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Download Higher/Int2 course guide
Jump to: Critical (Art & Design Studies)
This course is designed to give you the opportunity to express yourself and work creatively with a variety of materials in a satisfying and enjoyable way. It provides you with insight into the world of visual arts and design and helps you to develop many skills such as research, problem solving, evaluation and communication. You are able to explore areas of personal interest and develop technological skill through a range of cultural, social and historical contexts.
Student expectations
A Higher student is someone who takes charge of their own learning - it is your responsibility to read the course information, digest it and come to understand it.
The course has no formal practical exam. Classwork on the expressive and design units should be regarded as exam pieces (because that is what they are) and given the same importance. Conduct and effort should reflect this.
Timelines have been set to help you finish the course on time, in preparation for sending to the SQA for marking.
Your performance, as evidenced by assessments throughout the year, will dictate whether you are submitted for Int2 or Higher in April/May. For example, it is entirely possible for an Int2 student to work hard, improve and be entered for Higher (or for a Higher student to end up being entered for an Int2).
Essays and homework are another essential aspect.
Deadlines must be met. Failure to finish each stage on time and to the standards required may result in removal from the course.
Expressive Activity - see examples
This unit involves
identifying and investigating themes and ideas of personal interest and relevance
analytical drawing from first-hand sources
developing media-handling skills
developing and resolving personal ideas and interpretations imaginatively
investigating and responding to visual and/or other stimuli
communicating personal thoughts, feelings, ideas and interpretations through the production of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional visual forms.
In order to pass the NAB for this activity you will choose a selection of highest quality, relevant work and mount it on two sheets of A2 paper. You will also produce, using these sheets as preparatory work, a very high quality finished piece no larger than A2.
Sheet 1 MUST consist of first-hand observational drawings, paintings and colour studies. Tracings are not acceptable. Working from photographs should be avoided.
Sheet 2 MUST consist of developmental drawings, paintings, colour studies, experiments with mixed media (and possibly prints, digital images and 3D work) that lead towards the finished piece of work. All work must be high-quality and relevant. Compositional studies must be included. At this stage pupil-directed, useful photographs can be used as sources, however the SQA prefer direct observational work by far.
Sheet 3 = your FINAL PIECE not larger than A2. This piece must be of the highest quality and lead on in a coherent visual and conceptual fashion from sheets 1 and 2.
Failure to complete any of these sheets to the required high standard will result in you not being able to be presented at Higher level (and in the worst case scenario you will not be able to continue with the course). Make sure you do not miss deadlines for work and come prepared each lesson with ideas and preparatory work you have created at home, in sketchbooks etc.
You must work very hard too come up with your own ideas, try out techniques and continually improve your skills. It is a big step up from Standard Grade or Int 2. You MUST NOT rely on your teachers coming up with ideas for you. It must be your own work, physically, creatively and intellectually.
You must take the time to think about and fully understand these requirements -
Design Activity - see examples
This unit involves
developing and applying skills of flexible, creative thought and action
identifying design problems
investigating the requirements, constraints and implications of a design task
considering a range of design issues, for example, visual, functional aesthetic, tactile, social and economic issues
researching and developing a range of approaches and possible solutions
developing skills of flexible thought and action
selecting and producing a solution
evaluating the process and solution
In order to pass the NAB for this activity you will choose a selection of highest quality, relevant work and mount it on two sheets of A2 paper. You will also produce, using these sheets as preparatory work, a very high quality finished design either in three dimensions (or no larger than A2 if 2D).
Sheet 1 MUST consist of market research, images and ideas related to your chosen theme, examples of existing designs that will give you ideas or that you will re-design to fit your purposes. Images may be taken from the internet, magazines or books. Hand-drawn images are useful, but found images are equally acceptable.
Sheet 2 MUST consist of at least two carefully developed ideas. These may consist of 2D work or photos of 3D work. These design ideas must show development from images and dieas from sheet 1.
Final outcome - this must be a highly finished piece of design or a very highly finished scale model or maquette. In certain circumstances a 2D final outcome is appropriate (in graphic design for example).
If your design is for a 3D object - you must make it, or at least a scaled down maquette.
Make sure you have the materials and skills available to create this final design. Use skills from Product/Technical/Craft Design, FFS, Expressive Activity and from outside school.
Failure to complete any of these sheets to the required high standard will result in you not being able to be presented at Higher level (and in the worst case scenario you will not be able to continue with the course). Make sure you do not miss deadlines for work and come prepared each lesson with ideas, images and preparatory work you have created at home, in sketchbooks etc.
You must work very hard too come up with your own ideas, try out techniques and continually improve your skills. It is a big step up from Standard Grade or Int 2. You MUST NOT rely on your teachers coming up with ideas for you. It must be your own work, physically, creatively and intellectually.
Critical Activity (Art & Design Studies) - essay help sheets can be found here...
In this unit you are required to undertake two studies, one related to the Expressive Activity and one related to the Design Activity. The studies involve
researching and investigating areas of the visual arts and design
forming and communicating informed personal views, opinions and judgements.
You will complete two essays of between 1000 and 1500 words each. These essays will then be used as a crucial part of your revision for a written Intermediate 2 exam.
Each essay must contain the following elements:
An in-depth study of at least 3 works (each) by two artists/designers from different styles/movements (and from after 1750) . Some historical information is important, but you will get most of your marks from analysing artworks/designs, giving your opinions and observations (with evidence from the works themselves).
An exploration of why these artists/designers are regarded as important.
A proposal as to which artists/designers they have influenced and the reasons why.
We would recommend that you know at least 20 artworks by different artists from varied movements and 20 designs by different designers from varied styles well enough to refer to in an exam.
Essay must be completed by the deadlines specified in your course guide.
You will use these essays, and your background research, to revise for the written NABs. These are SQA-style essay questions, tested in class. Revision guide here.....
Prelim and SQA exams:
Half of the 90 minute exam will consist of questions asking you to consider, describe and evaluate paintings, sculptures, installations, prints and drawings in terms of the visual elements, mood, composition and a variety of other criteria. You will also be asked to compare and contrast the work of artists from different periods or styles that you have studied in your essay.
The second half of the exam will consist of questions asking you to consider, describe and evaluate designs/designed objects in terms of a variety of design issues and criteria. You will also be asked to compare and contrast the work of designers from different periods or styles that you have studied in your essay.
Failure to complete both essays to a high enough standard by the deadlines or failing the Prelim exams will have serious repercussions and may involve you changing to Intermediate 2 level or leaving the course entirely.
