music research paper
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format.docxRESEARCH PAPER FORMAT GUIDELINES
The abstract text begins here. It should be double-spaced, using the Times or
Times New Roman 12-point font. An abstract gives a summary of the paper, presents a
thesis or argument, and tells how you conducted the research. It only needs to be a
paragraph or two. Be sure to number your pages starting with this page, with the
numbers centered at the bottom of the page. The abstract section does not count toward
your 10-page minimum.
Next section is the Introduction – start it on a new page and be sure to include the
heading.
INTRODUCTION (new page)
Start this section on a new page and include the heading “Introduction.” Your
minimum of 10 pages starts with this section.
The introduction can be a more detailed version of your abstract. In other words,
develop your abstract here. Provide a clear thesis or present an argument that you will
discuss. Is there a connection between you, your culture, and the music you will be
writing about? How will your research paper contribute to the academic world? Tell the
reader why your work is important.
The next section is the History section – be sure to have a heading and start it on a
new page.
HISTORY (new page)
Be sure this starts on a new page and has a heading that you title “History.”
This section focuses on the history of the music and culture you are studying. In
this section be sure to include the names of individuals or groups who are important to
the development of the music. Avoid just listing these VIPs – tell the reader why the
person or group is important to the music. A timeline of events may be helpful.
The next section you will discuss an interview you will conduct – it should have a
heading and start on a new page.
INTERVIEW(new page)
Be sure this has a heading you call “Interview” and is on a new page.
INTERVIEW one individual affiliated with the music you are studying. This
person must be someone who is a musician and actively participates or has
participated in the music you are researching. You may also interview a scholar who
has credentials in the topic you are studying. The Interviewee should not simply be a
fan or amateur collector of the music, although students are welcome to interview such
individuals for additional information. Again: THE MAIN INTERVIEWEE MUST
CURRENTLY OR IN THE PAST BEEN A MUSICIAN OR SCHOLAR
ASSOCIATED WITH THE MUSIC YOU ARE RESEARCHING. In the section,
give some background about the person AND include quotes from the interview. You
may want to ask if the person consents to an audio or video recording (see consent form).
ANYONE who you interview must sign the consent form – this is to protect the
interviewee as well as you as the interviewer.
WRITE THIS SECTION IN PARAGRAPH FORM! Avoid dropping in Q &
A or an entire transcription of the interview.
NOTE: BE SURE TO MAKE 2 COPIES OF THE CONSENT FORM – ONE
FOR YOUR PARTICIPANT AND ONE FOR YOU TO KEEP. SUBMIT A HARD
COPY OF THE CONSENT FORM IN A FOLDER YOU WILL TURN IN AT THE
END OF THE SEMESTER. If the interviewee does not fill out the form, e-mail or
some other written or audio/visual proof may be acceptable.
The next section is your analysis section where you will discuss some
ethnomusicological theme or themes. Be sure the heading of this section reflects what
your analysis is about and that it starts on a new page.
It is important that you start this section on a new page and have a heading of
your choice that reflects your analysis.
The author should attempt to discuss and examine a specific ethnomusicological
theme as applied to the chosen topic of study. More than one theme may be analyzed but
be sure to have a new heading for each theme. If you do have more than one
ethnomusicological theme, keep the text continuous, without starting each new theme on
a new page.
Your analysis should not be based totally on empirical evidence - it is important
that you cite relevant sources that back your analysis.
Once finished with your analysis or analyses, to end your paper, start your
conclusion on a new page and be sure to have a heading.
CONCLUSION
Remember to have a heading that says “Conclusion” and start this section on a
new page.
This summarizes what you had initially theorized, what you have learned, any
new revelations you have discovered by conducting the research, and so forth. You may
include your own perspectives about what you have studied or provide commentary on
any aspect of the music or culture.
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REFERENCES
References should be on a new page and include the heading “References.”
List ALL sources you have used and your interview source here. If you referred to
websites, album liner notes, videos, etc. be sure EVERYTHING is listed, as
Turnitin will pick up on ALL possible sources. If it finds text matching a source that
is not listed in your references, it could be considered plagiarism. LIST ALL
SOURCES in alphabetical order. This section does not count toward your minimum
of 10 pages.
Make sure you keep your formatting consistent (APA, MLA or
Chicago/Turabian). Below are some examples (not a reflection of the title of this
sample paper, nor all required sources).
Attaway, William. 1957. Calypso Song Book. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company,
Inc.
Beana, Christian. 1999. Personal interview with the author, January 18.
“Bringing Trinidad to Los Angeles.” 1971. Los Angeles Sentinel, JULY 22, SECTION
B2A.
Childers, Alonzo (Bob). 1962. “Oil Drums on LP Record.” San Gabriel Valley Daily
Tribune. Sunday Tribune Showtime Section, p. 2, March 11.
Cohen, Sara. 1994. “Identity, Place and the ‘Liverpool Sound’.” In Ethnicity, Identity
and Music: The Musical Construction of Place, ed. Martin Stokes. Berkeley:
University of California Press, 122-40.
De la Bastide, Andrew Pan. 1999. Phone interview with author, April 7.
Dudley, Shannon. 1996. E-mail to author, December 14.
Neuenfeldt, Karl Wm. 1991. “Sun, Sea, Sex, and Señoritas: ‘Shorthand’ Images of
Ethnicity, Ethos, and Gender in Country Songs Set in the Circum-Caribbean.”
Popular Music and Society 15(2): 1-21.
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Additional information:
USE THE HEADINGS, as shown in this sample.
Make sure you use the Times or Times New Roman 12-point font.
Double-space all EXCEPT: captions, footnotes and bibliography entries of more
than one line, (double space between footnotes and bibliography entries), and
quotes that are more than 4 lines.
Margins: Left is 1 1/2 inches, top, right, and bottom 1 inch wide.
Please be consistent with your formatting throughout the paper to avoid losing
points (APA, MLA, or Chicago/Turabian)
Footnotes, endnotes, graphs, charts, photos with captions are not required unless
the author feels that these would be useful. Including any of these will not
automatically grant extra points or a higher grade
Papers that are purely based on personal experience, without any research into
other academic sources, tend to be graded lower than papers that clearly show the
author has conducted research, collected information, and have taken time to
critically analyze all of the information.
ALL PAPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA TURNITIN ON CANVAS AS
A PDF FILE PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE. LATE PAPERS WILL BE
DOCKED ONE POINT EVERYDAY PAST THE DUE DATE.
INCOMPLETE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR PARTIAL CREDIT.
NO EXCEPTIONS. THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO
HAVE ANY EXTRA CREDIT COUNT.
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PAPERS WITH ANY PLAGIARISM ISSUES WILL BE REPORTED TO
THE STUDENT CONDUCT COORDINATOR AT STUDENT AFFAIRS.
When in doubt, USE QUOTES & CITE YOUR INFORMATION SOURCE!
PLAGIARIZED
PAPERS = “F” in
the course!!!
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Research Paper Grading Rubric
Instructions: Use this rubric as a guide to understanding how the paper is graded.
This is just a general guideline to help with the organization of your paper and the
approximate point distribution for each part of the paper. Points are deducted for
missing any of the information below, incorrect formatting, incomplete papers, and
overall bad writing (spelling, grammar, typos, punctuation). Papers that follow
these guidelines are not necessarily perfect papers.
Use tools on your computer to check you paper and have at least one person read it
for errors. For more help, consult with the research librarians at the Oviatt Library,
Writing Resource Center, or make an appointment during your professor’s office
hours.
COVER PAGE (5 points)
___Correct format
___Interesting concise title that fits the subject of the paper
ABSTRACT (10 points)
___ Correct format, including page number 1 with correct font
___Clearly tells the reader what the paper is about, but without going into lengthy details
INTRODUCTION (15 points)
___ Proper heading is given and on a new page
___Section begins on a new page and is page numbers continue until the end of the paper
___ Section develops the abstract; more details about what the paper is about
___A strong thesis or argument to be proven should also be stated
HISTORY (10 points)
___Anybody important to the music is discussed IN DETAIL (not just listed)
___Info is given in a type of timeline that shows music or cultural change (if any)
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INTERVIEW (15 points)
___Introduce the Interviewee by including his or her name and bio and discuss why this
person is important to your research
___Be sure to share important quotes from the interview
___Discuss Interviewee’s knowledge of the musical genre discussed in your paper
___Include closing remarks about the interview
ETHNOMUSICOLOGICAL THEME (20 points)
___Clearly states the ethnomusicological theme(s), including within the section heading
___Critically analyzes the themes, as applied to the topic
___Cites sources to support the analyses
CONCLUSION (15 points)
___Concisely summarizes the research paper, including the initial thesis
___Discussion of revelations and new information unknown previously to the author and
states why this research is important or useful to the study of American music
___Section shows the impact of the research to the author’s understanding of one’s self
___Additional comments on the importance of music to author’s discipline and humanity
REFERENCES (10 points)
___ ALL SOURCES, including any interviews, should also be listed here
___Correct and consistent formatting should be used here and the page numbers should
end on last page
A PDF OF THE RESEARCH PAPER IS TO BE TURNED IN ON
TURNITIN/CANVAS.
TURN IN A HARD COPY OF THE INTERVIEW CONSENT FORM IN YOUR
FOLDER. If the interviewee does not fill out the form, e-mail or some other written
or audio/visual proof may be acceptable.
