ART 020 Introduction to Drawing, SYLLABUS
Instructor: Mary Vollero, mcv2@psu.edu, Room 050 Smeal, 375-4719

Course Goals:
This course is as much about learning to see, as it is about drawing.
I believe drawing is a skill everyone can learn, as long as they are willing to do the work required. My class is designed for students of all skill levels, students who think they have no talent as well as those who are very skilled. Students who are already confident about their drawing skills will only improve with practice. All students benefit when they attend class, keep an open mind, pay attention, listen to directions, suggestions, and most importantly make a sincere effort to do their best.

Course Objectives:
Drawing is the process of making marks on paper. Students will build their drawing and seeing skills through exercises. Students will be exposed to a variety of media and methods of mark making, primarily using charcoal, ink, and pastels to draw forms and shapes, light and shadow, still life, and figures. Students will need to wear clothes that can get dirty or bring a smock. In their drawings students will be expected to consider: line quality, shading and tonal quality, composition, and expression.
Drawing requires both visual and technical skills. Successful Drawings depend, not only on technique, but on meaning and message, as well.
One way to improve drawing skills is to keep a sketchbook. Recording dreams is an effective exercise in seeing the parts of our lives, which are not physical. In their sketchbooks students will explore their personal vision, which in turn, results in individual expression.
Evaluation and Grading:
Your semester grade will be based a total of 8 assignments worth 10 points each and your Sketchbook worth 20 pts. (See attached course outline and grade breakdown)
Assignments are evaluated based on the quality of the work, which can be subjective, but will also consider effort and improvement.
Improvement and extra effort will be considered during grading.
Any student who wants to do well in my class can do well.
**At the end of the semester each student will be expected to frame or mat at least one work, for the student show.

Attendance Policy:
Attendance is mandatory. It is required that you attend class regularly with the proper materials, and that you utilize class time effectively. You will be allowed three (3) absences. After 3 missed classes your grade can be effected.
Class absences for any reason do not excuse you from required course work and it will be your responsibility to make up any missed assignments. Repeated tardiness could also affect your grade. Your grade may also be affected by repeatedly leaving class early.
Grade outline and grading breakdown:
(subject to changes)
10 pts Contour
10 pts Gesture
10 pts Stil Life
10 pts Landscape
10 pts Ink
10 pts Skeleton
10 pts Portrait
10 pts Figure
20 pts Sketchbook
-----------------
100 pts Total

Grading Policy
94-100 = A (Excellent)
90-93 = A- (Nearly Excellent)
88-89 = B+ (Very Good)
83-87 = B (Good)
80-82 = B- (Better than Average)
78-79 = C+ (Average plus)
70-77 = C (Average)
60-69 = D
0-59 = Failing

Changes to Syllabus
I anticipate that we will follow the schedule outlined here, but adjustments may be made. Any changes will be announced in class and printed, and/or distributed or via email. Be sure to check with a classmate after an absence to see if assignments have changed. I may also change basis for the course grade; if I do so, I will so inform everyone.
Remaining in the course after reading this syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

Academic Integrity:
DO NOT COPY any one else's art work or take credit for someone else's work. Do not hand in work that was done before this class or for another class. It is understood that at this level of education, academic dishonesty of any type will not be tolerated and will result in immediate disciplinary action. It is further understood that cheating on examinations and out of class assignments will result in a failure grade (F) for that student in the course. Plagiarism and copying reports and assignments from other students, publications, or Internet resources will also result in disciplinary action that will seriously affect the student's grade for the course.
All students are expected to act with civility, personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for self and others and a civil community.
Academic integrity includes a commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty include cheating or copying, plagiarizing, submitting another persons' work as one's own, using Internet sources without citation, fabricating field data or citations, "ghosting" (taking or having another student take an exam), stealing examinations, tampering with the academic work of another student, facilitating other students' acts of academic dishonesty, etc. Students charged with a breach of academic integrity will receive due process and, if the charge is found valid, academic sanctions may range, depending on the severity of the offense, from F for the assignment to F for the course. The University's statement on academic integrity, from which the above statement is drawn, is available at http://www.psu.edu/

Commonwealth College Disability Statement
Penn State is committed to providing access to a quality education for all students, including those with documented disabilities. If a student has a disability and wishes an accommodation for a course, it is the student's responsibility to obtain a University letter confirming the disability and suggesting appropriate accommodation. This letter can be requested from the campus Disability Contact Liaison, Janet L. Yates, Assistant Director of Student Affairs, room 101 Hiller Building.
Students are encouraged to request accommodation early in the semester so that, once identified, reasonable accommodation can be implemented in a timely manner.