Hello all Odum Great Ideas Students.

I know, I know starting school puts a big dent in your plans. I'm sure y'all spent all summer down at the 'ol fishin' hole relaxin', but now it's back to work. So, in the interests of putting as much on your plate, as early as possible, I thought it might be nice to give you your first week schedule and your first assignments.

This year we are beginning the course with "Beauty and Virtue." Last year this thematic unit ended the semester, but I think it will be kind of fun to begin learning about art, architecture, ethics and morality at the beginning, rather than when we're all crunched for time before the break.

This week's assignments:

For Wednesday: Have you and your parents/ guardian's email addresses to me as well as a parental permission for for some of the field trips and films we'll be experiencing this semester.

For Thursday: Have a journal (not for notes) that you will need to bring EVERYDAY to class (if you don't bring it, you are out of luck. You'll still have to write, but you won't get credit when I grade the journals).

For Friday: List of "interests." This is the beginning of your research project due the day of the final exam. I want a simple list of five to ten things that interest you. We'll eventually narrow that down to just a few, and then we'll start researching.

For Monday of the second week:

Take a picture of a building "within your experience" that you find in someway attractive.

The schedule?

Monday: Getting to know each other, check out the blog, the website, syllabus. Begin writing on some deep questions.

Tuesday: Introduction to art criticism, exercise on critical interpretation

Wednesday: In-class essay on a work of art.

Thursday: Notes on the history of art, art interpretation

Friday: Notes on the history of architecture, effects of architecture