THIS SEMESTER’S THEME: VISUAL STORYTELLING
We will use pencils and computers to create artworks and develop our drawing and creative thinking skills. We will do a few projects with students around the world, including Rotoball 2008, a rotoscope animation. Working individually and as groups we will reinvent creation myths from around the world as short animations, graphic novels or live action animations. We will use Flash, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop7, CS3 and web tools. Technology changes and advances, however the basics of good design remain. For this reason, this class emphasizes the elements and principles of design.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Beginning Computer Art 1 fulfills one semester of the Visual and Performing Arts graduation requirement and the F-G requirement for CSU and UC. Course goals and objectives reflect the California state standards in visual arts. The State standards are:
♦ Artistic Perception – Using art vocabulary to describe and respond to carefully viewed artworks.
♦ Creative Expression – Making art
♦ Historical/Cultural Context - Understanding art’s historical and cultural contributions.
♦ Aesthetic Valuing - Analyzing and making critical assessments about artworks.
♦ Connections, Relations & Application - Extending what students learn about an art form to other art forms, subject areas and careers.

We look at, make, read about, write about and discover art in real life around us.

TEXT USED IN THIS CLASS
Creating and Understanding Drawings Scholastic Arts Magazine
By Gene A. Mittler and James Howze

GRADING
Artwork in this class is made with both computers and traditional media such as pencil, pen and watercolors. Students will be expected to develop both drawing and computer skill. Assignments and grades are available online. Graded work may include: a variety of long-term assignments, reports, daily work/learning activities and oral/written quizzes.
Extra Credit possibilities
– Complete winter break activity, if all assignments have been turned in already.
– unused hall passes buy extra credit points.
– Perfect attendance bonus equal to 5% of the points you have already earned at the end of the semester.

Grading Scale:

98	A+	Exceptional effort and originality
92	A	Shows individuality and originality
90	A-	Excellent effort
88	B+	Logical and effective work
82	B	Logical complete work
80	B-	Logical effective work, but without finishing touches
78	C+	Adequately completed without preplanning
72	C	Adequately completed unoriginal assignment
70	C-	Adequately completed in a rushed manner
68	D+	Lack of pride in completed assignment
62	D	Completed with minimum effort
60	D-	Incomplete, rushed, unoriginal, poorly executed

Being tardy or absent affects grades. Students are responsible for making up missed work when they are absent. Students have 20 days to clear absences with the attendance office. Students may not make up work missed because of truancy.

Citizenship grades are based on district suggestions outlined in the Student/Parent Handbook. Higher citizenship grades are awarded for attending class regularly, arriving on time, bringing needed tools to class, and once in class being a positive influence, exercising self-control, participating, being friendly and courteous.

Tardies will negatively affect citizenship grades (see Student/Parent Handbook).

Appointments for parent/teacher conferences or extra help are available during first or seventh period.

SUPPLIES NEED BY STUDENTS

• Image storage – either a 2-gig flash drive, or online file storage (accessible from school such as gmail account or photoshop.com/express)
• Section in 3-ring binder for class handouts with lined and unlined paper.
• Pencils and Black or Blue pen.