FINEARTS 322 Research Essay: Making Sense of Practice - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

A response to the capstone project, this course focuses the research essay within relevant local, international, and historical fields of practice. Considers different ways of writing and discussing art, and how different types of art may be served by different forms of interpretation.

Course Overview

In a context of peer and tutor feedback students will learn the craft of essay writing in a form that is of most interest to them and relevant to their studio project. Different types of approaches to writing about and around contemporary art will be considered in terms of what they offer, and what types of understanding they foster, what sort of preparation and knowledge they require. Writing with a formal, academic voice will be discussed in reference to a focus on thematic material, stylistic traits, and historical contexts, and then compared to other essays that use a theoretical, philosophical, or critical concept to structure their content. The emphasis on the critical subjectivities or diaristic epistemologies that have shaped much contemporary writing about art, will also be examined in reference to exemplary texts. The process of essay writing for each student will be approached developmentally, and progress will be reviewed informally at different stages through individual and group discussion.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: FINEARTS 320 To complete this course students must enrol in FINEARTS 322 A and B, or FINEARTS 322

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Identify appropriate research interests that deepen a student’s understanding of their own practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.3 and 5.3)
Apply an understanding of sympathetic bodies of knowledge to support critical, theoretical, and cultural reflection on a chosen field of research (Capability 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3.2)
Critically reflect on the relationship of theoretical or cognate contextual material to the student’s own enquiry (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2 and 5.2)
Expand and enhance interpretive skills in relation to the way meanings are generated and transformed by things made, or done, within a creative practice (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Essay	70%	Individual Coursework
Annotated Bibliography	30%	Individual Coursework
2 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4
Essay
Annotated Bibliography

A total grade of 50% or higher is required to pass this course.

All submissions must follow the assignment guidelines on Canvas.

Teaching & Learning Methods

Incorporating a variety of different teaching and learning methods, class time will primarily be based on a combination of one-to-one and group discussion, kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face).

Individual and group discussions or critiques will respond to the development of mind mapping, content organisation, draft writing, and to the significance of key topics and arguments. Individuals and small groups will present written and visual material to the rest of the group when appropriate.

Workload Expectations

For this course, you can expect: 36 hours of in-class learning; (3 hours per week over 12 weeks), plus at least an additional 7 hours per week of independent study.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including individual and group discussions and presentations to engage with all components of the course.
Formal lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including individual and group discussions will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the submission of the research portfolio and final project presentation.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Health & Safety

Please refer to the Elam School of Fine Arts Health, Safety and Wellbeing guidelines that can be found in the Canvas page for this course in the files section.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Other Information

To achieve well in this course will require regular participation both in class, and out-of-class work, regular consultation of Canvas for weekly notifications concerning course delivery milestones, homework tasks and assessment requirements, and good email communication when necessary.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Coursework must be submitted by the published deadline or it will receive the grade DNC(Did Not Complete). In some circumstances the student can apply for a Formal Extension of Time using the form on Canvas. The request must be supported by written evidence from a doctor or counsellor (or other relevant evidence) to support the extension request.

Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved before the due date of the assignment.

No extensions will be granted for problems such as clashing deadlines or accidentally erased computer files which should always be prevented by keeping backup copies.

In the event of unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity

FINEARTS 322 : Research Essay: Making Sense of Practice

Creative Arts and Industries

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)