Communications Studies (COMS) 365 - Lecture 60

Writing about the Fine Arts
Summer 2008
Tuesdays and Thursdays 14:00 - 16:45 PF 114  

Instructor: Chris Ewart

Office Location: SS 209

Office Phone: TBA

E-Mail: cmewart@ucalgary.ca

Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 16:50-17:20 or by appointment

Course Description

This course allows students to explore, evaluate and contextualize various forms of art through writing.      

 

Objectives of the Course

-to compose concise and effective writing for various audiences and purposes

-to improve critical evaluation and revision skills

-to gain confidence in creating cogent written material in relation to the art of others
-to affirm connectivity between art, language and community through attending art  

 events and in-class guest lectures

Textbooks and Readings:

Barnet, Sylvan. A Short Guide to Writing about Art. 9^th ed. Upper Saddle

River, NJ: Pearson. 2008.

Additional readings/materials to be provided in class

Assignments and Evaluation

Assignment #1 - Film Review - 20%

Due: July 15                        

 

Assignment #2 - Live Event Review - 20%

Due: July 24

 

Assignment #3 - Gallery Show Review - 20%

Due: August 5

 

Assignment #4 - Catalogue Essay - 30%

Due: August 14 - in class

 

Participation - includes brief write-up of four fine arts events and in-class exercises - 10%

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  No

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre. Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be provided in class