Music 101 Term Paper Guide

You will write a term paper on a given topic. You do not choose the topic for
this assignment. It will be assigned to you.

Due Date
Sunday, 4/19/15 via the Turnitin Link in your Blackboard course No late
submissions will be accepted for any reason.

Paper Machanics

1,000 word minimum approximately 3 FULL pages double spaced

Times New Roman 12pt. font, double spaced
Spelling & grammar counts towards the grade
There are no direct quotes allowed in Music 101. All words
must be your own. Paraphrase your research in your own words.

Discuss the Following in your Essay

These pertain to term papers on people:
Give a brief history of the artist
In what style period were they active?
What was their specialty as a composer, performer, or conductor?
Why are they important to music history?
How was their music received during their lifetime and after their
death?
What obstacles did this artist have to deal with?
What was the high point of their career?
Discuss any other significant career moments.
How did the artist die?
What genres/musicians has your artist/group had a big influence on?
Avoid the irrelevant and uninteresting
DO NOT LIST THE ARTISTS ENTIRE BODY OF WORK!!!
Only include a composition if it is relevant to the artists contributions
to music history. Refer your reader to the back matter if necessary
NO LISTS!
These pertain to term papers on countries or special topics:
Give a brief background of the issue or countrys music heritage
Present the pros and cons of your topic if this applies
Discuss any controversial or revolutionary aspects of your topic
If you have a country as your topic, focus your paper on the dominant
music style or instrument(s)
Why is your topic important to music history?
Avoid the irrelevant and uninteresting
DO NOT LIST ALL THE ARTISTS IN A COUNTRY!!!

Refer your reader to the back matter if necessary

NO LISTS!

Paper Mechanics
A Works Cited page (MLA format, www.easybib.com) with:
A minimum of 3 sources required
You may not count the Wikipedia.org site as a source
Papers without a works cited page can only earn a D grade at

o
o
o

best

All term papers must use college level writing which at the bare
minimum includes proper grammar, punctuation, use of capitol letters, use
of paragraphs for organization, etc.
Grading Rubric for Music 101 Term Papers
Grade A

Grade B

Grade C

Grade D

Answers all questions

in detail. The essays
are free from
spelling, grammar
and typographical
errors. Answers to
questions display a
clear comprehension
of the material. A
complete source cited
section was provided
which included all
references that were
used for the essays.
NO QUOTES FROM
OUTSIDE
SOURCES ARE
PERMITTED IN
MUSIC 101.

Answers all of the

questions in detail.
The essays have
minimal spelling,
grammar and
typographical errors.
Answers to questions
display a clear
comprehension of the
material. A complete
source cited section
was provided which
included all
references that were
used for the essays.
NO QUOTES FROM
OUTSIDE
SOURCES ARE
PERMITTED IN
MUSIC 101.

Answers 85% of the

questions in detail.
The essays have
spelling, grammar
and typographical
errors. Answers to
questions display
some comprehension
of the material. A
complete source cited
section was provided
which included all
references that were
used for the essays.
NO QUOTES FROM
OUTSIDE
SOURCES ARE
PERMITTED IN
MUSIC 101.

Answers less than

70% of the questions
in detail. The essays
have many spelling,
grammar and
typographical errors.
Answers to questions
are too brief and do
not display a clear
comprehension of the
material. No sources
cited section was
supplied although
clear use of outside
references was made.
NO QUOTES FROM
OUTSIDE
SOURCES ARE
PERMITTED IN
MUSIC 101.