Popular World Music Final Paper
Popular World Music Report (25% of final grade)
Topic approval and outline due by April 12th
Paper due on May 3rd
Written report: 2000-3000 or more words (word count is for the body of the paper only and does not include quotes, lyrics, citations, or bibliography).
Your assignment is to prepare a research paper on popular world music. The intent of the paper is for you to delve more deeply into a popular world music subject related to the course that is of interest to you. You may want to learn more about a specific artist, explore deeper one of the many music styles we have studied, investigate the traditional roots of a popular music style, or consider a topic not covered in the course. You might also choose to research a locale and its musical soundscape or pursue the history of an event that involves significant musical activity, such as Carnival. In all cases, you must relate how the music, artist, or activity reflects its cultural origins and its impact on the contemporary world music scene.
While these suggestions are very broad, your topic should be very specific. A paper on Reggae for example, is not acceptable, but an examination of a specific artist who plays Reggae would be. Please also try to avoid artists that have been covered in class.
You will only know what an acceptable topic is by getting it approved by me before you start work. Unapproved topics risk failing grades from the outset, so be sure to get your topic approved by me before starting work. After you have gotten your topic approved, you must then prepare an outline of your paper showing the specifics of what you intend to cover.
Beside for the main body of the paper, your paper will also include citations for all quotes and a bibliography of all sources used (which do not apply to the word count). Quoted lyrics also do not apply to the overall word count. You may certainly use online resources, and Wikipedia is a good place to start, but be sure to follow up with other sources, many of which are usually listed at the end of every credible Wikipedia article. Some video or audio examples of the music or artists must also be included. These links should be accompanied by some commentary on what they are and what is going on in them. YouTube links are best and are easier to discuss when they are embedded directly into your paper where relevant.
USE MY OUTLINE
