390 Draft assignment

I have been asked for an extension on the draft assignment.  Here are the reasons I think that's unreasonable:  You have known these dates since the opening of the course, and I have emphasised them, so I don't think it's reasonable that you have forgotten.  You should have written a first start over break or sooner and now be merely tidying.  Aside from all of this, the paper is rather short and the more than month since last component has been plenty.  And the one reason I think it's impractical - I need time to read them all to get them back to you to improve to the final versions.  To earn full credit for the draft you must submit by the end of the music in class on Monday.  That all being said, I'm willing to offer the following sale prices:  to get the paper at 10% off you must submit by the end of the music in class on Wednesday and to get the paper at 20% off you must submit by the end of the music in class on Friday.  If you do not submit by then, I will record a zero for your draft.  I will return those drafts submitted on Monday first as a batch, then those on Wednesday as a batch, then those on Friday as a batch, and any submitted after that when I get around to it (I don't expect we'll have those.  A draft not meeting the minimum requirement (1250 words) will not earn a passing grade.  

Here's a sample of some citations in an article.  (I have also included this link from the syllabus in the draft assignment details).  

First of all, the more narrow your project the better.  If you think "I don't have enough to discuss", then find more about the topic, do *not* broaden the topic.  If you think you have lots of resources, then narrow your topic.  

Your next task in this sequence is the most important.  For April 5 you are writing your paper.  Write it completely and fully to the best of your ability.  The only sense in which it is a "draft" is that you won't have my comments yet to improve it.  Instead of 5-8 pages, to avoid formatting and font questions, let's make it 1200-2000 words.  (contrary to popular culture, a picture is *not* worth a thousand words, neither is an equation - they don't count toward the word total).  I recommend each of you taking your draft to the writing centre before bringing it to me, so that you can get a second opinion on writing issues.  

Here's some important points - do **not** begin your paper with some vague obvious statement.  Do not include things unless you have a specific reason to - and make that specific reason clear to the reader.  

> have a title
>
> avoid contractions
>
> avoid passive voice
>
> be careful about 'this' and 'that'.  Make sure it's completely explicit to
> what they refer.
>
> Try to use a variety of language - don't repeatedly use the same words.  I know it's not easy, but work at it.  Otherwise
> your paper becomes a list.
>
> Check each sentence - one by one - to see if they are saying something
> particular or meaningful.  Eliminate vague sentences or general sentences.
> Probably replace them with particulars.  Be more precise about what
> happens
>
> Give precise and specific
> details.  Stay focused - do not include anything that does not fit into
> the your topic.  Get to the point.  Omit
> everything else that is not to the point. 

Ultimately, focus, focus, focus.  Do not stray.