Maryland Institute College of Art

Spring 2010

Thesis Writing and Research
Monday, 9:00 am – 3:00pm
Brown 408
Faculty: David Barringer, Visiting Critic

In this three-credit Critical Studies course for graphic design graduate students in their thesis year, a prominent design writer will work with students on shaping the content, message, and written component of their thesis work. This will be achieved through a combination of on-campus visits and online feedback on written and visual work. Class meetings will combine group critiques, individual meetings, and discussion of readings. David will make three visits to campus. These meetings will take place on Sunday/Monday combinations, including afternoon critiques/discussions and dinner on Sunday evening.

> Thesis Blogs

======

Due Monday, February 1
Draft 1, 250-word Thesis Statement, describing the scope, content, and purpose of your thesis project. Text should be lively, concrete, engaging, and clear. Publish your Thesis Statement on your thesis blog, together with a slide show or other documentation showing how your thesis is developing visually.

REVISED SCHEDULE
Sunday, February 14
Individual meetings:
2:00-2:45 Virginia Sasser
2:45-3:15 Aaron Walser
(break)
3:30-4:15 Andrew Shea

Discussion continues over dinner and Scrabble at 6:00 (optional).
Lupton/Miller House.
Details to come.
Baltimore, MD 21224
Molly’s cell: 214-532-4385

Monday, February 15
Individual meetings:
9:00-9:45 Jennifer White-Torres
9:45-10:30 Molly Hawthorne
10:30-11:15 Andrew Shea

=========

Due Monday, February 22
After class today, email David with a short “state of the union” report letting him know where you are headed with the thesis.

Sunday, Feb 28
Individual meetings:
1:30-2:15 Aaron
2:15-3:00 Justin
(break, 3:00-3:15)
3:15-4:00 Virginia
4:00-4:45 Jennifer

The discussion continues over dinner at Molly’s place in Canton, 6:30-9:00pm
Potluck

===

Monday, March 1
Individual meetings:
9:00-9:45 Andrew
9:45-10:30 Molly
Lecture, Brown 320, noon-1:00pm
“Accuracy, Persuasion, & Uncertainty in Design Writing & Criticism”
1:00-3:00 informal group discussion with David Barringer

=====

Due Monday, April 12
Draft 1, 1,500-word Thesis Essay. This essay should use engaging language and structure to describe what you did in your thesis project. What research did you conduct? What processes did you work with? What did you learn? What can other people learn from what you did? Your essay will be a means for disseminating and documenting your results as well as offering future thesis students a model for defining a successful thesis project. Submit your essay to David via email as a Word doc.

Sunday
1:30-2:15
2:15-3:00
(Break, 3:00-3:15)
3:15-4:00
Discussion continues over dinner at Lupton/Miller House, 6:00-9:00pm

Monday, April 19
Individual meetings with David Barringer
9:15-10:00
10:00-10:45
(break, 10:15-10:30)
10:30-11:15
Discussion in afternoon…

Due Friday, April 30
Incorporate necessary revisions to Thesis Statement (250 words) and Thesis Essay (1,500 words) and publish them as part of your thesis web site.

====

MICA HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION

Learning Resource Center

Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact the Learning Resource Center at 410-225-2416, in Bunting 458, to establish eligibility and coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional information please refer to: http://www.mica.edu/LRC

====

Health and Safety Compliance

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) works to provide EHS support for all members of the MICA community. The primary goal of the Office is to be proactive in establishing a culture of safety in which each member of the community shares ownership responsibility that allows each person to be involved in maintaining a healthy work and studying environment. EHS uses several methods to achieve this objective. First, the EHS office looks at the totality of the EHS requirements by combining campus needs with state and federal requirements and clearly communicating the shared policies and procedures. Second, EHS identifies training needs and develops guidelines for the use of equipment, material and procedures. Third, we ensure compliance with policies through evaluations, inspections, and committees.

It is the responsibility of faculty and students to understand health and safety policies relevant to their individual activities and to review MICA’s Emergency Action Plan, as well as to participate in training, drills, etc. It is also each faculty member’s responsibility to coordinate with the EHS Office to ensure that all risks associated with their class activities are identified and to assure that their respective classroom procedures mirror the EHS and Academic Department guidelines. Each of the Academic Department’s also publish EHS procedures and policies such as a dress code, the use of personal protective equipment, fire safety, training, and how to properly dispose of chemical waste. Each of these policies and procedures must be followed by all students and faculty. Most importantly, it is the responsibility of the faculty to review, test, and assess each student’s awareness of basic safety procedures, such as evacuation routes, use of chemicals, fire prevention, and all other guidelines posted by the Environmental Health and Safety Office, (e.g., smoking policy, independent studio policies, pet policy, disposing of hazardous and chemical waste, etc).

To become a member of the Faculty EHS Committee or for any questions relating to EHS, please contact Denelle Bowser, EHS Manager, at dbowser@mica.edu or by calling 410.462.7593. You can also visit the department online at www.mica.edu/ehs

=========

H1N1 Pandemic Information

What to do if I get sick?
If you are sick consider the following:
· Limit contact with other people as much as possible. DO NOT GO TO CLASS! Seek medical attention at Mount Royal Medial Assoc. (410) 225-8855 but please call ahead
· Students who are sick should self-isolate for at least 24 hours after any fever is gone.
· Make sure to get plenty of rest and drink clear fluids to keep from being dehydrated
· Avoid normal activities including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings

Reporting Procedures
· Contact the Office of Student Affairs at 410-225-2422 who will assist with plans for self-isolation, arranging for meals, and any other necessary support
· Contact any faculty whose class you anticipate missing and inform them of your illness. Work with them to make arrangements for catching up on any missed work. If you have difficulty reaching your faculty or if your illness lingers to the point where you will miss two or more of any one class contact the Office of Student Affairs