Apple Script - Apple Event is Timing Out

Question

i am a novice at apple scripting. i have written an apple script for backing up my desktop to my iPod. i was able to do this based on the basic info in my "panther- the missing manual" book that i have. i have the basic script working but after about 2 minutes into the backup, my "Script Editor" icon in the toolbar starts bouncing and when i click on it, i get a window that says that the apple event has timed out. the backup continues and finishes without problems. however, i would like to edit the apple script to correct this issue and eliminate this error message. i have tried experimenting with applescript commands but i have not been able to find a good primer to learn the language. i need to add script that will allow the event to run for four minutes before it times out.
anyone know the applescript wording to fix my error message?
thanks
G4 Quicksilver AGP Graphics 500   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

Answer 1

Place the statements inside a block such as:
with timeout of 240 seconds
--commands
end timeout
(9861)
thanks for getting back to me. i tried to use this additional script before, after and inside my original script and still was timing out.
this is the last script i tried. the compiler compiles is fine. i just keep getting the "timeout" error message after two minutes. i have also tried your the additional script before the "tell" and after the "end tell". complies and runs fine in these other locations but still get the error message after two minutes.
tell application "Finder"
with timeout of 300 seconds
--commands
end timeout
duplicate folder "Desktop" of folder "alan" of folder "users" of startup disk to disk "Encrypted iPod" with replacing
end tell