AP
®
Studio Art: 2-D Design Syllabus 2 Syllabus 1058811v1
4
It is something like a visual term paper and is an important part of the class. Stu-
dents reference the compelling ideas they’ve been recording in their sketchbooks
since the beginning of the course and formulate general plans for how to explore
them. When a Concentration subject is settled on by students identifying the idea
that is most closely matched with their personal artistic goals, the student should
spend considerable time describing how they plan to develop it. Their plans should
include details of how they can investigate the idea from many visual and concep-
tual perspectives to demonstrate growth and discovery as they explore the theme
they have chosen. Students can do research by making art; they can also incorpo-
rate research into their art. The Concentration is usually completed in the second
term. (Students may use close-up images to show details.) [SC3]
Breadth
This is a set of works showing mastery of varied media, techniques, and subject
matter. This should include 12 images of 12 different works. Students are asked
to respond to a visual problem in several different ways by incorporating differ-
ent media and techniques to demonstrate a diversity of solutions to the problem.
Likewise, students are required to hone their skills with a medium and technique of
their choice, and to show how the media and technique can be applied effectively
to depict a variety of subjects or content. For example, students may be asked to
represent different aspects of a specic mechanical object like a can opener using
digital photography, collage, charcoal drawing, typography, and watercolor (they
may choose to combine multiple media in one composition). If a student wishes to
become an expert with markers, he or she will be expected to create works of art
that demonstrate different marker techniques to create evocative gure studies,
dramatic landscapes, and nonobjective compositions. [SC4] Because a portfolio
submission of 24 images is needed, each student will need to complete 12 works
each term, or roughly one to two works per week. Students should work steadily
and have the sufcient number of images by the end of their two terms, because
their grade in the course will be based on that work. They can then continue to
improve their portfolios until the May submission date. Students who nish early
will have an individual project and a school service project. Submission of a port-
folio in May is mandatory to receive AP credit.
Grades
Work is frequently so individual and experimental that grading is difcult. Yet there are
standards of quality in student work, expectations based on the range of accomplish-
ments of other AP art classes, and the evidence of thought, care, and effort demon-
strated in the work. All of these elements are discussed with students, individually and
in class critiques. [SC2 & SC9]
Copyright Issues
All work must be original. If students use someone else’s work or a published image
as a basis for their own pieces, there must be signicant alteration to the piece for it
to be considered original. During individual as well as group discussions and critiques,
students will develop an understanding of what constitutes plagiarism and how to
SC4—The course teaches
students a variety of
concepts and approaches
in 2-D design so that
the student is able to
demonstrate a range of
abilities and versatility
with technique. Such
conceptual variety can
be demonstrated through
either the use of one or
the use of several media.
SC3—The course enables
students to develop a
cohesive body of work
investigating a strong
underlying visual idea in
2-D design that grows
out of a coherent plan of
action or investigation
(i.e., a “concentration”).
SC2—The course enables
students to develop
mastery (i.e., “quality”) in
concept, composition, and
execution of 2-D design.
SC9—The course includes
individual student critiques
and or instructional
conversations with the
teacher, enabling students
to learn to analyze and
discuss their own artworks
and better critique artworks
of their peers.