Do not fear the research paper! I am confident that all of you will be successful with this assignment IF you invest the time and energy during this semester to “make it happen”. I am here to assist you, as are the numerous online tutoring and tutorial services that are available to you. This research paper will be comprised of your research into the impact of your chosen rock musical on society, its redefinition of societal norms, and/or its redefinition of or challenge of traditional gender roles.
Be sure to take the time period it was produced in into consideration.You should read the entire script of the musical as well as view the film version (and integrate both into your final product). The paper will be 1200-1500 words in length (not counting quotes). It is different from the previous two papers we have written in this course in that it is composed primarily of MLA-documented research, and is not simply a personal analysis of your chosen rock musical.
You should first gather all of the scholarly, reliable reviews, analytical or critical essays, texts, etc. hat you can find based on your musical choice. Then, create a “report” of sorts on your findings by integrating, explaining, and supporting your own assertions to create a cohesive research-based paper. Using the HCC Library (or another institution’s) Resources, whether online or in person, is a critical part of your success on this paper. To best combine your own thoughts with those of respected critics, you should keep an open mind about the musical’s impact until you have read at least three critical articles or reviews.
Mark important passages of the articles as you read them because you will be using at least five quotes from the research, as well as at least two directly from your musical. Please make sure that that the quotes are relevant to the point you are making, and don’t use overlong quotes nor more than two block quotes (four lines or more, indented ten spaces). Listed below is a step-by-step process that you can follow to complete this assignment successfully. 1.
Buy a folder with pockets. Keep all photocopies and printouts related to this paper in one place. 2. Choose a musical from the provided list ONLY.If you wish to focus on a musical that is not on the list, please consult your instructor for approval.
3. Regarding the critical articles you will read, almost all of the musicals on the attached list have research available. Regardless, it may be wise to choose several titles and see what research is available before making your final decision. The Literature Resource Center via LINCCWEB is an excellent source for critical articles. Please refer to the HCC Library for assistance with locating research articles.
Acceptable forms of research for your paper (THREE required sources): a.Scholarly journal articles or reviews from an academic journal, book, or compilation of criticism (LINCCWEB). You must have at least TWO of these sources in your final paper. b.
Biographical sources (no more than ONE). You may NOT use Wikipedia (but you may use material directly from the reference list at the bottom of the web page). A note on electronic sources: Please do not use an internet search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc. ) to locate articles for this research paper. You are working on scholarly research and although some of the articles found in this manner may be of value, the vast majority are not.
Sparknotes, Cliffs Notes, Monarch Notes etc. are NOT COUNTED towards the three required sources in this paper. However, you may use them to assist you in understanding the material and the critical arguments surrounding it. You must still document use of these materials in proper MLA format. 3. After reading (and viewing) your musical, taking careful notes and reviewing the research, pick the thematic aspect(s) of the work that interest you.
You can do this by freewriting, making a list or any other brainstorming technique that works for you. 4.Create an outline for your paper. Here is a suggestion: I. Introduction/Hook a.
define thematic aspect chosen b. transition sentences c. brief synopsis of plot d. thesis statement (final sentence of paragraph 1) II.
Transition to a brief biography of playwright (author) (no more than four-five sentences). III-IX. Analysis of the musical using the critic’s interpretations to support your views. (Most quotes will be in this section of the paper). See the “Argument Sandwich” document for assistance in formulating your assertions.
X. Conclusion a.Restate thesis b. Briefly summarize, reconnect with the hook, give your personal impression and/or provide new insight into what you have written. 6. Write your rough draft.
Do not be afraid if you find that you need to change your thesis statement at this point (this is normal, and a positive sign that you are working through the process of writing). 7. Revise and proofread your draft and Works Cited page. Send it to SmarThinking tutoring. 8. Make final revisions based on the peer editing.
9. Follow the submission directions within the ‘Essays’ tab.
