Course Syllabus ARTS 1110 WI12

COURSE IDENTIFICATION

Title:History of Western Art—Ancient to Gothic

Prefix/Section: ARTS 1110 1A/FA

Credit Hours:4.5

Class Begins/Ends11/29/12-2/26/13

NO CLASS:12/25, 12/27, 1/1, 1/3

(Academic calendar can be found at )

Census Date: 12/11/2012

Last Day to Withdraw:2/12/2013

Date/Time/Location:T/TH 10:00am – 11:55am EVC 150 (FRE 216B)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor Name:Susan Trinke

E-Mail:

Office Location:EVC 332

Office Telephone:402-289-1342 or 1-800-228-9553 (use only during office hours)

Office Hours:T/TH 9:00-10:00 and 12:00-2:00 @ EVC 332

Academic Program Area:ARTS

Dean’s Office Telephone:Tom McDonnell, Dean of Languages and Visual Arts; 289-1331

COURSE INFORMATION

Description:This course surveys the major development in painting, sculpture, and architecture from Paleolithic cave paintings through the European Middle Ages with introduction to the arts of Asia. Students gain and understanding of formal analysis of visual communication and the use of visual arts in social and historical contexts.

Prerequisites: None. It is recommended that students take ENGL 1020 prior to taking ARTS 1110 because the level of reading and writing for this course requires a solid foundation in both.

Objectives:

  • Analyze art by recognizing the elements of form.
  • Interpret visual images in the context of individual cultures and historic periods.
  • Identify examples of art as a means of historic documentation.
  • Explain how art expresses diverse cultural values.

Required Text & Supplemental Materials:

  • Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Concise Global History, 3rd edition. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011.
  • Textbook and other print materials can be rented, purchased, or downloaded through the South Omaha Campus bookstore at(402) 738-4508 or through the publisher as paper, e-book and even chapter-by-chapter at
  • This class is Angel enhanced. Quizzes and assignments will be submitted via Angel. A computer with a good internet connection is required. Papers must be submitted in a word document, pdf, or rtf.

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT WORK

Point distribution is as follows:

5 Quizzes at 20 points each100 points25%

2 Papers @ 50 points each100 points25%

Research Project 50 points12.5%

Homework 50 points12.5%

In-class Activities/Participation100 points25%

TOTAL400 points

Grading Policy

A = 100 – 90 %

B = 89 – 80 %

C = 79 – 70 %

D = 69 – 60 %

F = 59 % or lower

In-Class Activities: Throughout the course of the quarter, there will be assignments you will complete in class individually or in a group. You must actively participate with your group and complete your own assignment while engaging in discussion with your peers. You must also use your book to complete these assignments. If you are not present in class, you are responsible for completing the assignment on your own. Some work will be assigned by the instructor for completion on your own. All of these assignments are in your instructor-provided packet. This packet may be periodically collected and reviewed to check for understanding of course material.

Reading and Quizzes: Each week you have the responsibility to read the chapter indicated on the syllabus calendar. Prior to class, you are to have written questions that you have. Class discussion will be centered on these topics. After each unit’s class sessions, you are to complete a quiz on Angel.

Papers:The first paper will consist of writing a descriptive essay over a single work of art and comparing it to another work of art. The work can be any painting, sculpture, or architectural work of your choice. Follow the format of the Visual Element and Principles of Design worksheets. For the second paper, a field trip will be scheduled to visit an art museum. If you cannot attend, you may attend on an alternate time when it is convenient for you. Your report is to find a work of art that interests you and write a short description and explanation of how it is an example of a movement or style that we discussed in class. Compare it to another work of art from the text. Use visual elements and Principles of Design. Approximately 500 words is expected.

Research Project and Presentation: This informal presentation will be the product of research done in class and as homework. This presentation will make use of technology and will be exhibited and stored on an online presentation program. I will give you several options for topics and formats in a separate handout.

Instructor Response Time: Faculty will respond to email within 48 hours, Monday through Friday, to student emails concerning course content, learning activities, and private matters appropriate for discussion within the teacher-student relationship. Graded work will be returned within one week.

INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

  • Attendance: You are expected to attend every class, for the entire class period. Late arrivals and early departures will be noted. After accumulating 8 hours of absence your final grade will be reduced by 10%. After missing 12 hours of class, your final course grade will be FX.
  • Late work: Late assignments will be accepted with a 20% penalty if turned in within one week.
  • Preparation: Students are expected to write, read, complete coursework, and engage in course discussions on a college level. You may be advised to visit the Writing Center on campus or review the APA or MLA writing guidelines. This course relies upon much group work and social interaction, unlike online courses.
  • Academic Honesty: Please be sure that all work submitted is entirely your own. All online work is to be submitted by students individually. All papers and finals are to be the ideas and writing of the student. Any work that is not properly quoted and cited is plagiarism. The penalty for cheating or plagiarizing is a reduced grade and opportunity for revision after the first offense. After the second instance of plagiarism, the grade for the assignment will be a zero and documentation will be filed. A third offense will result in an F for the course.

COLLEGE POLICIES

College policies, such as student rights and responsibilities, academic standards, plagiarism, and etc. are outlined in the College Catalog and Student Handbook. This information can be accessed via the online catalog at

Attendance: After the first class meeting and through the Census Date, the instructor will disenroll (WX) students who have never attended. The Census Date is listed under the Important Dates for the course in the official Class Schedule at student who fails to meet class attendance expectations will receive a final grade of FX, indicating an absence-related failure. A student earning an FX grade prior to the end of the quarter may avoid receiving the failing grade by withdrawing from the course before the Last Date to Withdraw from Class.

Learning Support: Metro's Learning, Math, and Writing Centers can help you achieve educational success. The staff in these centers provide drop-in assistance with basic math, reading, writing and computer skills. We offer a friendly, supportive learning environment. Self-paced computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary, typing, English as a Second Language, and online course orientation is also available. Detailed information about these services are in the Student Handbook, College Catalog, and online. Links to these resources are located at

  • Academic Honesty: Students are reminded that materials they use as sources for classwork may be subject to copyright protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library website at or by your instructor. In response to incidents of student dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, illegal peer-to-peer file sharing, etc.), the College imposes specific actions that may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course, suspension from the College, or dismissal from the College. Disciplinary procedures are available in the Advising/Counseling Centers or at
  • Student Withdrawal: If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw through WebAdvisor at or by calling Central Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in either an attendance-related failure (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus.
  • Communication Expectations: When you communicate with others in this course, you must follow the Student Code of Conduct ( which calls for responsible and cooperative behavior. Please think critically, ask questions, and challenge ideas, but also show respect for the opinions of others, respond to them politely, and maintain the confidentiality of thoughts expressed in the class. You may also wish to review information at
  • Learning Support: MCC's Academic Resource Centers, Math Centers, and Writing Centers offer friendly, supportive learning environments that can help students achieve educational success. Staff members in these centers provide free drop-in assistance with basic computing, reading, math, and writing skills. Self-paced, computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary, typing, English as a Second Language, and online course orientation is also available. Detailed information about the Academic Resource, Math, and Writing Centers is in the Student Handbook, College Catalog, and online at
  • Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability that may substantially limit your ability to participate in this class, please contact a Vocational Special Needs Counselor, located in the Student Services Office on each campus. Metropolitan Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. However, it is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations. For further information, please contact the Student Services Office at your campus.
  • Assessment of Student Learning:Metropolitan Community College is committed to continuous improvement of teaching and learning. You may be asked to help us to accomplish this objective. For example, you may be asked to respond to surveys or questionnaires. In other cases, tests or assignments you are required to do for this course may be shared with faculty and used for assessment purposes. This will be done in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
  • Use of Student Work: By enrolling in classes offered by Metropolitan Community College, the student gives the College license to mark on, modify, and retain the work as may be required by the process of instruction, as described in the course syllabus. The institution shall not have the right to use the work in any other manner without the written consent of the student(s). By submitting work online, you acknowledge that your work is public and may be viewed and referenced in the future.
  • Technology Resources:For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help Desk at 457-2900 or . By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan Community College Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website:
  • Use of College Computers:When you use computers in College computer labs, learning centers, libraries and many classrooms, you will need to login using your student username and password. Your username is the same as your WebAdvisor username and your initial password is your student ID with leading zeros to make it seven digits. If you need assistance, please contact staff at any of the computer labs, learning centers and libraries; your instructor may also be able to help.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Please use the calendars on the following pages to follow the assignments and readings in the course text.

Metropolitan Community College1Template Rev. 7/24/06