Help me write my research paper!

RyRob813 · #1 10-05-2009, 02:41 PM

After a full year in music school, doing nothing but bass and music theory, I've been confronted with a gen. ed.

History of American Popular Music.

I need to write a research paper, and the topic I've decided on is "How music effects culture, and vice versa." Specifically, the music of the turn of the century, and also early jazz.

I need sources- I've already decided on the textbook for the class of course, and the Ken Burns Jazz documentary. If you can offer me any websites or books that could give me some good quotes for this paper, it'd be greatly appreciated, I only have six days, as I was just transfered into the class

Thanks!

MakiSupaStar · #2 10-05-2009, 02:59 PM

How about you write your own paper bub?

jive1 · #3 10-05-2009, 03:01 PM

With this short notice, I suggest you call up Maki and do a research paper on his dub band and how it influences Orange County. I'm sure there will be some noteworthy quotes, and you'll prolly get an A for it.

MakiSupaStar · #4 10-05-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

With this short notice, I suggest you call up Maki and do a research paper on his dub band and how it influences Orange County. I'm sure there will be some noteworthy quotes, and you'll prolly get an A for it.

HaHaHa.

bass12 · #5 10-05-2009, 04:21 PM

I'll try to be a little more helpful than Maki and Jive.

First of all, that's a pretty big subject that you might want to narrow down a bit. I do some assisting for an undergraduate History of Pop Music course and if you were one of my students I'd be telling you that your subject was too broad in scope. Having said that, here are a few book titles that might interest you:

Souled American: How Black Music Transformed White Culture by Kevin Phinney, and Black Music White Business: Illuminating the History and Political Economy of Jazz by Frank Kofsky. For a look at hip-hop and "black culture" you could check out Black Noise and Microphone Fiends, both by Tricia Rose. Good luck.

RyRob813 · #6 10-05-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

How about you write your own paper bub?

That would be the goal. I was looking for some possible pointers, being that I was given six days notice to write a fairly lengthly paper for a teacher blissfully unaware of the fact I have serious practicing to do for classes relevant to my career

Of course, if I were on the opposite end of the predicament, I'd probably make fun of me too

Quote:

I'll try to be a little more helpful than Maki and Jive. First of all, that's a pretty big subject that you might want to narrow down a bit. I do some assisting for an undergraduate History of Pop Music course and if you were one of my students I'd be telling you that your subject was too broad in scope. Having said that, here are a few book titles that might interest you:

Souled American: How Black Music Transformed White Culture by Kevin Phinney, and Black Music White Business: Illuminating the History and Political Economy of Jazz by Frank Kofsky. For a look at hip-hop and "black culture" you could check out Black Noise and Microphone Fiends, both by Tricia Rose. Good luck.

Thanks! Yes, I'm going to talk a lot about jazz, and how the music and culture surrounding it reflected the somewhat hidden racial tensions of the teens and twenties.

Pilgrim · #7 10-05-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyRob813

I need to write a research paper, and the topic I've decided on is "How music effects culture, and vice versa." Specifically, the music of the turn of the century, and also early jazz.

First thing to do is look up the difference between "Affects" and "Effects". It won't impress the teacher if you continue to use the wrong word.

Then some internet searches should do wonders!

One recommendation - the NPR radio show "American Routes" is all about this topic. http://americanroutes.publicradio.org/

I don't know how much info is available on the website, but the show is fantastic and covers all kinds of music.

Stumbo · #8 10-05-2009, 10:33 PM

IMO, you should go with "How Culture Affects Music", leave out the vice-versa.

Check this out: links

UnsungZeros · #9 10-05-2009, 11:44 PM

You're complaining about six days notice?

Give me a pot of coffee, some microwave pizza rolls and a deadline and I'll have your paper done by morning.

Hell, I just churned out seven pages before typing this post.

Phalex · #10 10-06-2009, 06:48 AM

Don't forget the random illustrations! You can fill at least six pages with random illustrations!

UnsungZeros · #11 10-06-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Don't forget the random illustrations! You can fill at least six pages with random illustrations!

That just reminded me of this:

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail64.swf

Phalex · #12 10-06-2009, 07:47 AM

Yeah, I didn't make that up! Great stuff!

This will help get you started:

CrispyDelicious · #13 10-06-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnsungZeros

You're complaining about six days notice?

Give me a pot of coffee, some microwave pizza rolls and a deadline and I'll have your paper done by morning.

Hell, I just churned out seven pages before typing this post.

This. Six days?

Please. I knocked off a 12-page paper in 6 hours yesterday. Quit worrying about it and get your act together. Nothing personal man, but really!

Pilgrim · #14 10-06-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnsungZeros

That just reminded me of this:

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail64.swf

BEST. VIDEO. EVER.

I just added a link to it in the online graduate course I teach, with the notation: "If this approach appeals to you, it's going to be a long semester."

I just emailed back a grad student's paper in which he left out two words, failed to add the "s" to indicate the plural on three words, wrote three questions without question marks at the end, failed to cite his sources, made an unsupported assertion, and wrote one meaningless sentence - all on the first page. He must have written it between 12:00 and 12:05 this morning.

MakiSupaStar · #15 10-06-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

BEST. VIDEO. EVER.

I just added a link to it in the online graduate course I teach, with the notation: "If this approach appeals to you, it's going to be a long semester."

I just emailed back a grad student's paper in which he left out two words, failed to add the "s" to indicate the plural on three words, wrote three questions without question marks at the end, failed to cite his sources, made an unsupported assertion, and wrote one meaningless sentence - all on the first page. He must have written it between 12:00 and 12:05 this morning.

Heh, Heh. I don't know why, perhaps it's because I'm teacher, or perhaps it's because I just finished my masters degree, but for some reason, I found this pretty humorous.

bui · #16 10-06-2009, 09:47 AM

www.easybib.com saves some time.

bass12 · #17 10-06-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

This. Six days?

Please. I knocked off a 12-page paper in 6 hours yesterday. Quit worrying about it and get your act together. Nothing personal man, but really!

That paper must have required a lot of research.

RyRob813 · #18 10-06-2009, 12:29 PM

Hey thanks to the helpful posts here- there were several.

But to everyone else...at which point in my post did I ask for your opinion on my work habits? I'm actually an extremely hard worker, which is probably why I have a 3.8 average and the overall scholarship in my department. Please do not judge me, being that you do not know me.

To those saying I have plenty of time- sure, I would have, if I had been in this class since day one, but I was thrown into it two weeks into the semester, meaning everyone else had, yes, two full weeks to work on the paper. I hadn't even been able to learn the material yet, and everyone else had half a paper.

So basically, if you have some helpful advice to offer, great! But if not, please keep your rude comments to yourself, thank you!

Pilgrim · #19 10-06-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Heh, Heh. I don't know why, perhaps it's because I'm teacher, or perhaps it's because I just finished my masters degree, but for some reason, I found this pretty humorous.

I hope my students find it the same! I also hope they take the hint and don't hand in papers that are 75% unattributed text from a website, as has happened in the past. (That never happens to you, right?)

But hey, there's no point in teaching if you can't have a little fun with it at the same time.

MakiSupaStar · #20 10-06-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I hope my students find it the same! I also hope they take the hint and don't hand in papers that are 75% unattributed text from a website, as has happened in the past. (That never happens to you, right?)

But hey, there's no point in teaching if you can't have a little fun with it at the same time.

Oh yeah, happens all the time. They learn that trick at a young age.