Directions: Keep a personal journal over the course of the semester. This journal is not meant to be a place for simply writing class notes. Rather, you should use the journal to record your ideas, plans, research, observations, and feelings regarding the projects, activities and content presented to you in the course. In this way, your journal is meant to serve not only as a vehicle for documenting your activities and learning in the course, but also as a tool to help you begin developing your own "personal theories" about community-based art (i.e., art done in the public interest).
Each week, you will be expected to make at least one entry--concerning a topic, question or issue discussed in class or the readings, or an observation or personal reflection you do on your own (e.g., regarding your experience working with kids). Other entries may include ideas that come to mind regarding various social issues that suggest the need for a "creative/artistic" solution, useful ideas or information gathered from personal research, and plans you make for your individual projects done in this class.
You may use any tools or materials you wish in your journal (i.e., your entries may include photographs, sketches, writing, and so on.) Please date each entry.
Evaluation: Each person will develop his or her own "journal-keeping" style; and, thus, your journal will not be evaluated according to the way you write or how you structure your entries. Also, the "quantity" of material included in your journal is of lesser importance than the "quality" of the material you include. In evaluating your journal, I will be looking for clarity (i.e., the readability of your entries); evidence of research and planning for projects; evidence of development (i.e., in your ideas, work and knowledge); extensions (i.e., upon class discussions, critiques, presentations, and experiences); originality or inventiveness (i.e., in your thinking about the course and your work); and completeness (i.e., in fulfilling the requirements and "spirit" of this assignment).
100 points possible.
Note: You will need to turn your journal around midterm for feedback and at the completion of the course for final evaluation.