"The world of research has gone berserk"
from "Nettie Moore" on the MODERN TIMES album (2006)
from "Nettie Moore" on the MODERN TIMES album (2006)
RESEARCH PROJECT/PAPER GUIDELINES
A final research paper or the equivalent, is required of all students. This assignment should reflect a proportionately greater expenditure of effort than was involved in the earlier assignment. The product should be a "crescendo" and incorporate perspectives attained in the course. (20 points)
Proposal: Each student should create a one page research plan/bibliography which will be due Nov. 4. The research plan/bibliography should include 1) a brief rationale for the project 2) a series of steps to complete the project 3) a projected time table 4) a preliminary bibliography listing at least 3 sources.The proposal should be about a page long (no more than two) and cover these points, giving the reader a clear notion of what you are proposing to do, how you are planning to do it, and why it is worth doing, for you and in general.
Alternative Format: You can use your research as the basis for a creative project. (Example)
The proposal should use a conventional 12 point font (Calibri, Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier.
Topic:
Research involves inquiry into the unknown. A research paper summarizes and documents that inquiry. Many topics, many issues have arisen in class readings and discussions. You have, doubtless, found some of these topics interesting, profound, important, offensive, or in some other way, intriguing. Pick a topic that engages your interest and curiosity. Use the assignment to learn something of genuine interest and intrigue. You may be curious about the life of one of the authors. You may want to know more about the social or historical background of a particular work. You may want to find detailed information about a topic that was lightly touched on in class discussion. There are many options. Do follow your own interests. Don't write a paper on a topic you think I will find fascinating. Write on a topic you find fascinating. Here are some topics that students in earlier seminars have addressed in their research:
Purpose:
There is some overlap between essays and research papers. Essays are designed to persuade, and often use research to bolster credibility. Research papers, while not value free, are more slanted towards the presentation of discovered information than persuasion to a given viewpoint. Choice of a topic is always based in one's values, but the primary purpose of research papers is to inform, analyze, and classify rather than persuade.
Primary Research and Scholarly Research:
As I indicated above, research involves inquiry. Direct inquiry is primary research. In "hard" scientific fields primary research involves experimentation. In fields where experimentation is impossible or unethical (such as the social sciences) primary research involves methods such as observation, interview, questionaire, etc. Primary research involves implementation of a well thought through research design. Research procedure produce data that will by design answer the question the investigator wants answered. Indirect inquiry is the path most of you will take. Indirect inquiry is scholarly research, exploration of an issue by reading what's been written about it. To undertake scholarly research, you use the resources of a library or appropriate data base.
Essential Elements:
The paper you write will simply (1) Summarize what you have learned in your research. (2) Document either your direct methods (research design) or your scholarly sources. The paper should be about 8 pages (including bibliography) using a 12 point font and 1” margins.
Structure:
In structure, the paper should first identify the topic and discuss its importance or interest. Second, the paper should present several major points or issues you've discovered in your inquiries. Third, the paper should conclude with an extended statement of the perspective(s) that are attained through the research you've completed. Finally, you need to document your methods or sources. This can be accomplished within the text in the form of footnotes, in a bibliography which lists the sources you've used, or in an appendix describing research methods.
Style and Style Manuals:
The research paper is the primary form of professional communication for scientists and scholars. For that reason, style and form are important and often rigidly specified. Professional journals reject papers that are not written according to very strict guidelines and these guidelines differ greatly. This provides job security for the writers of style manuals. For this paper, consistency is the chief requirement. If you know what your major field of study is going to be, use the standard style manual for professional writing in that field. Otherwise use one of the following: Note the style manual you use on the title page of your paper.
Turbian, Kate - A MANUAL FOR WRITERS
Achtert & Gibaldi - THE MLA STYLE MANUAL
Univ. of Chicago Press - THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE
Lester & Lester - THE RESEARCH PAPER HANDBOOK
WEBSTERS STANDARD STYLE MANUAL
Howell, John - STYLE MANUALS OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD
Every Page Perfect:
In terms of mechanics and grammar, every page should be perfect.
Paper Titles/Topics from Earlier Classes & Elsewhere:
_______________________________________________________________________________
EVALUATION: RESEARCH PAPER
Student:
Paper title or subject
Dimensions of Evaluation -
0 = unacceptably flawed
1 = major and minor flaws limit success
2 = one major or numerous minor flaws
3 = perfection marred by minor flaws
4 = superb
Components:
Overall, in Sum (20) points possible)
Narrative response:
A final research paper or the equivalent, is required of all students. This assignment should reflect a proportionately greater expenditure of effort than was involved in the earlier assignment. The product should be a "crescendo" and incorporate perspectives attained in the course. (20 points)
Proposal: Each student should create a one page research plan/bibliography which will be due Nov. 4. The research plan/bibliography should include 1) a brief rationale for the project 2) a series of steps to complete the project 3) a projected time table 4) a preliminary bibliography listing at least 3 sources.The proposal should be about a page long (no more than two) and cover these points, giving the reader a clear notion of what you are proposing to do, how you are planning to do it, and why it is worth doing, for you and in general.
- Describing the issue – examples
- I am looking at the way Dylan portrays Judges in his work.
- I will use Dylan's songs to show how he utilizes the folk tradition.
- I will examine Dylan's concept of fate
- I will examine different ways that performers (including Dylan) approach Dylan's songs
- I will look at turning points in Dylan's life and career.
- I will analyze the song "I Pay in Blood" in detail
- Explain why the research is worth the time and effort you will put into it - examples
- Judges are extremely powerful people. Judicial power, like all power, can be used for good or ill and judges, under the garb of office are human beings vulnerable to folly. As a powerful cultural figure, Dylan's views of judges and justice have informed generations of his fans a and critics. Dylan's work provides a pathway to looking at judges in popular culture
- Bob Dylan is one of the most important literary and popular American artists of his time, his creative process is worth exploring.
- American culture has little room for the concept of fate. People are thought to have to capacity to determine the circumstances of their lives, particularly as adults. The ways that Bob Dylan addresses the role of fate, chance, or circumstance in American life will perhaps show the existence of contrary views.
- When different performers take radically different approaches to the same text, the meaning of that text shifts. It is important to see how differently Bob Dylan's songs can be seen.
- With artists of Dylan's stature, the question comes up as to whether the artist is created by the circumstance of time and place or whether the artist transcends the fetters of his time and changes the course of the world. Looking at the turning points in Dylan's career will shed light on this question.
- Describing your methods – examples
- I will use UNM Library searches and Conventional search engines to locate pertinent materials
- I will obtain audio files of the songs and the appropriate lyrics (list)
- I will use concepts to analyze the materials (name these)
- I will ask people to listen to the songs and note their comments (describe how you plan to do this)
- I will read essays and reviews pertaining to the subject (list)
- I will apply (X) literary approach to analyzing
- I will use these (list) resources.
- Note a couple of things specifically ie, which songs which renditions, what references you have as a starting point (do not use Wikipedia as a reference here but you certainly may use references you find in Wikipedia.
Alternative Format: You can use your research as the basis for a creative project. (Example)
- A performance of one or more of dylans songs
- A poem, poem cycle, or short play that has Dylan's work as its inspirational source
- A work of plastic art, film, photography or dance with Dylan's work as its inspiration
- For this option you must write a short paper (1-2 pages including bibliography)
- Identifying the source or inspirtation for your work
- Discoursing briefly on what you learned in your research
- Including a research bibliography
The proposal should use a conventional 12 point font (Calibri, Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier.
Topic:
Research involves inquiry into the unknown. A research paper summarizes and documents that inquiry. Many topics, many issues have arisen in class readings and discussions. You have, doubtless, found some of these topics interesting, profound, important, offensive, or in some other way, intriguing. Pick a topic that engages your interest and curiosity. Use the assignment to learn something of genuine interest and intrigue. You may be curious about the life of one of the authors. You may want to know more about the social or historical background of a particular work. You may want to find detailed information about a topic that was lightly touched on in class discussion. There are many options. Do follow your own interests. Don't write a paper on a topic you think I will find fascinating. Write on a topic you find fascinating. Here are some topics that students in earlier seminars have addressed in their research:
Purpose:
There is some overlap between essays and research papers. Essays are designed to persuade, and often use research to bolster credibility. Research papers, while not value free, are more slanted towards the presentation of discovered information than persuasion to a given viewpoint. Choice of a topic is always based in one's values, but the primary purpose of research papers is to inform, analyze, and classify rather than persuade.
Primary Research and Scholarly Research:
As I indicated above, research involves inquiry. Direct inquiry is primary research. In "hard" scientific fields primary research involves experimentation. In fields where experimentation is impossible or unethical (such as the social sciences) primary research involves methods such as observation, interview, questionaire, etc. Primary research involves implementation of a well thought through research design. Research procedure produce data that will by design answer the question the investigator wants answered. Indirect inquiry is the path most of you will take. Indirect inquiry is scholarly research, exploration of an issue by reading what's been written about it. To undertake scholarly research, you use the resources of a library or appropriate data base.
Essential Elements:
The paper you write will simply (1) Summarize what you have learned in your research. (2) Document either your direct methods (research design) or your scholarly sources. The paper should be about 8 pages (including bibliography) using a 12 point font and 1” margins.
Structure:
In structure, the paper should first identify the topic and discuss its importance or interest. Second, the paper should present several major points or issues you've discovered in your inquiries. Third, the paper should conclude with an extended statement of the perspective(s) that are attained through the research you've completed. Finally, you need to document your methods or sources. This can be accomplished within the text in the form of footnotes, in a bibliography which lists the sources you've used, or in an appendix describing research methods.
Style and Style Manuals:
The research paper is the primary form of professional communication for scientists and scholars. For that reason, style and form are important and often rigidly specified. Professional journals reject papers that are not written according to very strict guidelines and these guidelines differ greatly. This provides job security for the writers of style manuals. For this paper, consistency is the chief requirement. If you know what your major field of study is going to be, use the standard style manual for professional writing in that field. Otherwise use one of the following: Note the style manual you use on the title page of your paper.
Turbian, Kate - A MANUAL FOR WRITERS
Achtert & Gibaldi - THE MLA STYLE MANUAL
Univ. of Chicago Press - THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE
Lester & Lester - THE RESEARCH PAPER HANDBOOK
WEBSTERS STANDARD STYLE MANUAL
Howell, John - STYLE MANUALS OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD
Every Page Perfect:
In terms of mechanics and grammar, every page should be perfect.
Paper Titles/Topics from Earlier Classes & Elsewhere:
- Opening lines and verses in Bob Dylan's Songs
- The Theme of Denial in "Most of the Time"
- Mutual Influences, Dylan and the Beatles
- "I might need a good Lawyer," Law and Justice in Dylan's Songs
- The case of Ruben "Hurricane" Carter
- Dylan and Religion
- Dylan and Feminism - Trying to be a Better Man
- Jonah Lehrer: How to Lose a Promising Career (Fabricate Bob Dylan Quotes in a Book about Neuroscience and Creativity)
- Dylan on the Ending of Love Relationships
- Bob Dylan, Hero/Antihero
- Bob Dylan as a Civil Rights Activist
- Who are Bob Dylan's fans?
- Musical structures, chord progressions, and the emotional journeys in three of Dylan's songs
- Bob Dylan as a Leader
- Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, their influence on one another
- Bob Dylan and
- The Grateful Dead
- Tom Petty
- Sheryl Crowe
- Bruce Springsteen.
- Jack White
- John Lennon
- Patty Smith
- On the Road, Bob Dylan's "Never Ending Tour"
- Bob Dylan and The Beats
- Woody Guthrie, the Man Bob Dylan Wanted to Be
- Dylan and Film
- Bob Dylan Covers Sinatra
- Bob Dylan's Roman Roots, Virgil, Catallus, Cicero, and Ovid
- "Revolution in the Air" - Dylan and the Sixties
- The Whiskey's in the Jar and the Money's in the Bank, Marketing Dylan
- Bob Dylan, The Gospel Albums
- "Roll on John" Dylan's Sweet Tribute to John Lennon
- The Betrayal Theme in Dylan's Songs
- Dylan and the Nashville Cats
- No Surprises, Really - How Dylan Foreshadows the Dramatic Shifts in His Career
- Masked and Anonymous... OMG
- "What is This Shit?" Appreciating Dylan's "Self Portrait" Album in 2020
- Who's Not There in the Film "I'm Not There"
- A Hard Look at A Hard Rain
- Bob Dylan's "Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" is True, but not Accurate
- Shouting Songs, Sweetly Singing Songs, and Growling Songs: Bob Dylan's Voice and Putting Songs Across.
- "Tell Tale Signs" These Songs are Throw Aways?
- Dylan Never Gave Up Folk
- Dylan Never Gave Up Protest
- Dylan Never Came Out of His "Christian Phase"
- Dylan's Intertextuality
- Dylan and his Award Ambivalence
- Dylan's Most Forgotten Album: Pat Garret and Billy the Kid
- Looking at Two Interviews of Bob Dylan
- Bob Dylan's Influence on Women in Music
- Looking into Bob Dylan's Chronicles I
- Respect and Recognition: The Artists Bob Dylan Tags in his Nobel Acceptance Speech
- Bob Dylan and the Murder Ballad Tradition
- Bob Dylan and The Daily Struggle Against Evil Impulses, "Oh Mama, Things Ain't Goin' Well"
- Bob Dylan on His Creative Process
_______________________________________________________________________________
EVALUATION: RESEARCH PAPER
Student:
Paper title or subject
Dimensions of Evaluation -
0 = unacceptably flawed
1 = major and minor flaws limit success
2 = one major or numerous minor flaws
3 = perfection marred by minor flaws
4 = superb
Components:
- Research source (quality, utilization)
- Research contextualization (relevance to larger issues, class topics)
- Structure (sentence structure, paragraph structure, overall architecture, continuity)
- Documentation, citation
- Presentation, (cosmetics, mechanics, titling, word choice)
Overall, in Sum (20) points possible)
Narrative response:
Alternative Format:
You can use your research as the basis for a creative project. (Example Below
You can use your research as the basis for a creative project. (Example Below
- A performance of one or more of dylans songs
- A poem, poem cycle, or short play that has Dylan's work as its inspirational source
- A work of plastic art, film, photography or dance with Dylan's work as its inspiration
- Identifying the source or inspirtation for your work
- Discourse briefly on what you learned in your research
- Including a research bibliography.