Instructor: Anh Do                              Semester:            Spring 2009        

Mail box - Harris Hall 216                     Days & Time:       Tues. & Thurs. 2:00 – 4:50 pm

Art Dept. Office - (804) 542-5944           Location:              Harris Hall 205

E-mail – emailad@comcast.net           Semester hours:     3 credits

If you need to see me out of class, make an appointment. E-mail is the best way to get in touch with me.

 

Class Prerequisites: All required 100, 200, 300 level major courses, Animation I, and Animation II.

 

Course Description: This is a course with advanced techniques providing students with the opportunity to create and produce their own projects.

 

Course Objectives: to expand the students’ knowledge of animation techniques, tools, and production.

 

Projects: Proposals and the implementation of a proposal to produce 2 animation shorts.

 

Writing Assignments: Students will be writing animation proposals and scripts.

 

·         Something to keep your proposals and storyboards in

·         White unlined index cards (5x8)

·         A ream of 8 ½ X 11 white paper

·         Drawing pencils, erasers, and at least 2 fine point black Sharpies

·         A minimum of 1GB USB flash drive

 

Textbook: Storytelling through Animation, by Mike Wellins,

       Publisher: Charles River Media     ISBN-10: 1584503947

Class Structure: This is a three-hour class. The activities in this class will include, but are not limited to, lectures, demos, screenings, introductions to projects, discussions, exercises, critiquing, project progress evaluations, and self-pacing work. Students are expected to spend as much time as needed outside the classroom to complete their assignments.

 

 

 

To receive a grade of A for the semester astudent work must reflect outstanding achievement level of achievement both in quality and quantity, and all work must be completed on time and as assigned. Student must display exceptional attitude in critique participation, response to criticism, and professional conduct. Student ability to communicate and execute ideas exhibits outstanding achievement. Student has perfect attendance.

To receive a grade of B for the semester astudent work must reflect above-average achievement level of achievement both in quality and quantity, and all work be completed on time and as assigned. Student must display a positive attitude in critique participation, response to criticism, and professional conduct. Student ability to communicate and execute ideas exhibits above-average achievement. Student has near perfect attendance.

To receive a grade of C for the semester astudent work must reflect an acceptable achievement level of achievement both in quality and quantity, and all work must be completed as assigned. Student must display a positive attitude in critique participation, response to criticism, and professional conduct. Student should exhibit an acceptable level of ability in communication and execution of ideas and have an acceptable pattern of attendance.

 

To receive a grade of D for the semester astudent achievement is below average level of achievement in quality and/or quantity. Work was not completed as assigned. Student response to criticism, professional conduct, and participation in critique is below acceptable standards or reflects an indifferent attitude. Student work reflects an inability to satisfactorily communicate and execute ideas. Student pattern of attendance was unsatisfactory.

 

To receive a grade of F for the semester astudent work and attitude reflect an unsatisfactory level of achievement both in quality and quantity. Student exhibits an unsatisfactory ability to communicate and execute ideas and a pattern of low productivity. Student attendance record is unacceptable. The student’s lack of participation in critiques, poor response to criticism, and inappropriate conduct will receive this grade.

 

To receive a grade of I for the semester astudent must have experienced unreasonable hardship and was prevented from completing 1 project that is necessary to pass the class. The student must have an average of C or above for the class without the 1 missing project, and the student must make arrangements before the end of the semester with the instructor contractually to complete that project before the end of the next semester. To justify an incomplete for a grade I will consider circumstances on individual bases. If I find that it is not justify, you will get a 0% for the missing project, and it will be a part of your average for the final grade. It is otherwise unfair to other students who were able to do the work and turn it in on a timely manner.

 

To receive a grade of N for the semester astudent is on the class roster but never attended the class.

 

·         Research- was the research methods used by the student, and were they used effectively? Was it implemented to arrive at successful solution for the project, and does it cover all aspects of the project?

·         Concept- is the concept inventive and appropriate, and do they satisfy the objectives of a stated project?

·         Motivation- did the student stay on task, was he/she motivated throughout the entire process of the project in and out of class?

·         Visual organization- is all syntactic concerns, such as form, composition, and visual hierarchy, well articulated?

·         Communication- does the project present a clear message, and is this message appropriate for the intended audience?

·         Colors- do the application of color support the message and satisfy aesthetic concerns? Does the use of color show evidence of an understanding of color theory? Is the lack of color appropriate to the project?

·         Drawing- does the drawing exhibit technical and conceptual development? Is it appropriate for the project?

·         Typography- is the typography effective in terms of structure, legibility, and function?

·         Kinetic- does the visual solution provide a kinetic quality that holds the attention of viewers/readers?

·         Craft- does the project reflect the appropriate use of tools and materials, and is it presented in a professional manner?

 

 

·         Deadlines- was the project turned in on time?

·         Verbal articulation- was the student able to critically address his/her work orally and respond to concepts discussed in class?

·         Written articulation- when required, did the student document his/her work clearly, concisely, and accurately?

·         Participation- did the student actively contribute to critiques and topic discussions on a regular basis?

 

 

Class Preparation: You are to be prepared at the start of each class with assigned work and supplies needed for the class. If you are not prepared with the assigned work and/or the supplies needed for the day, you will be counted as absent and will receive an F for the day. Students who do not participate in class critiques or individual discussions when scheduled to do so should not expect private critiques and/or discussions with me at a later time. Students who miss lectures and class discussions due to absences or tardiness must obtain the information missed and any projects given from a classmate prior to the next class period. While I will be happy to clarify information for students who are unclear about the information given, I cannot repeat lectures or elaborate project descriptions on an individual basis. Students should make every attempt to obtain general information from classmates before discussing details with me.

 

Class Room Decorum: Students are to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. Behavior that I perceive as disruptive and/or disrespectful on the part of any students will not be tolerated and I reserve the right to evict any students from the classroom for such offense. Students who are consistently disruptive and/or disrespectful will get an F for the semester. Examples of classroom disruption and/ or disrespectful activities are: talking or constantly going in and out of classroom during lectures, cell phone use (text messaging) in any way in the class room during lectures, being perceived as overly aggressive in any manner, leaving before the class is formerly released, using any kind of audio (iPod) devices during non independent studio work time/ lectures, etc. If a student is asked to excuse himself or herself and refuses to leave, or becomes argumentative, they will fail the course and be dropped from the class. A student that is dropped will have only one week to appeal their expulsion.

 

Attendance: Prompt and consistent attendance develops professional behavior and insures you have access to the full range of experiences/information necessary to complete class assignments and acquire the skills and knowledge emphasized in this course in order to pass it. I will look at each absence on an individual basis. For me, excused absences are the things that are not in your control i.e. sickness, weather, family emergencies, etc. Unexcused absences are thing that you can control i.e. non-emergency appointments, advisor conferences, and employment in some cases. Coming to class unprepared without materials to work in class will count as an absence. Doing work for other classes; being evicted from class will also count as an absence even if it is near the end of the class time. Every day, at the time of your arrival to class, you are required to pick up an attendance sign in card and fill it out. You must hand in this card directly to me as soon as you fill it out. You will be losing attendance points until you hand me this card. If you hold on to the card and hand it in at the end of class, you will get a 0% for attendance for the day even if you were in class for the entire time.

 

Computer Use in the Lab: Anything other than studio work for the class or approved work on the lab computers is considered a misuse of the computer lab. If I see an offence during studio/ class time, it will result in an absent for the day. If this is a habitual offense during studio/ class time, you will get an F for the semester. You will get a warning before you are close to getting an F for the semester.

 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 require Virginia State University to provide academic adjustments or accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students seeking academic adjustments or accommodations must self-identify with the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities on the appropriate campus. After meeting with the Coordinator, students are encouraged to meet with their instructors to discuss their needs, and if applicable, any lab safety concerns related to their disabilities.

 

Please note that students who have self-identified through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities should provide their instructors with an official memo from the Coordinator detailing needed academic adjustments or accommodations. Students who have not self-identified with the appropriate Coordinator should do so.

 

It is the responsibility of each department chairperson to provide testing sites for students who require isolated areas to complete examinations. If a quiet space is not available, faculty may contact the appropriate Coordinator for assistance. Students who require exam modifications using auxiliary services or aids such as readers, proctors or scribes should make arrangements for those modifications through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. A minimum notice of 72 hours prior to the exam, by either the instructor or the student, is requested.

 

Student Affairs: Services for Students with Disabilities

Campus location: Room 412 Memorial Hall, 1 Hayden St.

Petersburg, VA 23806

Voice/TDD: (804) 524-5061

 

 

·   If you encounter any problems with the class, project, software, equipment, etc. please talk to me before the end the semester so I can help you. The end of the semester is not the time.

·   I do not make exception unless you can prove there are exceptional circumstances that was not in your control

·   I reserve the right to change anything within reason on this syllabus to accommodate the pace of the class. You will be informed of the changes before they are in effect.