Western Art Music, 1600–1850 B. Dalen
Writing Assignment 1
Weighting: 3%
Due on Tuesday, 20 September (beginning of class)
Assignment 1 asks you to engage further with the Artusi-Monteverdi controversy. Specifically,
you will devise an informed, interesting, important question, directed to one of the historical
figures involved in that controversy. You will also provide a detailed rationale for your question.
The Question
• Imagine that you have the opportunity to interview one of the following historical
figures:
o Giovanni Artusi
o Claudio Monteverdi
o Giulio Cesare Monteverdi
• In formulating your question, you might wish to imagine that you are a member of the
Florentine Camerata (or a similar group of intellectuals), a member of the media, or a
member of a committee interviewing the historical figure for a position at a university,
church, or court; or, you may simply wish to be yourself.
• You are a skilled, well-informed interviewer. Your question must be based on or related
to some aspect of the information provided about the Artusi-Monteverdi controversy
presented in Seaton (Chapter 12) or NAWM (71) or provided by the historical figures
themselves in the Strunk/Treitler supplementary readings 82 and 83 (posted on eClass).
• The answer to the question that you are asking should not already exist in the readings.
• Questions such as “Where were you born?” or “What’s your favourite flavour of gelato?”
are not appropriate.
• The content and style of language that you use in your question may be “of the period”
(i.e., the early 17th century, modelled after the Strunk/Treitler readings) or you may put a
modern spin on both the content and style of language (i.e., you may contemporize).
• Address your question to the historical figure you have chosen, e.g., Signor Artusi, blah,
blah, blah? or Mr. Artusi, blah, blah, blah?
Suggested length: 40–50 words, maximum
(How many sentences you use is up to you.)
The Rationale
• Provide a detailed rationale for your question, i.e., explain why you are asking it, why it
is an important question, what it might help you to understand, etc. You do not need to
anticipate the answer given by the historical figure.
• The content and style of language used in the rationale should match that of your
question (i.e., period or modern).
Suggested length: 75–100 words, maximum
(Your rationale should be a well-constructed paragraph.)
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Some guidelines to success
Content
• Use the textbook and supplementary readings noted above as the point of departure for
the assignment.
• Follow the instructions outlined above.
Style
• Express yourself clearly and succinctly, in an organized manner.
• Revise, edit, and proofread the assignment carefully.
Format
• Provide your name, student ID number, and course number and section in the upper righthand corner. (Single space this information.) No title page is necessary.
• The assignment must be typed/word-processed on standard paper (8 ½” x 11″).
• Use 12-point font, Times New Roman.
• Double space the question and rationale.
• Provide the labels Question and Rationale for the two components of the assignment.
• Indicate the total word count for the question and for the rationale at the end of each
component.
• You must hand in a printed copy of the assignment. Electronic submissions will not be
accepted.
Documentation
• Express yourself in your own words.
• Avoid lengthy or frequent quotations.
• If you do use a direct quotation, please place it in double quotation marks. Properly
introduce any quotations used in your question or rationale. For example: In the letter
published in your Fifth Book of Madrigals, you write “blah, blah, blah.” You do not need
to provide documentation for direct quotations or paraphrased ideas in this assignment.
• Focus on the textbook and supplementary readings. Additional scholarly research is not
required for this assignment. In fact, I do not want you to consult, cite, or paraphrase
from other resources (scholarly or non-scholarly). However, if you do so, you must
provide proper documentation (bibliography and notes or reference list and text
citations), using Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed.
Evaluation of the assignment (10 marks)
• Question (5 marks)
• Rationale (5 marks)
• Your assignment will be evaluated with respect to content and style.
o Content: quality and sophistication of your question and rationale
o Style: clarity (correct spelling, grammar, and syntax), quality of expression,
logical organization
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Please be reminded that plagiarism is a serious academic offence. You are responsible for
doing your own work.
Academic Integrity
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and
honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty
and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to
familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/en/CodesofConductandResidenceCommunityStandards/Code
ofStudentBehaviour.aspx) and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of
cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic
dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”
Academic Honesty
All students should consult the information provided by the Dean of Students Student Conduct
and Accountability regarding avoiding cheating and plagiarism in particular and academic
dishonesty in general (see the Academic Integrity Undergraduate Handbook and Information for
Students). If in doubt about what is permitted in this class, ask the instructor. You should
familiarize yourself with information contained in the “Don’tCheatsheet”; this document will
also be reviewed in class.
Students should be aware that excessive editorial and creative help in assignments is
considered a form of “cheating” that violates the code of student conduct with dire
consequences.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she
could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of
fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the
Academic Discipline Process.