Hey, here is the exact requirements from my professor. My topic is J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. I have several sources already, as we were required to turn in a bibliography page already, and I’d be happy to email them to you.. He also doesn’t have a record of what sources we had turned in, so feel free to use or not use the sources I have. Also, if a longer deadline will drop the price, that’s fine with me. I won’t need anything until April 8. Also, Chicago format. If there’s anything else you need form me, feel free to let me know. I check my email very often, so contact shouldn’t be hard to obtain. I also NEED a partial draft of this by Tuesday, April 7, if that is possible. Definitely does not need to be the full paper, but I need something to show my professor as a partial draft.
Partial draft due April 8; final draft due April 28, at the beginning of class (i.e., not sent by
email).
For your final writing assignment, choose something about your topic that interests you and write a 5-6 page essay in which you 1) present a thesis, 2) support your thesis through historical evidence, musical analysis, etc., and 3) offer a conclusion that explains the significance of your findings. You should also submit a final, corrected bibliography with your paper.
Final papers must be submitted to the ROAD depository for assessment. I cannot give you a final grade for the course until you submit your paper. Instructions for ROAD are found on the course webpage.
1. Defining your thesis: Your paper needs to establish some kind of argument. You might derive the argument from your research into a composer’s life, analysis of the music, comparisons to other composers, etc. The thesis must be clearly stated in your first paragraph. You do not need to explain the entire history of music. In fact, the more specific your thesis, the easier it will be to support it in such a short paper. Some suggestions for finding a thesis:
a. As you research your composer, note where scholars disagree on some facet of the composer’s life, the stylistic origins of his/her music, the style of the music, etc.
b. Spend time with some music by your composer. Analyze the form, genre conventions, scoring, and texts (if it is vocal music). How does your composer’s works compare to the generic conventions studied in class? Are there certain qualities in the music that sound odd to you?
Questions like these are usually solved through a combination of historical research and musical analysis.
c. Be creative. Ask yourself questions that are not addressed in your sources.
d. Be sure that your thesis is narrow enough that you can answer the question in just 4-5 pages.
You are encouraged to meet with your instructor to discuss your thesis or any other aspect of the paper.
2. Supporting your thesis: There is no single, correct way to support a thesis. You will need to be creative, use your sources efficiently, and spend time with the music. Some suggestions for supporting a thesis:
a. Take good notes on your sources. Find appropriate information that is relevant to your principal thesis.
b. When discussing musical works, do not narrate through the piece. Choose examples that support your thesis. If you find yourself writing blow-by-blow narration, then re-organize your thoughts around what is essential to your thesis.
c. Outline your thoughts (on paper, not just in your head). Keep asking yourself questions to see if there are holes in your argument.
3. Conclusion: A conclusion should not be just a restatement of your thesis. Tell the reader what they have learned from your essay. You can consider the big picture (what have we learned about music of this time period as a result of your research? How might this essay alter the way we could think about other composers?).