Writing 130 – Analytical Writing
Music Majors
Instructor: LauraAnne Carroll-Adler
Office: JEF 245
Section 64055 GFS 204
Writing Center: Taper Hall 3rd Floor; 740-3691
E-Mail: lauraana@usc.edu
Office Hours: T/Th 12:30-1:40 and by appt.
Computer Lab: 216 Taper Hall
Class Website: http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~lauraana/
 Check website frequently (and always after an absence) for updates.
 Assignment sheets are always available on the website.
 Links to Proquest articles and other readings required for assignments will also be available on the
website.
Required Texts:
Writing 130 Course Readings
Writing 140 Course Book
(from the Writing Program)
Bring these to class each day.
Course Objectives: To develop the writing processes necessary for academic writing; to learn to apply
critical reasoning skills in response to the arguments of others; to cultivate strong academic skills; to
conduct intertextual analysis and argument.
Course Requirements
4 longer essays, 4 1/2 – 6 pp. or 1300-1800 words
#1
#2
#3
#4
1 timed essay
Academic Blog
Attendance/Participation
Final Portfolio --Assignment #5 + 1 other revised paper
8-15% each: 45% total
8%
10%
12%
15%
7%
8%
5%
35% =100%
Academic Blogs. Students will set up and maintain an academic blog throughout the semester. Grades
will be based on quality/timeliness of entries and on commentary in classmates’ blogs.
Rough drafts: Since this class emphasizes the process of writing, it is important that you participate in
class activities/assignments that will help you produce the finished product, the final paper. Students
who fail to bring a rough draft on the assigned day will lose 5 points from the final grade of their
paper.
Conferences: We will schedule several conferences during the semester. A SCHEDULED
CONFERENCE COUNTS AS A CLASS MEETING, and missed conferences will be treated as
absences.
Grading
Grades for each paper are determined according to the criteria outlined in your Course Book, pp. 110-12
These criteria emphasize strength of thesis, overall organization of the paper, and development and
support. The scale is a little different than most of you are familiar with; it is meant to correspond more
closely and fairly with the 4-pt. grading system. Your work will earn a numerical grade which will
correspond to a letter grade as follows:
Grading Scale:
77-80
72-76
67-71
60-66
A
AB+
B
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
BC+
C
C-
Late Papers:


Most important—if you do not have a paper ready on the due date, DO NOT SKIP CLASS. Don’t
compound the problem of the late paper with an absence from class. DO speak to me after class
so that we can figure out what you need to do to complete the paper.
Penalties: Papers up to one week late will drop 7 points. Papers turned in over one week late will
drop 15 points. Papers turned in over 2 weeks late will drop 25 points.
Attendance/Participation: You are expected to attend all classes and conferences. This is a workshop
class; sessions cannot be summarized afterwards for those who have missed class. See your 140 Course
Book, p.3-4, for the departmental policy on absences. Students who do not bring a workable rough draft
(typed, required length) to peer editing sessions will be marked absent for that day. Failure to participate
in discussion of assigned readings and classroom activities will also lower your participation grade, and
will probably affect your paper grades indirectly, since you will be unprepared to discuss the assigned
topic.
Penalties:
 First 2 absences—no effect. Think of these 2 absences as your “free” absences. Don’t
waste them at the beginning of the semester. If you have an illness or a family emergency
late in the semester and you have already used your 2 “free” absences, you will not be
excused for these later absences.
 3rd absence—7 points from attendance/participation grade.
 Each absence after 3: subtract 9 points from attendance/participation grade.
 Tardies/early departures: 2 significant tardies/early departures = 1 absence.
A student who has 5 absences, then, will start with a 55/80 (a low “B-”) in attendance. Any deductions
for lack of preparation for class will be taken from this score.
Webgrade: You will be able to access your current grade in the class and scores on each assignment
through webgrade, linked on our class website. You will need to know your student ID number, and you
will give me a password to use for your account.
Critical Thinking Study: You will be asked to participate in an ongoing study evaluating the teaching of
critical thinking skills in the writing department. As part of this study, you will submit final drafts of each
of your papers on Blackboard. You will receive more information and instruction on this study when we
have our computer instruction day, but keep in mind that it will have no effect on your grade in this class;
its purpose is to evaluate teaching, not grade your individual efforts.