Guidelines for Effective Writing Prompts | Miami Dade ...

1 Guidelines for Effective Writing Prompts | Miami dade College | page 1. SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT Prompts . CONCERT EVALUATIONS. As mentioned in class, you will be required to submit 3 concert evaluations by the end of the semester. These papers are not a choice; they are required to receive credit for this course. Please adhere to the following Guidelines : o Name, date, course number, and professor top left corner o Title ( MUS 110 Concert Evaluation ) centered o Indented, double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font o Proper grammar o Proper (and pertinent) use of musical terminology o 1 -2 pages (350-400 words). o Attach concert program to back of paper For whatever concert you attend, you need to select two separate pieces to discuss in your evaluation (or 2. contrasting movements in a larger work). Basically, I would like you to go to 3 concerts (one MUST be a classical concert) and report on what you heard: melody, harmony, consonance vs.

2 Dissonance, instrumentation, formal structures, etc. etc. Additionally, tell me your personal/emotional reactions to the works discussed. Did you love/hate them? Did your initial reaction change after hearing the live performance? Did the works sound to you to be telling a story? If yes, what? ROCK N ROLL N WRITE. Pick one of the following questions, choose a position (yes or no), and write a well-researched, 1000 word response in proper MLA format citing at least 4 scholarly sources. 1. Does rock and roll produce a drug culture? 2. Is hedonism socially and morally acceptable? 3. Is file sharing ethical? _____. COMPOSER PAPER. Each student will successfully complete a brief, 5 PARAGRAPH research paper on a Western classical composer. You will choose a composer from the list provided in class. Include the following information: biographical information, background information, musical education, first experiences with music, at least three major works, why they are famous, and a reflection on these works.

3 You will be expected to use no less than 3 scholarly sources (no unsubstantiated sources such as Wikipedia or will be accepted). Your textbook may be used as a starting point but will not count toward one of your number of required sources. All sources must be cited with a separate bibliography page. Plagiarism intentional or by omission will not be tolerated and will result in a failing grade. Please refer to the attached sheet regarding plagiarism and the college's academic integrity policy in the student handbook. Guidelines for Effective Writing Prompts | Miami dade College | page 2. Writing ASSIGNMENT CHECKLIST. Subject Specific topic(s). Additional materials (needed to complete the assignment). Purpose Assignment goal (demonstrate/apply concepts/analyze/synthesize/evaluate). Relevance to course goals Audience Reader (helps writer determine level of knowledge and if background information is needed).

4 Tone (formality and point of view). Format Length (page or word requirements, specifics on spacing, font style, font size, and margins). Structure (recommended number of paragraphs and/or required elements). Sources Documentation style (APA/MLA/other). Number of sources (minimum number required). Type of sources (scholarly, from a specific database/journal, etc.). Evaluation Assessment standards (topic, organization, paragraph development, sentence structure, grammar, etc.). Contribution to overall course grade Deadlines & Drafts Due date Submission details (electronic or in-person and what needs to be included). Policy on late work Assignment components (brainstorming, outline, annotated bibliography, draft). Peer involvement (formally or informally encourage students to read each other's drafts). Additional Campus resources (library, Writing lab).

5 Sample assignments Plagiarism policy/resources Warnings Guidelines for Effective Writing Prompts | Miami dade College | page 3. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: SUGGESTED Guidelines FOR ANY Writing ASSIGNMENT. Try to have your Writing prompt fit comfortably on one side of a single sheet of paper or on the computer screen without scrolling. An Effective handout for a Writing assignment is specific, concise and includes most, if not all, of the following items: Subject: Do you have a concise and thoughtful topic (or set of topics)? Have you been clear about what materials should not be used? What should students learn or accomplish by completing the assignment? Purpose: Why are you giving this Writing assignment? Think of Bloom's taxonomy of learning: to demonstrate comprehension, to apply concepts, to analyze processes or parts, to synthesize or evaluate.

6 Explain these purposes to the students. Audience: What is the preferred voice or point-of-view the student should use on this assignment? Is it formal or informal? Who is the reader? How much background knowledge does the reader have? Format: What is the assignment to look like when turned in? Typed or handwritten? Single or double spaced? What is the heading supposed to look like? Page numbers? How many words is the assignment supposed to be? Sources: Is there a format or style guide to follow, such as MLA or APA? Should outside sources be used? The textbook? Websites? Course content on Blackboard? Are students supposed to put information into their own words? Give a verbatim definition from the text? Evaluative Criteria: When assessing the assignment, which areas are you going to be focusing on overall development, organization, support, sentence structure, word choice, mechanics, and/or format?

7 How much emphasis will be placed on each element? How can the grading structure be presented? What rubric grading plan will best fit this assignment? How does the assignment impact the student's course grade? Deadlines & Drafts: When is the final assignment due? What constitutes a complete assignment? If this assignment has parts, when is each due? Will you accept late work? How will late work impact the assignment grade? How will the final assignment need to be submitted? How will students benefit from reading each other's work? Do you want to provide class time for or incentivize peer feedback? Additional: Do you want to encourage students to use campus resources to complete the assignment? Can you provide students with access to assignment examples? Should students submit their Writing to Turnitin? Do you want to include the institutional or departmental policy on plagiarism?

8 Are there other warning or what not to dos that you want to emphasize? Guidelines for Effective Writing Prompts | Miami dade College | page 4. TIPS. Start with the informaiton you know. Think about what you want the final submitted assignment to look like. Consider the student perspective. Ask a colleague to provide feedback on an assignment and/or rubric. NOTES. _____. _____. _____. _____. _____. _____. _____. _____. Guidelines for Effective Writing Prompts | Miami dade College | page 5. REVISED Writing ASSIGNMENTS. (from page 1). Concert Evaluations Rock N Roll N Write Research Paper Guidelines CONCERT EVALUATIONS. As stated in the course syllabus, you will be required to submit 3 concert evaluations by the end of the semester. These papers are a required course component. If you fail to complete even one, you will not receive credit for this course.

9 Plan now. Of the 3 concerts you must attend, 1 must be a classical concert. Formatting and submission Guidelines : o Name, date, course number, and professor top left corner o Title ( MUS 110 Concert Evaluation ) centered o Indented, double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font o 1 -2 pages (350-400 words). o Attach concert program to back of paper Be sure to provide concert details in the introduction a short paragraph of 3-4 sentences For the evaluation, select two separate pieces to discuss (or 2 contrasting movements in a larger work), and provide a music-related response as well as a personal response Musical: Report on what you heard using the terms we have discussed in class: melody, harmony, consonance vs. dissonance, instrumentation, formal structures, etc. Personal: Tell me your personal/emotional reactions to the works discussed.

10 Did you love/hate them? Did your initial reaction change after hearing the live performance? Did the works sound to you to be telling a story? If yes, what was the movie about? Each concert evaluation should demonstrate knowledge of proper music terminology and grammar. Visit the Writing center for help on this assignment. Turn evaluations in at the beginning of class on the dates listed below. Evaluation #1 Due Thursday, 2/25 10% of final grade Evaluation #2 Due Tuesday, 4/5 10% of final grade Evaluation #3 Due Thursday, 5/5 10% of final grade Guidelines for Effective Writing Prompts | Miami dade College | page 6. FYE 192 SPRING. ROCK N ROLL N WRITE: POSITION PAPER (35% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE). This semester you will be required to write a position paper arguing one side of an issue relating to our studies in this course.