RESEARCH PAPER OR PROJECT GUIDELINES:
The student will construct either (1) a 6 page paper or (2) a significant PowerPoint or website (with an accompanying short essay) about a topic of interest relating to Musical Theatre and American Culture. Students should consider the course “Purpose” and “Objectives” when crafting a research topic.
Topics may include the study of an important musical theater artist (i.e. composer, librettist, etc.), the study of a specific aspect of musical theater (i.e. choreography, book, etc.), the study of a theme that is seen in various musicals (i.e. definitions of “America,” issues of race, etc.), or any other topic relating to this study that is of interest to you.
Students must include at least 4-5 scholarly sources in their essay or project. If you are unsure about what “counts” as a scholarly source, please ask! Writing should be logically organized and should conform to the rules of correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Students are expected to use normal font sizes and typical margins. Essays must contain an introductory paragraph that provides a “road map” to the reader and a concluding paragraph that wraps up the essay. Paragraphs should contain topic sentences and should be organized so that ideas progress logically throughout the body of the essay.
To earn full credit, your essay must include the following:
o Quotes and/or paraphrasing of your learning from the Kenrick text
o Independent research (must include 4-5 pieces of scholarly research; may also include additional non-scholarly research ; no Wikipedia please)
o Specific examples from the musicals (i.e. a quote, a description of a moment or scene, actions of the characters, scenery, lighting, music, etc.)
o MLA Citations
Writing should be logically organized and should conform to the rules of correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Students are expected to use normal font sizes and typical margins. Essays must contain an introductory paragraph that provides a “road map” to the reader and a concluding paragraph that wraps up the essay. Paragraphs should contain topic sentences and should be organized so that ideas progress logically throughout the body of the essay.