<p>Is there a website where you can see all the courses required in your major for freshman year? I found the courses needed to graduate, but someone told me there are specific classes that have to be taken the first year (such as a very difficult writing class). I'm a music performance major, if it matters.</p>
<p>You can find all required courses and, depending on the major, course layout in the USC catalogue:</p>
<p>[USC</a> Catalogue: The Schools: USC Thornton School of Music: Undergraduate Degrees](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2010/schools/music/undergraduate.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2010/schools/music/undergraduate.html)</p>
<p>You advisor will help you pick out which classes to take in which order. Only a few programs that I know of have each semester laid out – such as the BFA Screenwriting degree.</p>
<p>(To see what I mean: <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2010/schools/cinema/writing.html[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2010/schools/cinema/writing.html</a>)</p>
<p>A difficult writing class? That’s Writing 140 or 340 right? Are these classes hard, I know I will have to take them as an engineering major, and will they drag GPA’s down?</p>
<p>Zelda, do you talk to an adviser during Orientation, or what?</p>
<p>Yes, I think it is writing 140, which is supposed to be harder that 340 even though it comes earlier… is it possible that the class is graded on a curve? (Some schools grade freshman classes on curves, not sure if USC does.) Hopefully it won’t be too impossible.</p>
<p>first off, congrats on getting into music performance! Thornton’s awesome! 
I just worked with a bunch of Pop Music kids on a show and they’re all incredible. </p>
<p>You do talk to an advisor during orientation. I think music kids take Arts & Letters (Cat V) first semester, because my ARLT class was like 2/3 Thornton kids, but I suppose that could be a coincidence. Beyond that, I don’t know what you’ll take. WRIT 140 is challenging, but I didn’t find it too bad. I think it depends on the teacher. It’s not curved, your grade is based on the quality of your writing, plain & simple. You’re not compared to other writers in your class to the best of my knowledge, just to yourself.</p>
<p>What is so difficult about the writing courses? Everyone seems to be stressing over them.</p>
<p>Thanks! I’m really looking forward to it!</p>
<p>“It’s not curved, your grade is based on the quality of your writing, plain & simple.”</p>
<p>That’s a relief! Do you have any specific teachers you’d recommend or advise to stay away from? (you can pm me if you prefer)</p>
<p>I’d actually appreciate it if whoever answers doesn’t pm Pardali so that the rest of us can benefit from the info as well. Thanks (:</p>
<p>Regarding curves and such: The grading scheme of each class is usually determined by the professor. And I don’t know why you wouldn’t want it to be curved because curved grading always helps you. In Writing 140, generally the grading is not curved. Also, as a music performance major you’d likely be taking writing 130, which is identical to 140 except that you don’t have to take a linked Cat VI GE at the same time.</p>
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<p>If you are capable of placing coherent, intelligent thoughts on paper – nothing.</p>
<p>I think a majority of people stress over WRIT 140 because they’ve had inadequate writing preparation in high school or because they weren’t really strong writers to begin with. (As it’s been mentioned before, those of you who know your writing skills aren’t up to par, that’s what the Writing Center is for!)</p>
<p>Anyone who took AP English Lit or Language (or even APUSH) will do absolutely fine in WRIT 140. Stop stressing over it. It’s an enjoyable, helpful class if you take it seriously.</p>
<p>English AP Lit? Or do you mean AP English Language?</p>
<p>What can you do to prepare for a class like this? I’m looking to get a high GPA especially because I convinced my parents to pay for USC instead of my state school, so I definetley need to do well.</p>
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<p>Emphasis on “OR” – meaning, if you took both or either of the two AP English tests offered (there is an AP English Literature and there is an AP English Language) you have adequate writing prep.</p>
<p>I don’t know what you can do to prepare. If you’re a good writer, you’re a good writer – I think writing is one of those skills that’s inherent and can’t be “taught.” But, to do well in the class, you just need to take your teacher’s advice on your papers to heart, work with them as much as possible, write a ton of drafts and make use of the Writing Center if you’re a weak writer. The grading in WRIT 140 is individualized; you are charted on your “improvement” as a writer and ability to rewrite.</p>
<p>If you’re honestly a terrible writer, maybe have a teacher or peer whom you trust (and who have a knack for the written word) look over a few of your essays and help you rewrite them for practice?</p>
<p>I dunno. I am probably the worst person to ask; I came out of WRIT 140 with an A and it wasn’t too difficult for me.</p>
<p>What exactly is the Writing Center? I’m an engineering major, hopefully I have time to tune up on my writing there…</p>
<p>It’s a place where you can go to get help with your writing. It’s on the third floor of Taper Hall.</p>
<p>you can’t pick your WRIT 140 teacher, they’re randomly assigned, so it would be pointless for me to recommend any. </p>
<p>I didn’t really work very hard in the class, got a B+. I have a feeling that I would have gotten an A with a different/easier teacher, but I wouldn’t have enjoyed the class as much. I’ll take the lower grade and an enjoyable time in class over an A and hating it, though. But I came out of the IB Diploma, where there is a fair amount of writing, especially in IB English. Also, IB writing tends to align more or less with WRIT 140 writing, while the writing I did for AP was more formulaic. But I don’t want to make this into an IB vs AP debate, I’m just trying to say that I came into the class well prepared. </p>
<p>You can’t really prepare for the class. Try not to leave assignments to the last minute and maybe go to the writing center. Oh, and conference with your teacher as much as you can, that will probably be the most helpful thing to do.</p>
<p>For the required courses can you hit two birds with one stone by taking one class that seems to be an option for several of the required categories (ie African Diaspora…it’s everywhere!)? Thanks.</p>
<p>You must take six GE classes to fulfil the requirement. The Diversity requirement can be done along with a GE class. Some classes are marked “gm” which means they fulfil both a GE catergory requirement and the diversity requirement. This is the only overlap you’ll have.</p>
<p>What GE classes get filled up if you don’t go to Orientation?</p>
<p>Pretty much all of them. All the good ones at least.</p>
<p>For GE classes I’m only concerned about making good grades and taking Chinese language classes, so would those fall into the category of “the good ones”?</p>