwork. Because of lack of space and
overflowing enrollments in some classes our storage ability is stressed and thus limited. Do not claim
more storage than you need. Mark all drawers with your name, semester/year, and class # and instructor.
We will clean all shelves and drawers out one week after the end of the semester so please take your things
home if you want to keep them. Anything that is left behind will be thrown out.

Students enrolled in classes in the art barn will have access to the room whenever there is not another class
meeting in there. If a class is meeting in the room, class students have priority. The building is open 8am
to 10 pm M-F. Sat/ 8am to 8pm and it will be closed Sunday.

Please clean up after yourselves. If you leave materials and artwork in the studio not properly stored, it
will be thrown away. There is no food allowed in the classroom. Only beverages with covered lids may
be brought to class. Please clean up your general surroundings after each class.

Please be respectful of the Gallery. Do not touch, remove or alter the location of anything in the Gallery.
There are security cameras that record any disturbances that occur and you will be prosecuted for the full
value of the work.

In case of an emergency please inform an instructor; the office or you may call campus security at 911 on
the phone immediately outside the sculpture room 1.110.

Pass/fail
For you to elect to participate in the pass/fail program you must follow normal UTD policy procedures.
This course of action must be decided early on. This class is not an ‘easy A’. Follows these suggestions in
earnest and work hard. You may only declare pass/fail, credit/no credit if you are not an art and
performance or ATEC major.
Student Conduct & Discipline
The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the
orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student
organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations, which govern student conduct and
activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to
Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and
established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations; Board of
Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student
Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and
regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she
is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and
administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such
conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such
conduct.

Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the
value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that
degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her
scholastic work.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for
enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or material that is not one’s
own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism,
collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for
details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism
and is over 90% effective.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These
dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be
followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other
words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will
not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of
academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter
with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter
called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the
respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written
response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the
grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean
of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals
Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process
will be distributed to all involved parties.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where
staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the
semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be
resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to
complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the
incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to
those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office
hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:
The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation.
Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student
has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact
the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel
to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property
tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the
absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the
exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of
the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed
exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or
assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a
religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a
reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor
may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student
and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES ON during class hours. This means no ringing, conversations, or
text messaging in the classroom. I do not want to see them!

*This syllabus represents our current plans and objectives. These plans are subject to change reflecting
the class’ understanding and progress of the course work at the discretion of the professor