Syllabus

 

Location: Wellman – TR: 8:30 – 11:50 AM

 

The aims of this course are:

1. To understand our present environment by understanding the sources of modern design styles and theory deriving from ancient times through the nineteenth century theory.
2. To understand past styles as they reflect the culture of various periods.
3. To understand how our lives are governed by our relationship to the objects and environments around us.
4. To gain inspiration for new design by exposure to styles alternative to our own.
5. To become familiar with library and web resources for design history for lifelong learning.
6. To write a well-researched and well-written paper.

 

Readings:

History of Modern Design.  David Raizman. Required.

Design 40B readeer.

Both available at bookstore

 

Course Requirements:

* Midterm (short answer and essay) 30%
* Final Exam (short answer and essay 30%
* Prospectus for paper or photo essay 5%
* Annotated Bibliography 10%
* Research Paper or Photo Essay 25%

 

Research Paper: 7 -10 double-spaced, typewritten pages, 12 point type, Times or Times New Roman font, no unnecessary spaces, excellent grammar and sentence structure, plus 8-15 photocopied illustrations, end notes, list of references. The paper may be on the subject of your choice but must be approved by the instructor or teaching assistant. You must have at least 6 references, some of which must be from periodicals.

 

Photo Essay: 15-30 photographs taken by you on a theme dealing with modern design, approved by instructor or teaching assistant. You must include a 3-5 page introductory essay, 12 point type, Times or Times New Roman font, no unnecessary spaces, excellent grammar and sentence structure,. Your paper must be backed by an annotated bibliography on the subject.

 

Please note that this is a writing intensive course. All assignments will be graded on clear organization and correct grammar and spelling as well as content. Students who need help with writing should immediately seek help from the Writing Center on campus and from teaching assistants, who are always ready to help, read first drafts and suggest improvements. If your English grammar is not very good, you must get help. It is very possible to fail this course because of poor writing.

 

Attendance: Attendance is imperative since the information presented in the lectures cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Images from the lectures will be available on line the day of the lecture. You may want to make thumbnails of the images and bring them to class to make your notes. They are not a replacement for the lectures. Test questions will include comments made in class as well as information on the images. Beware.

 

Promptness: Please be on time for class. Coming in late is very distracting to me during lectures. Important announcements are always given at the beginning of class.

 

Late Papers: Late papers are graded down 5% (on a scale of 100% ) per day, including weekends.

 

Excuses: Excuses are welcome! They include illness verifiable by a doctor, family or severe personal problems, and unanticipated change in a work schedule. If you are having any of these problems, please see me, or my teaching assistant. Help may be available on campus.

 

Taking notes: The key to this course is to write down everything. If there are things you do not understand please contact your TA.