AP Art & Design: Sustained Investigation - The Night Before 🌠

Hey there! Feeling the pre-exam jitters? Don't worry, we've got this! This guide is designed to be your quick-reference, confidence-boosting companion for the AP Art & Design exam. Let's break down the Sustained Investigation (SI) section and make sure you're fully prepped. Remember, it's all about showing your artistic journey, not just the final product.

🚀 Sustained Investigation: Your Artistic Journey

This section is all about demonstrating your growth, exploration, and understanding of artistic concepts. It's worth a significant chunk of your score, so let's dive in!

Key Components

• 15 Images: Showcasing your artistic process, not just final pieces.
• Written Statements: Explaining your inquiry and how your work demonstrates P, E, and R (Practice, Experimentation, Revision).

• Your inquiry should be the driving force behind your work.
• It's about the journey, not just the destination.
• Connect your written statements to your visual evidence.

🔍 The Scoring Rubric: Demystified

Let's break down each row of the rubric to understand exactly what the AP graders are looking for.

Row A: Inquiry (12%)

• Focus: Is your work a visual response to your stated inquiry?
• 1 Point: Inquiry is stated, but visual evidence is unrelated or missing.
• 2 Points: Inquiry is stated, and there's an attempt to connect it to the visual evidence, but it's not fully successful.
• 3 Points: Inquiry is clear, and the visual evidence directly supports and answers the question. There may be some unevenness in the quality of work.

Inquiry: "How can I use the translucent properties of oil paint to represent the beautiful variety of skin tones through underlying colors in portraits of POC?"

• 1 Point: You state the inquiry, but your images are random paintings in various media, not all portraits, not all POC, not all oil.
• 2 Points: You state the inquiry, and your images are portraits, but not all of POC or in oil. It relates, but doesn't fully answer.
• 3 Points: You state the inquiry, and all images are oil paintings of POC, with some variation in success.

Row B: Practice, Experimentation, Revision (18%)

• Focus: How do you show your growth through P, E, and R?
  • Practice: Repeated use of materials, processes, or ideas.
  • Experimentation: Testing new materials, processes, or ideas.
  • Revision: Making purposeful changes or improvements.
• 1 Point: P, E, or R is present, but not connected to a sustained investigation.
• 2 Points: P, E, or R relates to the SI, and written evidence connects to the visual evidence.
• 3 Points: P, E, and R are evident, and what you learned drives the work. You articulate this in your written evidence.

Using the same inquiry:

• 1 Point: You try various techniques, but your paintings are of different subjects and in different media, not consistently related to the inquiry.
• 2 Points: You experiment with skin tones, but not specifically for POC. It relates, but isn't the right evidence.
• 3 Points: You show clear experimentation with glazing, underpainting, and compositions, all focused on portraying POC in oil.

Row C: Materials, Processes, Ideas (18%)

• Focus: How do materials, processes, and ideas work together?
  • Materials: Physical substances used.
  • Processes: Physical and conceptual activities (planning, thought).
  • Ideas: Concepts behind the work.
• 1 Point: Little to no evidence of M, P, and I working together. It's just 'painting stuff' without planning or a clear idea.
• 2 Points: Visual relationships between M, P, and I become evident. You show your process in a sketchbook.
• 3 Points: Evidence supports that M, P, and I are working together as a result of your choices. SYNTHESIS achieved.

• 1 Point: You just paint, without any planning or conceptual connection.
• 2 Points: You paint, and you show sketchbook evidence of trying different things. There is a visual relationship between the two.
• 3 Points: You paint, use your sketchbook, and decide to make them all portraits of POC, following your inquiry.

Row D: Skills (12%)

• Focus: How well do you execute your skills (2D/3D/Drawing)?
• 1 Point: Rudimentary skills.
• 2 Points: Moderate to good skills.
• 3 Points: Good to advanced skills.

This row is about your technical abilities. The rest of the rubric focuses on your artistic thinking and exploration.

🧠 Memory Aids & Quick Tips

🎯 Final Exam Focus

• Inquiry is Key: Make sure your inquiry is clear, focused, and guides all your work.
• Show Your Process: Emphasize your journey through P, E, and R, not just the final product.
• Synthesis Matters: Ensure your materials, processes, and ideas are working together cohesively.
• Skills are Important: Don't neglect the technical aspects of your art.

• Stay Calm: You've put in the work. Trust your process.
• Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the prompts and rubric.
• Be Clear: Make sure your written statements are concise and easy to understand.
• Review Your Work: Look at your portfolio with fresh eyes. Make sure it tells your story.

📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the role of 'inquiry' in the Sustained Investigation? a) It is a summary of the final artwork. b) It is a question that guides the artistic process. c) It is a description of the materials used. d) It is an analysis of other artists' work.

2. In the context of the Sustained Investigation, 'revision' primarily refers to: a) Repeating the same artistic process. b) Making purposeful changes or improvements. c) Copying other artists' techniques. d) Using the same materials throughout the investigation.

3. What does 'synthesis' mean in relation to materials, processes, and ideas? a) Using them separately in different artworks. b) Combining them randomly without a clear connection. c) Using them together cohesively as a result of your choices. d) Focusing on only one aspect, such as materials.

Free Response Question

Prompt: A student is exploring the theme of identity through self-portraits. Their inquiry is, "How can I use various art mediums to express different facets of my identity?" The student has created 15 images using drawing, painting, and collage. Some images are more successful than others. Some show clear experimentation with different techniques, while others are more rudimentary. They have written about their process, but the connection to the inquiry is not always clear.

Score this student's Sustained Investigation using the AP rubric. Provide a rationale for each score.

Scoring Breakdown:

Row A (Inquiry): 2 points. The student has identified an inquiry, but the visual evidence doesn't consistently align with it. Some self-portraits may not clearly reflect different facets of their identity.

Row B (Practice, Experimentation, Revision): 2 points. The student shows some experimentation with different mediums, but not all of the work demonstrates clear revision or a sustained investigation guided by the inquiry.

Row C (Materials, Processes, Ideas): 2 points. The student uses different materials and processes, but the connection to the idea of exploring different facets of identity is not always synthesized. There is a visual relationship, but it is not fully developed.

Row D (Skills): 2 points. The student shows a range of skills, with some pieces demonstrating good proficiency, while others are more rudimentary.