ART-350 – Ceramic Techniques
(3 Credit Hours)
BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Fall 2008
(3 Credit Hours) T 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Woodburn 311
Lab Hours Th 4:00p.m. - 7:00p.m.
Syllabus
Instructor: Ann Porter
Office: W304A
Office Hours: MW 10:00 – 11:00. TTh 3:00 to 4:00
Phone: 642-6275
E-mail: annporter@bhsu.edu
Course Description: Gives students the opportunity to further develop ceramic skills. Strong
emphasis placed on individual form concepts along with more technical ceramics processes
including clay and glaze calculation and firing processes.
Description of Instructional Methods: This is a studio class. The student will be required to
generate artwork to fulfill assignments given. There will be a critique of each assignment.
Course Requirements:
Suggested (not required) Text:
Glenn C. Nelson, Richard Burkett, Ceramics: A Potter's Handbook, Sixth Edition
Supplementary Materials:
 Ceramics Tools from the Bookstore
o Clay tools, Spray bottle, Sponges, Glaze brushes
 25 lbs. Clay from the Bookstore (You’ll probably use between 2 and 4 boxes)
Class Attendance: An atmosphere of general enthusiasm is important to your own
success as well as the success of your classmates. Poor attendance will result in a poor
grade or outright failure. Of course, accommodations can be made for documented
illnesses or family emergencies.
 If you have a cell phone that interrupts the class or if you use your cell phone
during class—even out in the hallway—it will count as an absence for the day.
 Being present means showing up on time ready to work with the attitude and the
materials you need to be productive.
 If you miss more than 2 sessions, you will receive an automatic “F” unless you
drop this course.
Lab Session Attendance: All studio classes require a 3 hour per week lab session
(Scheduled lab time is Thursday, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.). Attendance at these Lab Sessions is
encouraged rather than mandatory. Alternative times must be arranged through the Art
Department faculty and the studio instructor.
Cheating and Plagiarism Policy: Any evidence of academic dishonesty will result in
an “F” for the course and the Instructor of this course will adhere to the Policy
Governing Academic Integrity found in the BHSU catalog.
Make-up Policy: All assignments must be done on time to receive full credit.
Assignments up to one week late will have a grade reduced by one letter. Assignments
later than one week will not be accepted. There are no extra credit options in this class.
Of course, accommodations can be made for documented illnesses or family
emergencies.
BOR System General Education Goals: GOAL 4: STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND AND
INTERPRET THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE THROUGH ARTS AND HUMANITIES.
Required Student Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate knowledge of the variety of
values, beliefs, and ideas embodied in the human experience through assigned art
projects and class critiques. Assessment: written teacher evaluation based upon concept,
technique, and presentation
Required Student Learning Outcome 2: Identify and explain basic concepts of the
selected disciplines within the arts and humanities. Assessment: written teacher
evaluation based upon concept, technique, and presentation
Optional Student Learning Outcome 4: Demonstrate creative and aesthetic
understanding. Assessment: written teacher evaluation based upon concept, technique,
and presentation
This course has been designed to address the following standards:
 Identify ceramic skills involving individual form concepts and technical ceramic
processes, including clay and glaze calculation, and firing processes (through individual
projects)
 Identify the creative concepts and problem solving skills as the relate to the manipulation
of ceramic materials (through individual projects)
 Explain the organization of the art elements involved in the production of ceramic art
works (through individual projects and critiques)
 Explain the use of creative composition and the importance of personalizing class
assignments, with consideration for aesthetic and media (through individual projects and
critiques)
 Identify the principles and organization of ceramic design and their application in
physical space (though individual projects)
Alignment of this course to these standards can be found in the STEP Alignment Tool.
Overview of Student Learning Outcomes: The student will develop a basic visual vocabulary
for ceramic art. The student will complete specific assignments on topics such as wheel
throwing, coil making, slab building and press molds. As these techniques become more
familiar, the student will focus increasingly on composition and concept.
These skills will be assessed by studio projects assigned throughout the semester (See below).
Student Learning Outcomes: The program shall include study of the nature of art and its
meaning and contributions to the individual and society. The program shall develop the
prospective teacher’s ability to describe, analyze, interpret and evaluate works of art; to work as
a professional art educator with pupils of all age groups; to set goals for student learning based
on a clear concept of how art links students to broad human purpose; and to develop the
following capacities:
 Perception - the ability and refinement of fundamental optic and haptic sensory intake.
 Knowledge and Understanding - the ability to absorb visual information, particularly that
which is manifested in visual art.


Creativity - the ability to produce or create original expressions using a variety of media.
Reflection/Action - the ability to appreciate art.
Evaluation Procedures:
Assessments
Total Possible Points
 You can turn in an image from the featured artist (worth 4 points)
60
or you can turn in an image from an alternate artist whose work is
pertinent to that week’s project.
 Participation in regular classes and critiques
40
 Turning in each of the four assignments on time is worth a maximum
 of 50 points apiece.
200
TOTAL
300
The grade you earn will be determined by your total points accumulated as shown below:
A = 300 to 279
B+ = 268 to 260
C+ = 238 to 230
D+ = 208 to 200
A- = 278 to 269
B = 259 to 24 8
C = 229 to 218
D = 199 to
188
B- = 247 to 239
C- = 217 to 209
D- = 187 to 179
F = 178 to 0
Performance Standards: Grades for individual assignments are based on the following
criteria:
 Meeting project requirements and deadlines
 Hard work—Are you truly engaged in the making of each project?
 Willingness to experiment
 Quality of work—Concept, Technique, Presentation
Artwork Grading Policy:
A Consistent excellence in all aspects of the course, and/or extraordinary and consistent
development.
B Above average work and evidence of consistent growth in visual organization,
expression, technical skill, conceptual understanding and class participation.
C Average completion of all required work, quality of visual organization,
expression, technical skill, conceptual understanding and class participation.
D Deficient completion of all required work, quality of visual organization,
expression, technical skill, conceptual understanding and class participation.
F Unsatisfactory completion of all required work, quality of visual organization,
expression, technical skill, conceptual understanding and class participation.
Class Participation:
 Class participation and attendance will also affect your midterm and final grades.
 Class participation includes in-class discussion during critiques, asking questions and
willingness to share any information you think would benefit other students.
 Class participation includes working on all assigned projects in class as well as outside
of class. It is important that you share your work by having it in class during the
process of its making. Not only will your working methods offer input to your fellow
students, but you will also receive important input which will improve your own work.
This is not a correspondence course. Without the give and take of shared studio work,
you are missing half the necessary information needed to advance your skills.
ADA Statement
“Reasonable accommodations, as arranged through the Disabilities Services Coordinator, will be
provided students with documented disabilities. Contact the BHSU Disabilities Services
Coordinator at 642-6099 (Jacket Legacy Room in the Student Union) for more information.”
Academic Freedom and Responsibility
“Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be
evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to
academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views
offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are
responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students
who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of
student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the chair of the
department in which the course is being taught to initiate a review of the evaluation.”
Note from the College of Education: This course supports the College of Education’s
conceptual framework, Preparing Professionals for the 21st Century by presenting to students
the knowledge base for the content they will eventually be teaching. Mastery of content in this
course supports INTASC Standard One: Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy. The course also
partially fulfills content requirements for the K-12 Art Standards as per ARSD 24:16:08:31.
Specifically this course covers Standards 2 and 3.
The above procedures in this course are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Cleanliness:
 A clean, well-maintained studio is an important part of making successful pieces of art.
This classroom is a space used by many people. No one likes working in somebody
else’s mess.
 Pick up after yourself.
 Your project grade will be lowered if you don’t clean up after yourself.
 Your project grade will be lowered if you use the department’s shop tools improperly or
leave them dirty.
General Notes on Health and Safety:
It is the student’s responsibility to use materials and tools in the way in which they are intended
to be used. Unauthorized use of power tools will have serious consequences.
Students must inform the instructor of behavior that is not responsible and must inform the
instructor of any mishaps or injuries.
Students are advised to wear proper safety protection when necessary.
 Safety glasses are needed when cutting, breaking or building could potentially produce
flying pieces of material.
 Gloves and/or skin protection are needed when using toxic and/or abrasive substances.
 Hearing protection is needed when working around loud noises.
 Respirators are needed when using paint, solvents or other vapor creating substances.
Respirators are also needed when watching or participating in processes that create
large amounts of dust.
Health and Safety Notice
Some materials used in the manufacturing of art products are toxic. Carefully read all warning
labels on all products and follow directions. Always work in a well-ventilated area. If
available, select products marked “CP Nontoxic”, “AP Nontoxic” or “No Health Label
Required”. If you have any questions about the materials or the processes being used, please
ask the instructor.
ART 350 CERAMICS CALENDAR
Since this class only meets once a week,
it is important for you to count on working quite a bit outside of class.
If you want to learn how to throw, count on practicing EVERY DAY!
Week 1 01/20
Assignment #1—Buffet Style. Review Syllabus. Mask Demo. Throwing demo.
Reading pertinent to this first class: Text Pages 115 to 127 (Technique)
Artist: Glenn Grishkoff
Week 2 01/27
Continue first assignment. Tile demo. Coil demo. Pinch pot demo.
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 136 to 147 (Technique)
Artist: Beth Cavener Stichter
Week 3 02/03 OPEN STUDIO
Last in class wet day for Assignment #1.
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 129 to 136 (Technique)
Week 4 02/10
Assignment #2—Large Coil project. Coil demo.
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 3 to 13 (Materials) and 148 to 149 (Technique)
Artist: Magdalene Odundo
Week 5 02/17
Continue large coil project.
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 101 to115 (Materials) and 15 to 38 (History)
Artist: Nicholas Rena
Week 6 02/24
Continue large coil project.
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 233 to 249 (Surfaces) and 39 to 49 (History)
Artist: Eric Van Eimeren
Week 7 03/03 Midterm
Assignment #3—Large Stacking Project with throwing option.
Finish bisque firing Assignment #1
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 150 to 164 (Technique) and 181 to 196 (Throwing)
Artist: Paul Soldner
Critique Buffet Style (glazed) and coil project (greenware).
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 196 to 214 (Throwing) and 51 to 60 (History)
Week 8 03/10 SPRING BREAK
Week 9 03/17
Work on Stacking Project
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 214 to 221 (Throwing) and 60 to 67 (History)
Artist: Barbara Nanning
Week 10 03/24
Assignment #4—Free Style. Mold making demo.
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 67 to 81(History)
Artist: Adrian Saxe
Week 11 03/31
Finish Stacking Project
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 222 to 231 (Throwing) 67 to 73(History)
Artist: Betty Woodman
Week 12 04/07
Work on final project
Reading to have done by class: Text Pages 250 to 263 (Glazing)
Artist: Ah Leon
Week 13 04/14
Work on final project
Artist: Marilyn Levine
Week 14 04/21 Last day for all wet work.
Work on final project
Week 15 04/28
Glazing.
Week 16 Finals Week 05/05
Turn in last projects and critique.
NO LATE PROJECTS ACCEPTED