Analytical Paper - Music

Rubric: Analytical Paper (Analysis of 3 Songs) – 250 pts.

Each Song 80 points; up to 10 extra points may be added to round off the score to 250. Please refer to the note below regarding the 10 extra points.

Analysis of the Lyrics

25 Excellent 21 Good 18 Adequate 15 Poor

Lyrical analysis is expressed with excellent clarity, demonstrating a deeper level of personal engagement, and superior understanding of the song’s lyrics and the impact they have on one’s imagination, as evidenced by strong, original interpretive ideas.

Lyrical analysis is conveyed with good clarity, showing an above average understanding of the song’s lyrics and engagement with them leading to an expression of some original ideas, but lacks some insight into the lyric’s more specific attributes. The paper would benefit from some revision, which would make it clearer and more focused.

Lyrical analysis is expressed with average clarity, demonstrating a basic engagement with and adequate understanding of the song’s lyrics, but lacks strong original insight into the lyric’s attributes beyond the ideas of others. The paper would benefit from revision, which would make it clearer and more focused.

Analysis is unclear, or completely absent, demonstrating a lack of original ideas, understanding of or engagement with the song’s lyrics (beyond the ideas of others). Connections to the song’s main concepts are inadequate and ambiguous. The paper would benefit from extensive revision.

Musical Analysis

25 Excellent 21 Good 18 Adequate 15 Poor

An analysis with excellent content, demonstrating a deeper level of personal engagement, and superior understanding of the song’s musical aspects and the impact they have on one’s imagination, as evidenced by strong, original interpretive ideas

An analysis with good content. It reveals an engagement with and an above average understanding of the song’s musical aspects, leading to an expression of some original ideas, but lacks some insight into the music’s more specific attributes. The paper would benefit from revision, which would make it clearer and more focused. The paper would also benefit from more

An analysis with average content. It demonstrates a minimal engagement and command of the song’s musical aspects. While it reveals a basic connection to these, it shows minimal discussion of them and little creativity or risk taking; in other words, the idea behind the analysis is too literal or is too dependent upon the ideas of others. The paper would benefit from thinking outside the

An analysis with poor content. It reveals an inadequate command of the song’s musical aspects. No engagement with or discussion of them at all; it also lacks creativity and risk taking. The paper would benefit from revisiting the assignment guidelines and expectations, along with a substantial rethinking of the

creativity and risk taking, pushing the limits of what the topic entails and how it can be transformed to reflect the writer’s views.

box and exploring the topic in more depth.

topic, in order to produce an acceptable paper.

Interaction of the words and music

20 Excellent 17 Good 14 Adequate 12 Poor

Narrative shows a thorough and extensive examination of the interaction of the song’s lyrics and music. It shows personal engagement and provides in- depth original ideas about how these aspects of the song work with each other to enhance its meaning, strengthening the quality of the narrative and enriching the writing with knowledgeable, diverse, and cohesive outlooks and original thoughts, making the narrative engaging and informative.

Narrative shows a competent examination of the interaction of the song’s lyrics and music, with some original thought given to the topic beyond any inclusion of ideas from others. It provides a fair amount of information, enhancing the quality of the narrative. The paper would benefit from looking into more specifics that would make it stronger, by thinking about how these aspects of the song work with each other to enhance its meaning.

Narrative shows a minimally adequate examination of the interaction of the song’s lyrics and music. It provides only basic information, such as from the course’s Web site or from additional sources, but does not exhibit any original ideas. While this may render the narrative acceptable, it lacks true personal engagement. The paper would benefit from dedicating more time to thinking about how these aspects of the song work with each other to enhance its meaning.

Narrative demonstrates an unsatisfactory examination of the interaction of the song’s lyrics and music—in essence, no discussion of this aspect of the song at all. The paper would benefit from investing more time into the topic that would make this paper more knowledgeable and complete.

Vocabulary 10 Excellent 8 Good 6 Adequate 4 Poor Excellent use of the

course’s vocabulary (musical terms), demonstrates an ability to effectively incorporate it into the narrative. The vocabulary is integrated into the text in such a way that it proves the student’s exceptional

Good use of the course’s vocabulary (musical terms), demonstrates an ability to incorporate this information into the narrative. The vocabulary is successfully integrated into the text, showing the student’s

Average use of the course’s vocabulary (musical terms), demonstrates an ability to adequately incorporate some basic musical information into the narrative. The vocabulary is integrated into the text, but either is there solely due to the ideas

Poor use of the course’s vocabulary (musical terms), demonstrates a lack of knowledge and inability to effectively integrate this information into the narrative. Terms that may be

understanding of the meaning and function of the course’s terms and concepts.

understanding of the meaning and function of the course’s terms and concepts. The paper would benefit from more specific and detailed descriptions.

of others, or just sounds plugged in and doesn’t always work well with the rest of the writing (perhaps indicating a lack of understanding). The paper would benefit from providing detailed and specific examples that explain the meaning of the terms and how they relate to the topic being discussed.

present are not supported with good examples. To improve the quality of the vocabulary use, the writer must review course materials, integrate important terms and concepts into the paper, and provide specific and detailed examples.

Additional considerations:

• Be careful to avoid substantial errors of spelling, grammar, agreement, usage, and clarity. Much of this can be corrected by asking a friend to proofread it for you, as it is sometimes difficult to see one’s own errors.

• Late papers will not be accepted. If (for a legitimate reason) you need to turn in your

creative paper early, please contact the instructor well in advance of the drop box open period.

• DO NOT turn in a paper that utilizes even partial or paraphrased text from (or even a

complete paper by) someone else. This is plagiarism, and could result in a grade of zero.

• DO NOT make the Beatles’ career trajectory the focus of your paper! If you do not

mindfully listen to the songs and reflect, but just compile information (especially from the Internet), your grade will be lowered.

• NOTE: The extra 10 points are not automatically granted. Reasons why all or part of

these extra points may not be granted include (but are not limited to) the following: (1) not following the guidelines regarding paper format or minimum page length of text, (2) choosing more than one song that was discussed in the course, (3) choosing a song or songs not by the Beatles or by one of them as a solo artist after the group broke up, (4) writing on more than 3 songs, (4) lack of substantive engagement with the song’s lyrics and/or music, (5) lack of source citations when use of outside information requires them, and (6) more than a few errors in spelling, grammar, usage, agreement, missing and/or inappropriate words, incorrect punctuation, etc.

Note: If you happen to have some background in music and have some understanding of music beyond the average person, it would be very good to mention that briefly in your paper.