MUL 2110, Spring 2016

Writing Assignments

Assignment #1: Writing about Music

Due through Turnitin (on Blackboard) before class AND as a paper copy
Choose a piece of music that you enjoy from the Western classical repertoire that is not
included in the Norton Scores. Write a brief essay (minimum 500 words) about the work and
why you like it. Please double-space and use twelve-point font. In your essay you should discuss
both (1) the elements of musical style in the work, using the terms discussed in this course, and
(2) reasons why the music is meaningful and enjoyable to you.
As you prepare to write, consult the notated score in addition to listening to a recording.
Consider the elements of music discussed in class you may find it helpful to list your
observations in a chart as you listen and use your notes as a framework for the essay.
Your essay will be graded according to the following criteria:
1. Thorough stylistic analysis according to the elements of style discussed in class (35%)
2. Appropriate use of musical vocabulary (30%)
3. Clear writing free of grammatical, spelling, or factual errors (25%)
4. Submission through Turnitin AND as a paper copy (10%)

Assignment #2: Annotated Bibliography

Due through Turnitin before class AND as a paper copy
See example in Blackboard Course Library
Step 1
Choose a composer and one of his/her pieces about which you may wish to write a research
paper in your future music history classes.
Step 2
Compile a bibliography of the sources you think would be most useful for this project. To be
complete this bibliography will need:
to follow the Chicago Manual of Style Guide for the citations
to include:
o 2 books
o 2 peer-reviewed journal articles from JSTOR
o 1 Grove Music Online Encyclopedia article
Step 3
Write a 2-3 sentence annotation under each citation describing the contents and why it could be a
useful source.
Grading Criteria
Your work will be evaluated on the following elements:
1. Correctly formatted citations according to the Chicago Manual of Style (20%)

MUL 2110, Spring 2016

Writing Assignments
2. Annotations demonstrating critical thought as to how a given source may guide your
research (50%)
3. Correct spelling and grammar (10%)
4. Correct number and types of sources (10%)
5. Submission through Turnitin AND as a paper copy (10%)

Assignment #3: Prcis

Due through Turnitin AND as a paper copy
See example in Blackboard Course Library
A prcis is a scholarly summary of a reading (similar to an abstract). A prcis provides an
overview of the major ideas contained in a reading and identifies the authors perspective on the
subject and/or contribution to the field. You must represent the authors ideas accurately and
thoroughly, but in very little space. Learn to summarize; avoid quoting text. Choose words
carefully and dont waste them. Proofread your work.
Your prcis should be at least 250 words (and no more than 300) summarizing the main points
of Robert P. Morgans book chapter titled Introduction: The Nineteenth-Century Musical
Background (PDF in the Blackboard course library).
Book title: Twentieth-Century Music: A History of Musical Style in Modern
Europe and America
Publisher: Norton
Location: New York
Year: 1991
Page range: 1-8
Identify Morgans main thesis and summarize how he develops this point. The structure of your
abstract should resemble the structure of the chapter. Think in terms of the big picture and
strive for simplicity and clarity how would you explain this chapter to someone who has not
read it? It may be helpful to create an outline as you read in order to identify the content and
hierarchy of information.
Your document should include:
1. Chicago-style citation for the chapter at the top of the page
2. Abstract
3. Word count
Your work will be evaluated according to the following items:
1. Submission through Turnitin and as a paper copy (10%)
2. Correct citation (worth 10%)
3. Fulfillment of word count (worth 10%)
4. Clear and thorough summary of Morgans chapter demonstrating that (1) you read the
entire article and (2) understood the main ideas (70%)

MUL 2110, Spring 2016

Writing Assignments

Tips for Writing

Titles of musical works should be in italics and names of movements/dances/arias/smaller

sections within a work should be in quotes. [Example: Danses des adolescentes is my
favorite dance movement from Le sacre du printemps, or Batter My Heart is a famous
aria from John Adams Doctor Atomic.]
Avoid contractions (dont, wont, cant, etc.) in academic writing.
Avoid scare quotes quotes that are placed around words or phrases to signal that a term
is being used in a nonstandard, ironic, or otherwise special sense, or for emphasis.
[Example: While I dont think that Beethoven was the best composer, he certainly was
innovative.] Reserve quotation marks for when you are actually quoting someone wordfor-word.
Use the Oxford comma the comma before the and at the end of a list. [Example: We
sell books, videos, and magazines.]
Spell out centuries (nineteenth instead of 19th) and only hyphenate when the century is
being used as a descriptor. [Example: I was born in the twentieth century, but
nineteenth-century music is my favorite.]