Research Paper - There are several options for this assignment, the topic and format to be determined by the student with the instructor's approval. Your paper should engage with issues of sound and sound studies that are important to you, and relevant to our class. The content of your paper/project should not have been discussed extensively in class. Additional research outside of class reading is required.

Research Paper Options:

In your paper, include the following:

• Introduction with a thesis statement, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion

• Use examples from sound objects we have listened to or otherwise experienced in class and/or those you found in your research to support your argument.  Describe, reflect upon, and analyze these acoustic or auditory examples.  Use your findings to supplement, expand, or reinforce your argument.  Be specific – include correct titles, dates of production, and names of composers or artists; and describe specific passages, movements, or other formal elements in your discussion.

• Include historical information, theories, and other critical frameworks from class readings as well as outside sources you found in your research to help support and develop your argument.  Reference these discussions and debates in the construction of your own argument.  If you are not sure how to do that, look at how the authors we read reference other scholarship and sources in their articles. A tip on how to begin your research - look at the sources that the author used in one of the class readings relevant to your topic. Their footnotes and bibliographies are good places to start. 

• The "Additional References" list of books in the class syllabus is also a good place to start your research.

Your research paper should be over 5-pages, but under 10-pages in length, excluding footnotes and bibliography. All papers have to be typed and double-spaced.  Use fonts that are 12 to 10 points in size. The document should have 1-inch margins on the sides, and 0.5 inch margins on the top and bottom. All reference, quotes and sources must have proper citation— use a standard citation format, such as the Chicago or MLA style.  See A Writer’s Reference, OWL, or another style manual for specifics. Do not cite class readings as such, cite them in their original sources - author, title, volume (if it is from a collection of essays with multiple authors), publisher, year, page number (if it is from a collection of essays).

You are required to have at least five peer reviewed (books, essays, etc.) sources in your bibliography for this paper. Your sources should be of reasonable length, include verifiable facts, and in some way contribute to informed opinion about the sounds in question. These sources can be critical essays by academic writers in professional journals; concert, exhibition, or media arts festival programs and catalogs; or other sources you may find in your research. If you are researching a musician, artist, or movement, (e.g. Italian Futurism) additional titles in the many music and other media collections (e.g. the Library has a media collection) at the Claremont Colleges are also acceptable. Generally, web site that are not peer-reviewed (on-line media journals, such as Sounding Out!, are peer-reviewed) are not good sources. Not all sources are of equal quality. Be critical and choose carefully.

Expectations
All parts of this assignment will be considered in the grading of the final version of your paper.

Abstract: 1 page document (single-space OK) outlining the subject of your paper. Outline your interest in the subject, your research direction and critical approaches, etc. You should also discuss and assess the bibliography and discography (if relevant): what texts do you plan to consult, how do you plan to access them, are they books, journal articles, playlists, and/or other forms? Students must submit an abstract by Thursday 10.13 for approval of paper topic.

Annotated Bibliography: For your bibliography and discography, use a standard format, such as the Chicago or MLA style.  If you are not sure what a bibliography looks like, see A Writer’s Reference, OWL, or another style manual for specifics. Write a short paragraph (about 3-4 sentences) for each source summarizing its contents; i.e., Is it biographical? Is it a historical or critical study? Is it about a movement or a specific artist or musician? Write a sentence describing where you found the source; i.e., the index you used to locate it, for web sources, include a URL. Annotated bibliographies must be submitted by Thursday 10.20. You are strongly encouraged to continue to meet with instructor to discuss ideas and progress on the paper.

Draft: draft of your paper, as close to the final version as you can manage. (the better your feedback will be!) Include not-yet-written sections in outline format.

Peer Review: a 1-2 page response and critique of the draft you read. The goal of this assignment is for you to give your classmates constructive criticism—suggestions that will help them finalize their papers in the best possible version.

Final Version: the finalized version of your paper is due during the last week of classes. Absolute deadline during Finals Week.

Please hand in a digital copy of this assignment to your Sakai Drop Box.  Make sure the document is in MS Word format (with a “.doc” or “.docx” suffix).

Your grade will be based on your ability to present and support your argument, the quality of your research, and your ability to use your research material to enrich your discussion.  In addition, your description and analysis of the sounds or acoustic experiences will also be considered in my assessment.  Write simply and clearly.  Look up unclear words before you use them. Spell-check, proof read and edit your paper more than once before handing it in. Read the comments from your peers and myself carefully while finalizing your paper. I highly recommend you make at least one appointment with the Writing Center to get feedback on your draft(s), with enough time to make revisions before deadlines.

Please turn the paper in on time, and follow the format I outlined: papers that are too long or too short, late papers, hand-written papers, etc. will lower your grade. If you need more time to work on it, ask for an extension way ahead of the deadline.

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