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Summer Reading
Summer reading assignments are required of students in honors, pre-AP, gifted, and AP level courses. In these classes, all assignments will be collected on the first day of class; in some classes, students will also be tested during the first week of class. Students should have a copy of the book available during the first few weeks of school.
Assignments are also available for extra credit in standard level courses. All assignments will be collected on the first day of class.
At least two choices are offered for each course. Summaries and reviews of all titles are easily accessible on Amazon.com or other internet sources, and parents and students are encouraged to investigate the choices before making a selection.
Other Summer Assigments
AP World History Students: The book students should read for summer 2011 is A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage. Please clickhere for the assignment.
AP Human Geography Students: All students are expected to read Thomas Friedman’s Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution–and How It Can Renew America. The book covers the topics of globalization and its major concepts will be discussed the first weeks of school. Students are encouraged to take notes as they read, write down questions that they have, and text code their book for future use.
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT for PORTFOLIO and AP STUDIO ART:
There are two sections to the summer assignment: Part I (Work for the “Breadth” section of the AP portfolio) & Part II (sketchbook). The entire assignment is due on the first day of school.
Part I – (3) Breadth Assignments
Go to the College Board website and look at examples of 2D Design and Drawing portfolios: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_studioart.html
You will create (3) quality pieces for the Breadth section of the portfolio: 1) self-portrait OR figure drawing;
2) still-life (create an interesting composition), and 3) perspective OR landscape. START WITH OBSERVATIONAL DRAWINGS. You may work in any medium you like, but vary media (graphite, pen and ink, colored pencils, marker, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, collage, photography, etc.).
ALL WORK MUST BE ORIGINAL – NO COPIED IMAGES. Minimum size: 12” x 18”.
Part II – (10) Drawings in Your Sketchbook
You have a choice of two options for your sketchbook assignment. You should have a hardbound sketchbook, if not; I recommend an 8.5”x 11” book as it will fit easily in your backpack. If you are working on a smaller book you will need to do more pages. (I consider 8.5”x 11” as one page; a double page spread is two pages.) You do not need to buy a new sketchbook unless you want to; you can continue to work on the one you have or even use an altered book. Be sure to have 10 pages in your sketchbook. Quality sketchbook examples can be found on “You Tube.” You can find additional examples in books on journaling and mixed media at your local library.
* Option A: Select an interesting object and draw it in your sketchbook 10 different ways.
Find something with an appealing shape that you can draw from a number of angles. Subject possibilities: shells, plants, flowers, tools, car parts, kitchen utensils, fruit, vegetables, jewelry, cosmetics, office supplies, art supplies, shoes, an item of clothing, etc. – anything with an interesting shape and good positive/negative space. (NO cartoon/anime figures or trademarked logos.) Use a variety of media (pen, pencil, paint, colored pencil, marker, mixed media, collage, etc.). START WITH OBSERVATIONAL DRAWINGS. Vary the drawing techniques: some can be longer value studies, contour drawings, gesture drawings, ink drawings (crosshatching, pointillism), watercolor, mixed media, collage, marker, writing, painting – EXPERIMENT!
* Option B: Self-portrait series of 10 drawings.
Create a series of drawings that describe you and your life, interests, and environment. You might begin with an entire self-portrait from direct observation in a full-length mirror. Draw yourself from an interesting perspective over 2 pages. Ask yourself who you are, where you come from, where have you been, what would you like to do, how does your heritage affect your interests, and what does art mean to you? You could do some drawings of your room, your street or neighborhood, or places you have traveled. You may create 5 double-page spreads or a combination of single pages and double-page spreads to total 10 pages. Vary the drawing techniques: EXPERIMENT! There are many different solutions.
BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN – everybody’s sketchbook will be different! Feel free to do additional writing, experimenting, painting, and drawing in your sketchbook. I expect you to bring your sketchbook with the completed assignment and your 3 Breadth pieces on the first day of school for a grade.
Remember to draw from life whenever you have the chance; practice is essential to develop your drawing skills! Carry your sketchbook with you everywhere and draw your parents, your siblings, your friends, and yourself. If possible, try to attend an “Open Studio” life drawing class at Crealde Studio in Winter Park (www.crealde.org). The more time you spend over the summer on your drawing skills and working in your sketchbook, the better you will be in AP Art class. A concert pianist practices hours every day to hone his/her skills, and an athlete does the same to prepare for competitions. The more you practice, the better you will be. Try to visit art galleries and museums – it’s a great way to get ideas and see original art. I recommend the Cornell Museum at Rollins College and it’s FREE for students with ID (www.rollins.edu/cfam).
The entire summer assignment is required for AP Studio Art and is due on the first day of school. Failure to do the summer assignment will jeopardize your opportunity to be in the class.
If you have any questions email me at: Kathryn_Farmer@scps.k12.fl.us
Have an enjoyable summer – I look forward to seeing your work!
Ms. Farmer
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT FOR AP ART HISTORY
Read “The Annotated Mona Lisa” by Carol Strickland
• Write a short report about the book; then choose a favorite era, artist or style that interests you or one you are looking forward to studying. Your report should be about 1 page, single spaced, typed.
Visit an art museum
• Look at a museums collection and critique one artwork in particular
• The Cornell art Museum at Rollin’s College is free with a student ID
• Use Feldman’s model when doing the critique
1. Step 1- Describing: What is in the art work. The size of the work, the medium and process used (such as oil painting, ink drawing), the people and or objects you see and what is happening.
2. Step 2- Analyzing: How it is designed or put together. Note how the elements and principles of art are used (color, line, shape, form, space, texture, pattern, balance, harmony, emphasis, proportion, movement and rhythm, unity, contrast).
3. Step 3- Interpreting: It’s meaning; determine and explain the meaning, mood or idea of the art work (Ask yourself: What do I believe is happening? What meaning, mood or feeling does the art suggest?)
4. Step 4- Judging: Its success; Making a decision about a work’s success or lack of success and give reasons to support that decision (Ask yourself: Is that art work successful? Why or why not?)
This report should also be about 1 page in length; single spaced and typed.
