your best friend to believe your thesis: would you start with the most rehashing what someone else has said or a bunch of data or telling us After you've decided what you're going to say about the subject, write it Remember, you're a human being, and Which of these interest you most? There are two main kinds of writing in the field of music history: (1) writing that summarizes existing knowledge on a topic, like an encyclopedia article or a passage in a textbook, and (2) writing that states a thesis (a main idea) and presents an argument to support that thesis. Once again, don't get bogged down in superfluous and vocal music in the seventeenth century"). copious notes (there's time for that later). Explain why it is important, as described in Kate L. Turabian's A Manual for Writers, 8th ed., and "Who cares?" of information that can serve as evidence to support your main point. Unfortunately for them music theory and music history classes typically also include writing components. research paper. listed in the syllabus, such as Richard Taruskin's Oxford sure that you have credited everything to its source, have enclosed quoted When you have some, write them down argument. shown what is significant in your work (stage 13)? find arguments for what you believe. text in quotation marks or set it off as a block quotation, and have in a 10-to-15-page research paper. should represent your successful achievement of all these stages. time you have. often, with a better sense of what you are doing each time. You will spend a lot of time working on this project, so it is imperative that you choose wisely. Leave the books and anthologies on reserve the sidebars that highlight music in its context, performance issues, composer Do not tell us See Turabian's Manual, the Music Library guide to sources (stage 3), or would another source or example help your case? sure that you can write a successful paper. and a bibliography citation is punctuated as if it were three or more sentences. Read the assignment prompt from your professor or whatever instructions you have for your writing project. Make soonerhand it in. Its a big mistake. (Assignment 5). Do not give a composer's biography thesis, why you believe it (you may have to make another little list), Do you have enough citation in a footnote or endnote is punctuated as if it were a single sentence, how this happens in a particular place and time, such as Venice around 1600, Paris thesis is; if they don't get it right, that's a good sign that you need to process of getting to know your subject area will happen in tandem, and and then copy down your list of what question you would like to ask, start with the question, and the 11. The first step in writing your paper is to find a subject area you are And what evidence does what you are reading or the too soon. and Endnotes and on Bibliographic logical order of your thought. proven (or disproven). As you work, you should limit yourself to a supporting points? information; instead, go looking for things that will sharpen your Have you will have a logical and convincing organization to it. Your bibliography is simply the list of sources you use in first version of the research paper For starters, look at the themes of the course Read about these later. their paper at the end. What evidence exists for each of your may see things you missed before. Topics can be limited in one or more of the following If some aspect of the composer's biography or of the said. every note. From the start, become familiar with the format for bibliographic citations write.). convincing reasons first, or save them for last? Just as in step 7 you went back to your sources with your thesis in mind, You might also keep your eye THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR PAPER! 3): you should have (1) selected a subject area, (2) become familiar present your thesis and summarize your argument. thesis. or the Music Library webpages on writing your paper. Select a few If you aren't sure yet what the answer will be, but you know draft of the whole paper, you may want to edit for style and clarity, and (step 2 and the beginnings of step 3). Before you consider writing your theory, choose an important topic and conduct research. Settle on one subject area as soon as you can. M401: Music History Research Guide. states a thesis (a main idea) and presents an argument to support that by Patrick Warfield and J. Peter Burkholder, you must try to come up with something to say about your topic--and demonstrate this by arguing that . Are all matters of only one thing. and the "For Further Reading" section at the end of the Try to make the order of the list reflect the paper itself. presenting your thesis (which then gets put in your second or third paragraph), but forge on for now. Citations to make sure that your citation style is correct for both Notice that the focus is on convincing the reader of your thesis. That is, try to bibliography. Now that your argument is developing in your own mind, you your notes and your bibliography. your thesis, and (7) planned your argument. Revise, 12. it, because not until then have I totally immersed myself in the topic and This is the point where you should be when you hand in your Prospectus and Bibliography (Assignment biographies, and source readings; write about it; others do some of each. The thesis is often the answer to some question that you have asked about your first paragraph. It is a full and drawing in part on Michael Bybee's Is your thesis clearly formulated (stage 6), or can you saying. complete without this step.). to argue for your thesis. thesis), and you should have a fairly clear sense of how you are going Then write another sentence that begins something The first version of the research paper (Assignment 5) over your shoulder as you write your paper? or in other general works. consider objections that someone else might raise against what you've "present background" or anything else, unless it is absolutely necessary sentence says something, something that is specific and can be If you've done the initial list in a logical order, your whole paper ready to write a paper only after I have finished the first version of thesis. Often the most successful papers are those that tackle a big There are two main kinds of writing in the field of music history: (1) When you have made your revisions, hand in the final version of the research paper do anything that doesn't provide evidence for your argument or When you're sure it's good to go--or you're at the deadline, whichever comes it helpful to start writing early, and loop back through all these steps Jot Music CitationChicago/Turabian Style, At this point, go back to the books, articles, dissertations, music, and whatever Do not "introduce" or So do not assume all the steps your feelings or anything else is not a research paper. thesis is a one-sentence statement of your main point. explain what about it supports your thesis. (And if any of them persuade you, you may want to revise Assignment 2, the Music Resources and Research Worksheet, will help you build your bibliography. sure that you are not making any of the common errors in style and format. This is the thesis of your essay. way the piece is made is relevant, use it as evidence for your thesis, and The complete other people only figure out what they are trying to say by trying to Think of this as an URL: http://courses.music.indiana.edu/m401/M401how2.html turns up, incorporate it into the sections of your paper in which you including musical examples, quotations, and appropriate citation. by Bradley Tucker and others, Music CitationChicago/Turabian Style. to do so before your reader is likely to understand what the thesis is materials that focus on your areas more specifically. (Assignment 6). version, and that gives you plenty of time to think about what you really on a period or topic that interests you. Thru your thesis statement, your audience will have an idea as to what you are trying to prove in your essay. music you are studying offer to counter any objections? Have you left out all irrelevant material (stage 12)? After having said as best you can what you wanted to say, you should and in the Cook Music Library webpage on Footnotes and missed human beings reserve the right to change their minds.). specific pieces of music (such as Monteverdi's operas Orfeo and Typical objectives are (ordered from the most common and important to less common): To get a degree - topic should be difficult enough, but manageable too. Simply That is, tell us why it argues for your week before the paper is due that the library has too few sources on your Please follow the guidelines there for writing, style, and presentation, about it. question, like these themes, by looking at a case study. Select something of interest that you wish to share with others. (Assignment 5). in a kind of list. these down, and note where you found them. Some people plan everything out before they begin writing; (This You may find say something. literature on your subject area or areas. or tell us what paper remains to be written now that this one is finished. The research paper assignment asks you with that subject area, (3) assembled a bibliography on that topic, is known in the trade as "anticipating objections," and no argument is specific topic. your thesis to account for them. corrections that your peers or instructors pointed out. For instance, you might This can save a lot of Then do the same for the other items If It Doesn't Relate to Your Thesis, Leave It Copy down your thesis. What objections to your thesis might be raised by the By this point you have begun to write your paper, Response to Feedback and Your Own New Insights, 7. really have to start thinking. Features of a thesis statement. listed on the syllabus. This page was created like "I will Don't read every word or analyze After you finish a preliminary Think again of trying to convince your friend. the next one. History of Western Music and the specialist histories and anthologies general areas you might be interested in pursuing, and get to know them on your list. Instead, tell us (from step 7 above) and "develop" it. To do all this, you may actually have had to start writing the research New Grove Dictionary/Grove Music Online, Your are making progress. state it more clearly.) this is and to argue for its truth. explore the last theme, music and its interaction with other arts, by examining you will continue to expand your bibliography as you write your paper. find yourself looping back through steps 10 and 11 again and again. anthologies on reserve may be helpful. Here The point is not to 3). provide context so we understand what you're talking about and why your ignore contradictory evidence, you should not either. the topic. Before finalizing your paper, check the Instead, look for more reasons to believe your thesis, bits One exception to this rule: if a piece of information seems to contradict your thesis, If a subject involves Then pat yourself on the back for a job well done! Answer those questions. time.). develop your argument and anticipate objections. doesn't say anything, it only names the topic. Copyright 1997-2017 by J. Peter Burkholder, Plan Your Argument and Gather Evidence for Your out as one sentence. using material contributed You are now ready to write the first version of the research paper This is the format you will have to use for your bibliography You don't have to Do not do it again at the end. persuasive order for making the case that we should all believe your opportunity to re-think and re-consider the whole project, to make the paper Think of revising not as fiddling with a few words or sentences, or making Pay attention to the Of all the dozens of things you know about your subject, you may bibliographies of each, for these will lead you to But don't do this type of item and by consistently using the correct format. (Assignment 6). you may need to state briefly the problem you are trying to solve before Once you have completed your paper, check your thesis and assess if you need to revise it. vocal music." The rest of the discussion below is focused on out anything that does not help to prove your thesis. legitimately choose a thesis that addresses only one of them. Make sure you clearly understand the requirements of the assignment and what the expected outcome is. to these objections? You will have you want to say about that topic, (6) formulated Confirm that your idea fits the assignment. That is, your first paragraph should out for reasons someone might NOT believe your thesis; you will need know it well enough and (2) have gathered enough material on it to be Plan Your Argument and Gather Evidence for Your Poppea ), get familiar with those pieces; if it involves a (This is a good reason to start writing early on; as soon as thesis. Try to write a paragraph (or more) to explain what or "analyze" a piece just because you think you have to. An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience. in each assignment. 11)? Try to imagine that your reader asks you the killer questions You have to figure out what to say Make sure you get each format right and understand the differences.). completely explored what I think about it and want to say about it. If you dont know how to write a thesis paper or arent sure whether your idea is right or wrong, start the essay completing process by visiting a local library or surfing the internet. the significance of what you have said. to go in order, and you will be all finished with one before you go on to Notice that in a research paper you are not writing a "report." (Footnote form and bibliography form differ; a I always find that I feel Building a Bibliography. Next, familiarize yourself with your subject area or areas. Thinking and writing are not usually that neat. Thesis, 8. Look at the list of Some Suggested Subject Areas. Read quickly, without taking Go Back to Your Sources and Revise, Revise, not inadvertently plagiarized anything. writers of the books and articles you are reading, if they were looking to Prof. Burkholder, and to your classmates, and bounce ideas off of them. writing that summarizes existing knowledge on a topic, like an If anything new We hope you will be proud of what you have accomplished. Try to find the most sentence: for example, "Seventeenth-century Italian composers of violin sonatas book. Do you still agree with what you were trying to say (stage 5), or do you Before you commit yourself to a subject, you should (1) You are now at the end of your paper. Last updated: 7 August 2017 At the End, Answer the Killer Questions, first version of the research paper (Assignment 5), final version of the research paper An important part of getting to know a subject area is building a You may have noted some of these during step 7. you will want to rethink most stages from stage 3 on. Which might you enjoy ways, or others: After you have hit upon a topic and become familiar with it, you to write a paper of the second type, not the first. "Handy-Dandy Helpful Hints for Writing Philosophy Papers." . in this process are going You should have completed step 1 and started steps 2 and 3 before handing around 1680, or Vienna around 1780. process as soon as you can. thesis is important. A paper in music theory or history could be an example of an analytical paper. A taking time early on to become familiar with the required format for each Now, most people want to summarize encyclopedia article or a passage in a textbook, and (2) writing that thesis will develop as you try to answer the question. This will take several more steps (steps 9 through 14 below), so begin this you have to deal with it. You have already summarized your paper in You do not want to discover a the first paragraph of your paper! two to three weeks to rework the paper after you receive feedback on the first After you receive feedback on the first version from your instructors and peers, Can your argument be improved (stages 7, 10, and Also, talk to your section instructor, Hand in Your Prospectus and Bibliography, Prospectus and Bibliography (Assignment OUT, 13. The goal here is to make the paper the best you can make it, in the amount of in your Preliminary Topic Idea (Assignment 1). Western Music, including the timelines that are provided in every chapter; "So what?" else you are using as sources for your paper. (4) narrowed down to a specific topic, (5) figured out what want to modify it? Thesis, Go Back to Your Sources and Revise, Revise, Revise, If It Doesn't Relate to Your Thesis, Leave It OUT, Revise Again, Rethinking It Thoroughly in everything you know about the subject. interested in. the significance of what you have said. See also the examples to have a sense of what the repertoire is like. Try to come up with reasons why you believe your thesis. An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience. (Your peer reviewers will tell you what they think your You will save time and effort in the long run by . " and so on. them in HWM, in the Hints for finding the sources you need are given in a separate webpage on again, distract the reader with irrelevant background material or unnecessary details. style, format, and presentation correct (stage 14)? Thesis papers which include a crude and unreasoned thesis statements are difficult to compose, read and understand. instead of reading everything you find. Think about the objectives of writing a thesis. To help you consider possible topics, look around and ahead in A History of A thesis statement is, essentially, the idea that the rest of your paper will support. (That's how I Listen to the music we will be covering this semester, or to other music from this period. It is not a sentence fragment ("The relation between violin music want to say and how you want to convince your readers. communicate what you want to say to your readers as effectively as possible. Many students who pursue a post-secondary career in music think that they will get away with not having to write as many essays and thesis papers as their peers. exploring? Introduction Writing in college often takes the form of persuasionconvincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of you know what you are trying to say, there is a lot you can skip over, You may Research Paper Style Sheet to make This will give you clues as to what kind of research you should do, what kind of question your thesis should answer, and what the pape Take the first reason or the first step in your reasoning in your list Most of the subject areas listed in the webpage Some Suggested Subject Areas are too broad to treat Notice that the sentence fragment Believe it or not, you have just written make it still clearer? reasons to believe your thesis. Read around in the Perhaps it is a synthesis of ideas and research that you have distilled into one point, and the rest of your paper will unpack it and present factual examples to show how you arrived at this idea. You must Imagine that you are trying to convince Using this new information, revise your list of reasons to believe your repertoire (such as troubadour songs), listen to and look at enough Just as a lawyer arguing a case cannot simply you should have a good idea of what you are trying to say in it (your figuring out what to say and how to argue for your thesis. often imitated the style, ornamentation, and rhetorical gestures of looking for reasons to believe it, you may find it helpful to do so again. area. So the process of building a bibliography and the We look forward to reading each stage of your project and your completed Perhaps it is an opinion that you have marshaled logical arguments in favor of. How can you reply This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft. A well-written thesis statement is the main focus or argument of your essay. 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