Order 1278475: Topic: Music & Gender - Portrayal of women in rap music
tutorthammy
workingdocumentresearchessay.docxTopic: Music & Gender
· Portrayal of women in rap music
-Length: 2700-3000 words (research essay)
Topics may be developed in the form of a research essay or they may take the form of a project that may include field research, visual or audio components, scrapbook, collages, murals, etc. The project or essay may be done either individually or in a group depending on the nature of the project or essay. While many of the themes listed are “secular” in nature, all projects and essays should include some theological reflection or interaction with the subject matter (for example, a Biblical perspective on the subject matter). A good essay/project is one that is well-focused.
Essays must conform to university standards for academic writing. All students must read the introductory guide “Guidelines for Essay Writing” that is posted below. Various academic writing manuals that provide more details.
Recommended: A Pocket Style Manual, by Diana Hacker, (Bedford Books) (web-site supports: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/hacker/pocket/). In this course instructors prefer that documentation be provided according to the University of Chicago Style (Turabian). If documentation/referencing is not included, the essay/projects will be returned unmarked.
Some Guidelines for Essay Writing
Listed below are a number of guidelines to help you as students in the writing of your essays, so that you will be able to communicate your ideas in a clear, concise, convincing, and pleasing manner. Each of the points is a direct response to problems that occur frequently. Because this handout is distributed to a variety of classes, not all the individual guidelines may be relevant to every essay assignment., A Pocket Style Manual (6th edition; Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012).
1. If you are choosing your own topic, be careful to define the topic clearly. Be specific. Do not choose a topic so vague, or general, or broad that it is difficult to get handles on it or make any significant points about it.
2. Follow all the assignment instructions carefully. This guideline seems so obvious, but is frequently neglected.
3. Before you start writing the essay review your research notes and decide exactly what you wish to accomplish, or demonstrate, or communicate in your essay. How you organize the essay and what information you include and exclude, should be determined by the basic purpose of the essay.
4. Start the essay with a brief introductory paragraph that clearly outlines the purpose, focus, or thesis of the essay.
5. Conclude the essay with a paragraph or section that sums things up in some way or brings the essay to a meaningful close.
6. Pay attention to paragraphing. Stick to one major idea per paragraph. A change in topic is generally reason for starting a new paragraph. Usually paragraphs should not be longer than about half a page. Avoid short paragraphs of only one or two sentences. They lead to a choppy writing style lacking in continuity.
7. Avoid run-on sentences, i.e., long complex sentences that go on and on. Simply divide such sentences in two.
8. Organize your essay into sections. Use headings and/or sub-headings where appropriate. If you have difficulty organizing your material, then draw up an outline before beginning to write. When you are done writing ask if someone reading your paper for the first time could easily discern its outline, just by skimming over the essay again. This should be possible even if you have not written up an outline but only have one in your head.
9. Make sure that the flow of material in the essay is logical. Do the ideas of each sentence, paragraph, or section flow naturally from the ideas of the previous one? Do they lead logically into what follows? While writing always keep asking yourself if what you are writing is relevant to the topic. Should certain information be omitted, or would it fit better in another place?
10. Make sure to include enough information or discussion so that your important ideas and points are explained in enough detail.
11. Make sure that every pronoun has a clear antecedent, i.e., word or words that it refers back to. The lack of clear antecedents is one of the most common grammatical errors. Here is an example from an old assignment: “By the year 200 B.C.E. the books called the prophets had been edited and grouped together by anonymous Jewish scribes. They seemed to be important.” The last sentence is ambiguous because they could refer to books, or prophets, or scribes.
12. Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number, i.e., a singular noun takes a singular pronoun while a plural noun takes a plural pronoun. Here is an example from an old assignment: “Did a prophet speak the thoughts of his own mind, or did they speak only messages from God?” To correct this error simply change they to he.
13. Generally, it is best to avoid contractions like, I’m, I’ll, don’t, can’t, won’t. Use the full forms, I am, I will, do not, cannot, will not.
14. Generally, the verb tense should not be changed within a paragraph. Here is an example from an old assignment: “In chapter seven Jeremiah is speaking to the people gathered at the Jerusalem temple. [several sentences later] Jeremiah condemned his listeners for their false worship.” The tense should not be changed from present to past, and so in the latter sentence condemned should be replaced by condemns.
15. Essays should always be double-spaced, with ca. 2.5 cm. margins on all sides of the page.
16. The essay should be as neat and attractive as possible. A sloppy essay is not pleasing to read and gives the impression that the thinking behind the essay is also sloppy.
17. Always number all pages except the title page.
18. Use non-sexist inclusive language at all times. If you are referring to human beings in general, use words like human, persons, people, etc., instead of man and men. The meanings of words change over time, and many people no longer feel that words like man and men refer to all persons but only to males. (Do men feel included when the term women is used?) Instead of, “Man’s quest for meaning,” write, “The human quest for meaning.”
19. Important ideas, pieces of information, or quotations taken from other sources must be cited. There are several reasons for this. One is that borrowing important ideas or material without giving credit to the originator of these ideas is considered a form of theft called plagiarism. Another reason is that proper documentation allows the readers of your work to consult for themselves the important sources which you have utilized, and to check the accuracy with which you have quoted or used facts and opinions.
Diana Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual (6th edition; Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), provides a helpful outline of how to document your work properly. In the field of biblical studies most scholarly works use what is called the Chicago style of documentation, and so that is what you should use in your essay for this course.
All the works which you have consulted in the writing of your essay, except such common works as dictionaries and the Bible, should be included in the bibliography. The bibliography should appear on a separate page at the end of the essay. Entries should be listed alphabetically according to the last name of the author.
20. When making important points about a biblical text, the argument should be supported with either a reference to the text or in some cases with a direct quotation. Biblical references should appear in the body of the essay not in a footnote. E.g.: On one occasion Jeremiah is instructed by God to proclaim a message at the temple (Jer. 7:1-2). This message opens with a plea for repentance, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, amend your ways and your doings, and I will let you dwell in this place” (Jer. 7:3).
21. After writing the first draft of your essay re-read and edit it. Revise and edit it again and again. Check grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. Ask if the material is organized in the most logical way; ask if certain points are irrelevant and should be omitted; ask if certain points are unclear and need elaboration or need to be expressed differently. Editing may be tedious but it can make the difference between a mediocre and an excellent essay.
22. Always proof-read your essay carefully, especially after you have printed it, and make sure that the pages are in the correct order.
23. As you struggle to master the sometimes frustrating details of proper essay writing, remember that as you practice proper techniques they become easier and eventually become second nature. Also remember that you are not just striving to get a good mark on one specific assignment, but you are acquiring important writing skills that will be useful in a host of involvements and careers in our contemporary society. The ability to convey information and express ideas in a clear, convincing, and appealing manner, is a valuable skill in and of itself and is also highly sought after by many employers.
