Your concentration is a series of 8 or more artworks that focus on the exploration and development of a single idea or theme, and/or on the development of technical skills in a particular medium or combination of media or of particular design concerns. Your concentration should be something you have been dying to try out, something that would excite you to be able to do for about 5 weeks.
Examples of what concentrations might look like can be found here:
http://studioartportfolios.collegeboard.org/
Objectives:
As you wrote them in your Concentration Proposal
Grading Criteria:
- Ambition
- Clarity in objectives
- Quality (composition, technique, expressiveness, etc.)
- Personal Investment and Time Management
Timeline:
Friday, April 29
- Due: One fully realized, portfolio-worthy Concentration piece
Friday, May 6
- Due: Two more fully-realized, portfolio-worthy Concentration pieces (Total 2-3)
Friday, May 13
- Due: Two more Concentration pieces (Total 4-5)
Friday, May 20
(Seniors' Last Class)
- Due: Two more Concentration pieces due (Total 6-7)
Thursday, May 26
(Senior Final Exam Day - Portfolio)
- Final Deadline for Concentration for Seniors
Tuesday, May 31
Field Trip: BHS Fashion Show at the State House 11 am
Wednesday, June 1
FINAL DEADLINE FOR CONCENTRATION (at least 6 pieces)
Thursday, June 2 - Wednesday, June 8
- Email invitation to friends and family (I will provide this.)
- Hand out photocopies of invitations to friends, family and teachers
- Complete or touch up any unfinished work
- Prepare work for hanging (mounting/ matting)
- Set up Portfolio Exhibition
- Homework: Artist Statement and Name Design
Wednesday, June 8
- Due: Artist Statement
- Due: Name Design
Thursday, June 9 (Long Period 2)
- Preview reception for teachers and administrators
Thursday, June 9, 6:00 - 7:30 pm -- PORTFOLIO EXHIBITION RECEPTION
- Due: Your display panels must include your full concentration of at least 6 pieces, your artist statement, name design, and all your best work from the past year or more.
- Bring: Food for Celebration
Friday, June 10
(Mr. Ratkevich will not be in school on this day.)
- Take down show
- Begin cleaning and organizing studio
Monday, June 13 - Tuesday, June 14
- Cleaning and organizing studio
- Expectations for AP Studio Art -- summer work
- Digital documentation (photos, scans) of portfolio
- Looking and discussing contemporary artists
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Criteria
For reference, below are the scoring guidelines for the Concentration section of the AP Studio Art: Drawing Exam. Pay particular attention to items A through F on scores 3 through 6 (average work to exceptional work; using letter grades, would be C to A). Look on the AP website to see what quality of work has earned what scores (There are examples for each score.).
To be successful during class time, gather any resources you need before coming to the studio classroom and set yourself up with everything you need in the Portfolio room.
The ensuing weeks will likely prove to be the toughest and most time- and labor-intensive month of the Portfolio year.
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AP® STUDIO ART
SCORING GUIDELINES
Drawing Concentration — Section II
A concentration is defined as “a body of work unified by an underlying idea that has visual coherence.” In scoring concentrations there are four major areas of concern.
- Coherence and/or development — is the work presented actually a concentration?
- Quality of the concept/idea represented — is there evidence of thinking and of focus?
- Degree of development and investigation that is evident in the work — including the amount of work or number of pieces represented
- Quality of the work in both concept and technique
Because this section is concerned with a process of growth and discovery, the work presented may span a range of levels of achievement. If this is the case, the higher level that is reached should be acknowledged in the score given.
Key Scoring Descriptors
- Integration of the Topic of the Concentration and the Work Presented
- Decision Making and Discovery through Investigation
- Originality and Innovative Thinking
- Evocative Theme That Engages the Viewer
- Growth and Transformation
- Technical Competence and Skill with Materials and Media
- Understanding the Use of Digital or Photographic Processes
- Appropriation and the Student’s Voice
- Image Quality (for Weak and Poor Concentrations Only)
- Overall Accomplishment and Quality
6 EXCELLENT CONCENTRATION
6.A The concentration topic and the work presented are unmistakably and coherently integrated.
6.B The investigation of the concentration topic provides convincing evidence of informed decision making and discovery.
6.C The work for the concentration clearly demonstrates an original vision, innovative ideas and/or risk taking, and inventive articulation of drawing techniques.
6.D An evocative, engaging theme is sustained through most of the work.
6.E The work conveys a sense of transformation, and most works demonstrate a distinct measure of successful drawing.
6.F In general the work is technically excellent; materials and media are used effectively to express ideas.
6.G When digital or photographic processes are used, the work incorporates a sophisticated understanding of the application of analog drawing concepts and techniques.
6.H Any apparent appropriation of published or photographic sources or the work of other artists clearly provides a visual reference that is transformed in the service of a larger, personal vision in which the student’s voice is prominent.
6.J There may be a varying range of accomplishment among the works for the concentration, but overall the work reaches a level of excellent quality.
5 STRONG CONCENTRATION
5.A The concentration topic is successfully integrated with most of the work presented.
5.B The investigation of the concentration provides evidence of thoughtful decision making and of discovery in some works.
5.C The work for the concentration generally demonstrates originality, innovative thinking and effective manipulation of drawing techniques.
5.D An evocative, engaging theme is clearly present in much of the work.
5.E The work generally exhibits transformation, but some pieces are not fully realized or totally successful.
5.F The work is technically strong; materials and media are used well to express ideas.
5.G When digital or photographic processes are used, the work incorporates a strong understanding of the application of analog drawing concepts and techniques.
5.H Any apparent appropriation of published or photographic sources or the work of other artists shows a strong sense of the student’s voice through individual transformation of the images.
5.J There may be varying levels of accomplishment among the works for the concentration, but overall the work is of strong quality.
4 GOOD CONCENTRATION
4.A The concentration topic and the work presented are closely related.
4.B Some clear decision making and discovery are evident in the investigation of the concentration.
4.C The work for the concentration demonstrates some originality, some innovative thinking, and purposeful manipulation of drawing techniques.
4.D A clear theme that engages the viewer with some of the work is discernable.
4.E Apparent transformation is noticeable, but the scope of the work may be limited or repetitive.
4.F The work demonstrates adequate technical competence and use of materials and media; technical aspects and articulation of ideas do not always work together.
4.G When digital or photographic processes are used, the work employs a good understanding of the application of analog drawing concepts and techniques.
4.H With the apparent appropriation of published or photographic sources or the work of other artists, the student’s voice is discernable; the images have been manipulated to express the student’s individual ideas.
4.J There may be uneven levels of accomplishment among the works for the concentration, but overall the work is of good quality.
3 MODERATE CONCENTRATION
3.A The connection between the concentration topic and the work presented is evident but erratic.
3.B Decision making is sporadic, and the work demonstrates little sense of investigation or discovery.
3.C An idea for a concentration is presented and some original ideas seem to be emerging, or some attempt at innovation with drawing techniques is evident.
3.D A potentially engaging theme is somewhat discernable, but it is inadequately considered.
3.E Some transformation is discernable, but the scope of the work is narrow and/or repetitive.
3.F Though uneven, the work demonstrates emerging technical competence, some knowledgeable use of drawing materials and media, and rudimentary drawing skills.
3.G When digital or photographic processes are used, the work displays a basic understanding of the application of analog drawing concepts and techniques.
3.H If published or photographic sources or the work of other artists is appropriated, the work appears to be nearly direct reproductions; even if the work is skillfully rendered, the student’s voice and the individual transformation of the images are minimal.
3.J There may be an emerging level of accomplishment among the works for the concentration; overall the work is of moderate quality.
2 WEAK CONCENTRATION
2.A There is a sense of a concentration, but integration of the topic and the work is inadequately considered.
2.B Decision making is lacking; the work appears inadequately thought out and insufficiently explored.
2.C An idea for a concentration is presented, but the ideas in the work are unoriginal or rely mostly on appropriation.
2.D A potentially engaging theme is present but is generally unsuccessful.
2.E The work is mostly repetitive; only a few pieces suggest growth or show slight signs of transformation.
2.F The work demonstrates weak technical competence, awkward use of drawing materials and media, and weak drawing skills.
2.G When digital or photographic processes are used, the work displays a weak understanding of the application of analog drawing concepts and techniques.
2.H The works appear to be direct copies of published or photographic sources or the work of other artists; even if they are rendered with average rendering skill, there is little discernable student voice or individual transformation.
2.I The images are difficult to see properly because they are too small, unfocused or poorly lighted.
2.J There is little evidence of accomplishment demonstrated in the works for the concentration; overall the work is of weak quality.
1 POOR CONCENTRATION
1.A There is very little or no evidence of a concentration topic in the work presented, or there is not enough work to represent a concentration.
1.B An idea for a concentration may be presented, but the knowledge and understanding to investigate and carry it out are not evident in the work.
1.C An idea for a concentration may be presented, but the work comprises trite, simplistic or appropriated solutions that are poorly drawn.
1.D A theme that could engage the viewer with the work in relation to the concentration is absent.
1.E Overall the work shows no indication of growth or transformation.
1.F The work shows very limited technical competence; use of materials and media is naïve, and drawing skills are lacking.
1.G When digital or photographic processes are used, the work displays no understanding of the application of analog drawing concepts and techniques.
1.H The works are obviously direct copies of published or photographic sources or the work of other artists that are poorly rendered; there is no discernable student voice or individual transformation.
1.I The images are impossible to see properly because they are too small, unfocused or poorly lighted.
1.J Overall the work for the concentration lacks accomplishment and is of poor quality.
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