APA Formatting       Writing

Final Project Topics:

Assessment in Music

Should the standards be assessed to demonstrate academic viability? Can music arguably maintain a place in the core curriculum without standardized testing? 

The Cognitive Properties of Music

Where does music actually come from in our brains?  What is the process?  Why has it evolved?

Contemporary Music Project

What was it?  What was its effect?  What has resulted since?

Cultural Appropriation in Music Education

Current Topics in Music Teacher Preparation

What are the hot topics in the discipline?  What is being addressed currently?  What research is involved?  What are the controversies within the discipline of music teacher preparation?

The Educational Value of Popular Music

Should it be included in standard music education?  Why or why not?  Justify your answer with current research findings.

Demographics and Musical Ecology

Research the demographics and musical ecology of a school community that is significantly different than your own.  How would these data inform the music curricula in this school?

Four Educational Methodologies:  Dalcroze, Orff, Kodaly, Gordon

Don't just summarize each.  Compare, analyze, differentiate, etc.  Consult current research findings as to their efficacy. Is one better than another in a specific circumstance?

Genres of Music Used in Music Education

What genres are used where in the US?  Consult current research for effects and implications.

The Influence of Religion in Public School Music Education

Covert or overt?  The role of the music educator?  Is there a balance?  What does research say?  Do not provide a history lesson; stick to current practice.

Music Advocacy

Must we associate music education with increased academic success?  Is that even legitimate?  Consult current literature.  What about music for its own sake?

Considering the Elitism of Secondary Music Education

Are we educating only a select few in our high schools?  Are ensemble programs to blame?  How could secondary music education be more inclusive?  What does research indicate?

Manhattanville Music Curriculum Project

What was it?  What was its effect?  What has resulted since?

Multiculturalism and Ethnocentrism in a Music Education Classroom

How might these influences affect a music classroom? How can a music educator guide their students?

Music Education in Higher Education

Should we overhaul the Music Education Curriculum?  What courses should be taught in tertiary institutions to ensure a well-rounded, professional music educator?

No personal opinions here; rely on the current literature

The Pestalozzian Philosophy of Music Education

What is it?  Where did it come from? How does it manifest in a music classroom?

Praxis Music Education

What is it?  How is it used in various contexts of music education?

Small Ensembles in the Large Ensemble World of Secondary Education?

Is it possible to involve the other 80% of students who are not in large ensembles? Where and how is it being done?  Will ensemble directors push back? What strategies can be used?

Standardized Testing in Music: Making a Case For and Against

Pros and cons?  Would it legitimize music as a core course instead of a peripheral?  What does the research indicate about testing?

The Purposes of Music

What is it actually "good for"?  What does research really say?

Tanglewood Symposium and the "Go" Project

What were they?  What was their effect?  What is the result since?

Testing Musical Aptitude

What is talent?  Can anyone be a musician?  What is required?  What does research indicate?

World Musics in Music Education

What is to be included?  Who gets to decide?  What is the result?  What does research indicate?

Note:  The notes under the titles are not intended to be questions required to be answered, but to suggest some directions that your paper might go. Please do not change the title of the paper. Remember that a 5-7 page paper must necessarily have a definite focus. Don't try to cover too much or your treatment will be shallow. If you have a question about a specific focus, ask me. Above all, the paper should be based on current research and data-driven, not opinion driven. Please consult the Tarleton library for scholarly articles. Your support should not come from Google!

READ THIS!!

The first thing you should do is to spend the time necessary to find data-driven research about your topic. I do not want to know what you think about your topic or how it applies to your specific teaching situation until your conclusion/discussion section. In your conclusion, you may (you do not have to) apply your findings to your current situation and/or give your opinion on the topic (as long as you identify it as your opinion). In that section, it is fine to use first person ('I,' 'me,' etc.)

Gather current research, synthesize this content, and report in your own words.  A direct quote should be rare. Get a good overall understanding of your topic before you begin to write. Then as you are writing, if an idea is not your own or not common knowledge, you would cite it. If a phrase is particularly stated, you may want to use a direct quote, but only for these reasons:

http://www.vickyjohnson.altervista.org/WritingGraduate.htm#Too_many_direct_quotes1

Research Paper Content

	Format in APA style (parenthetical citations)
	Cover your topic thoroughly.
	Research your topic. Justify any conclusions. Opinions should be absent or kept to a minimum in a conclusion section only.
	Write for clarity. You will understand your topic better than your classmates, so make sure you don't get so hung up on details that they miss the point.
	Proof-read your paper for punctuation, syntax, spelling, and grammar. Speak it aloud for understanding!
	Paper should be 5-7 pages in length, excluding the title page, abstract, and references.
	One inch margins, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font (refer to the APA Manual for other specifics)
	References at the end. DO NOT use all ".com" references; use real research articles.

Parts of the Paper

Cover sheet

You've been doing this all semester, so no sweat!

Abstract

Write your abstract last!! An abstract is not an introduction.  If you write it first, you will not have a good introduction.   The abstract is a very short summary of your topic and your findings.

Do not give background material here, but identify what the paper will be about.

APA:  there is no paragraph indent in an abstract.  The abstract is on a page by itself. Remember to write this last.

Introduction

Nail the focus of your topic in the first sentence.  Be clear and concise.

APA:  The complete title of your paper is your heading.  Do not use "Introduction" as a heading.

Body

Use headings (see below), but don't forget to use paragraphs. Check every sentence to make sure that it is clear and necessary toward the focus of your topic.  No tangents!  Do not put judgment statements in the body (words like should, must, needs to, important, ought to).  Save any personal conclusions/opinions for a discussion/conclusion section at the end.

Conclusion

This is not a "wrap up."  This is where you use your own critical thinking skills to synthesize the information in your paper and to draw some conclusions or discuss your findings.

References

Check your APA manual for proper formatting.  I'm still seeing mistakes!

Put your search terms directly into the "Discovery @ Tarleton" search box on the Tarleton Library page.

You can also search directly from the databases listed. Here are some of my favorites

Oxford Music Online

JSTOR

EBSCO

International Index to Music Periodicals Full Text

World Cat

Writing Rubric

Created and maintained by Vicky V. Johnson