Welcome to Cultural Aesthetics!

Day One
SHS: Friday 9/5; SEHS: Monday 9/8

Welcome to Cultural Aesthetics Art!
We had a great first day together - getting to know what we'll be doing this semester, my expectations (especially for participation and creating a welcoming environment) and getting to know each other.

If you were absent, please come see me to make sure you get the following:
1. Name tag
2. Folder
3. Syllabus
4. Blank journal cover

Homework (a.k.a. Home Fun!)
Due Thurs. 9/11
• Get syllabus signed
• Basmati letter signed WITH printout
• Journal Cover (show care and effort)

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SYLLABUS:

Cultural Aesthetics Art 2008-2009
World Art, Music, Dance, and Drama

Teacher: Jackie Owens
Website: http://owensihscas10809.blogspot.com
Phone: 687-3171 (Sheldon); 687-3115 (South) Email: owens_j@4j.lane.edu
Grade Book Online: https://basmati.esd189.org/eugene4j/login.php
Office Hours: Alpha: Sheldon Rm. B7; 7:30-8:30 A.M. • Omega: South Rm.539 9:30-10:30 A.M. and by appointment

Class Overview
Together, we will embark upon a journey into the colorful and engaging world of art, music, dance, and drama and discover how people of various cultures express their views of the world, values, and beliefs. In doing so, we’ll also learn more about ourselves and what we think of as beautiful, artistic, and valuable.

This class will give you the opportunity to experience art in all its variety firsthand while you learn about its history, techniques, meanings and various cultures from which it comes. Active participation is required and (as always) unbridled enthusiasm will be greatly appreciated! This class is designed to help you develop your voice. We all will do this by taking risks.

Activities: The activities in this class are designed to broaden and deepen your understanding of the cultures you are studying in your geography and literature classes this year and to give you additional opportunities to examine the culture lens you bring to cross cultural situations. During the following eighteen weeks we will study and create works of art and theater from Australia, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

In class participation: This will be a “hands on” class that will require full and active participation in all activities. The “in class” expectations are very high and will be part of your final grade. I will expect you to:

• arrive on time; we will often begin class with a reflection for which you will receive points
• take risks and try new experiences with a positive attitude
• respect and support your classmates as they take risks
• stay focused and pay attention to directions
• do your best work at all times
• complete all assignments
• make up all missed assignments
• use class time appropriately
• use materials and supplies appropriately

Homework: This class has been designed as an “in-class activities” class. Therefore, homework is limited. It will most often include finishing work not completed in class or preparing for plays and speeches.

Supplies: I will provide you with all the necessary art supplies you will need for in-class projects. However, I cannot allow you to take supplies home. Therefore, I recommend that you have the following supplies available at home: coloring pencils, black pen, scissors, glue, ruler, eraser, and plain white paper. Watercolor and/or oil pastels might be nice to have too, but are entirely optional.

Evaluation: I do not give grades based on artistic merit or talent. I assess art and drama projects based on work completion, use of class time, and adherence to the assignment. I assess your knowledge of material we cover in class using quizzes, handouts and short writes, which will be about 25% of your final grade. As mentioned above, your class participation will also be part of your final grade. All late work, except when due to an excused absence, will receive 50% credit. I will make appropriate and reasonable modifications and accommodations for students with identified special needs.

BASMATI: I will be using the BASMATI system to post student grades online for this class. Information about this system, along with your username and password, is included in a separate document.

Absences: Students are expected to complete in-class assignments and projects that they miss due to absences. These are due within one week from the date of the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what work he/she has missed and get the appropriate instruction and grading rubric for the assignment. All handouts from class are filed in the “Extras Binder,” which is available in the classroom at all times.

Class Web Log: This site will include brief descriptions of in-class work, homework assignments, and their due dates, as well as grading rubrics. The address, as listed above is: http://owensihscas10809.blogspot.com.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me so that I may respond as soon as possible.

I’m looking forward to sharing a fun and educationally rich semester with you!





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Please sign below, indicating that you have read and understand this syllabus, then cut at the dotted line and returned the signed portion to me.

_______________________
Student Signature

______________________________ ___________________________________
Parent Signature Student Name (Please print clearly.)


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BASMATI LETTER
September 2008

Dear Parent and Guardians,

You and your student can now check grades and turned in work for my classes on-line. This occurs through a program called “Basmati.”

To access these grades please click the South Eugene High School (yes South, even for you Sheldon students) option at the following website:

https://basmati.esd189.org/eugene4j/login.php.

Please bookmark this website on your server. You may also find a link to this website at the South Eugene High School (yes, South) home page (http://www.sehs.lane.edu/).

You will be required to enter your student’s ID number and a password, which are provided on the back of this letter.

I use a number of abbreviations in my grade book that you’ll need to know about. Although it may take me awhile to update writing assignment grades, you will easily be able to use these abbreviations to check if your student has turned in all of his/her work. Here are the abbreviations and their translations:


a = amazing (score = 100%)
e = excellent (score = 95%)
g = good (score = 85%)
s = satisfactory (score = 75%)
u = unsatisfactory (score = 65%)
NFG = not for grade (score = none)
yes = (score = 100%)
no = (score = 0)
cr = credit (assignment has been
received, but is not yet graded; score = 75%)
ex = excused (assignment does not
need to be completed;
score = none)
inc = incomplete (student has been
asked to complete / re-do this assignment; score = 0)
mi = missing (assignment has not
been received; score = 0)
* = (assignment has not been
checked in yet; score = none)
Please note that the basmati site incorrectly indicates that a red star (*) means that the assignment is missing.

l = late (assignment received late – not due to an excused absence; score = 75-50%: see syllabus)
t = temporarily excused (student must makeup this missed work; score = none)

I have the best of intentions to update grades online at least once per week – on Monday mornings.

I hope that the on-line grade book, in conjunction with the class web logs, will be a helpful tool that you and your student can use to ensure their success this year.

Look for a link to my web logs on the E.I.H.S. homepage (http://schools.4j.lane.edu/ihs/) and note that the addresses for the class web logs, again, are as follows:

Global Literature: www.owensihsgl0809.blogspot.com

Cultural Aesthetics (Art): www.owensihscas10809.blogspot.com


Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Sincerely,



Jackie Owens (owens_j@4j.lane.edu)


Student ID# & Basmati Password:





















Please detach and return for credit with Basmati print out:

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I have visited the Basmati site with my student and the grade printout(s) for the appropriate class(es) is/are attached.

____________________________________ ________________________________________
Student name & section # (please print clearly) Parent signature & date