Essay Writing: Writing About Music
ENG 306-003; TR 2:00-3:15 in MO 202
Instructor: N. Laudadio
Office: Randall 2013; Office Hours: T 11:30-12:30. Th 12:30-1:30
E-mail: laudadion@uncw.edu
Website: http://people.uncw.edu/laudadion/306.html

Course Description
In this course, we will consider what it means to write and think critically about music, not only as a vehicle for entertainment or enlightenment, but as one the most pervasive and powerful cultural forces. We will examine the critical and rhetorical possibilities found in the structures and strategies of popular (and not so popular) music. But this course will not be about simply listening to records and talking about them. We will also be reading a lot of writing about music, since reviews, academic lectures, fiction, and news articles use techniques as widely varied as the music they discuss.

Required texts
• Course packet available from your instructor.
• Bellman, Jonathan. A Short Guide to Writing About Music. Pearson Longman, 2000.
• Da Capo Best Music Writing 2002, Jonathan Lethem, ed..
These books are available from the university bookstore as well as the Seahawk bookstore, but feel free to buy them used from amazon.com or bookfinder.com if you would prefer. Just make sure you have all your books by the time we discuss them (and the right editions).

Supplies
• Three-ring binder with pockets for your journal entries and essays; paper for taking notes; disk for backing up your computer work.
**Save all writing you do this semester in at least two locations (i.e on disk and in hard copy). Keep all work that I hand back to you in your journal.**
NB: Always save repeatedly and backup regularly as important documents have a tendency to disappear and crashes/losses are not an acceptable excuse for late/missing assignments.

Class requirements and assignments
• You will be required to maintain a listening journal (see below), write two major essays (5-7pgs) and four papers (1500 wds), participate in class discussions, and attend class regularly (see attendance policy below).
• Each assignment (including journal entries) should be typed in a standard 10 or 12 point serifed font (Times or Times New Roman) in MLA style (refer to the website for more info). Hand in all versions of the paper with your final drafts.
• Late assignments will be reduced by one-third of a grade per class day. (Absence from class on the date due (as well as computer problems) does not excuse the lateness of your assignment.)
• A significant amount of course material is only available on the course website, so you need to make sure you have regular (two to three times a week) internet access—this includes checking your email as I occasionally use a class mailing list as a means of communication away from the classroom.

Listening Journal
Throughout the semester, you will be required to keep a listening journal—a record of your interaction with music in its various forms and other people’s writings about music. Twice a week, you will write down observations, reflections and notions on your listening and reading experiences. One entry will deal with an album/song (I recommend you focus on things that are new to you) and one with the reading for the week.
You need to center your discussion on tangible and specific aspects of the film/article you are discussing, not on your emotions. When you “run out of things to say,” you’re probably not being specific enough. Since these entries are short, don’t try to tackle the entire piece; rather, spend time on specific moments/ movements/instruments. Also, when you are asked to comment on texts, make sure your reviews/citations are from “reputable” sources (and always cite your sources). See the links page on the website for places to begin and, if you’re not sure, ASK. When writing on a song/album, you need to focus on the music. What emotion does the tempo or key or subject matter convey? How do the various aspects of the song/album/composition support a larger thesis? How does this piece relate to something else you've heard?

What, and How
I want you to avoid bands you are comfortable with, albums that are too obvious. It may seem a touch fascistic, but I’ve put together a list of artists I want you to avoid. This is not because I dislike these people per se, but because I think they’ve been “done to death” as it were and you really need to be a seasoned veteran to write about these folks and have it “work.”
If you are at a loss for listening material, I’ve put together a list of albums that I believe will make good listening/writing material. both of these lists are available on the website.
While there will be a few albums available on reserve for you to listen to (as you will be required to do so), you’ll have to get a good deal of this music on your own. If you are having a good deal of trouble finding something, please let me know.

Breakdown of grades
Final essay (30%), midterm essay (20%), Four short papers (20%)
Listening journal entries: (20%) (all work must be in order, titled, dated, and typed).
Participation: includes group work, class participation, attendance, and general attitude (10%).

Attendance
You are allowed to miss two classes before you are penalized. Use these wisely (i.e. save them for when you are really sick). After three missed classes, your participation grade drops a level. After four missed classes, your final grade drops by a third. After five missed classes, you will receive a failing grade. The class depends upon your presence.
• If you miss more than one class, you must contact me either by e-mailing me or by calling; otherwise, I will assume you have dropped the class. I encourage you to contact me by e-mail if you miss only one class. You will also want to get notes from another student.
• Do not schedule meetings with your advisor, doctor’s appointments or anything else during this class time. (Having a doctor’s note does not gain you a “free” absence.)
• Don’t leave class early.
• If you are more than several minutes late to class three times, you will receive one absence. It is essential that you be on time.

Incompletes
The incomplete grade may be given only to students who have 1) fulfilled the attendance requirement for the course and 2) completed all but one of the written assignments.

Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism is using another person’s words (even just a few words and even if they are from some old website) and/or ideas as if they were your own. To avoid plagiarism, simply put the material you have taken in quotation marks and cite the person’s name and publication information in your paper. Please note that turning in an assignment that you wrote for another class also falls under the heading of academic dishonesty and is prohibited. If you turn in any such assignments, you will receive an “F” for the course and I will notify the Dean.

Writer’s Block
Feel free to stop in during office hours for any reason; as paper time draws near, you’ll probably want to schedule an appointment if you’re desperate for additional feedback. Please do not wait until the last minute to do so; I cannot (as you can probably imagine) schedule time for very many students two days before the deadline. If you need additional assistance on your paper draft beyond this meeting, please seek out the Writing Place; the staff are there to provide feedback on papers. (Please keep in mind, however, that merely having someone on the staff read your paper does not ensure you a higher grade.
http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/writingplace/
962-7155 (appointments are recommended)
Hours: M-Th 10-9; Friday 10-3; Sun 6 p.m.-9 p.m.