Each question should be thoughtfully and thoroughly answered in at least 5-8 sentences.
Project 1:
1. Genre: K-Pop
Consider selecting a specific sub-genre from any of the genres listed above. For example, you could choose “Classic Rock” instead of just rock. Introduce and describe your genre. What interests you about this genre? Why do you think this genre is important to explore?
2. What are your plans for Project 2? What artist do you plan to write about? What change will you explore in their music? What songs (3-5) will you use to show this change? How do you think the songs you choose will exemplify this change? What does this change say about the genre as a whole?
3. What are your plans for Project 3? What’s a significant controversy within your genre that you want to examine? How did this controversy directly help shape your genre into what it is today (good or bad)? What can we learn from this controversy within your genre?
4. What are your plans for Project 4? How has your genre had a significant impact on a narrowed topic? Pick one narrowed topic from this list: technology, gender, race, class, fashion, health, media, lifestyle. Can you use ideas from Projects 2 or 3 to help back up your claim? What new examples will you use to support your thesis?
5. What is the purpose of your research? Why is it important and relevant? What kinds of sources do you think you’ll need?
6. What difficulties do you think you’ll encounter as you research your topic and try to craft compelling arguments?
7. What areas do you think you’ll need help in? (Only 1 sentence needed for this question)
Project Two:
Change Over Time Playlist. You will create a playlist of at least three songs from one artist that demonstrates an argument about a change over time in their career or artistry. To support this playlist, you will include a write-up of 3 pages and use one secondary source. Your write-up should include an introduction paragraph with a thesis that makes a strong argument about what changed and why and/or how this change impacted the genre overall. Analyze the songs and sources using rhetorical devices such as logos, pathos, and ethos. Introduce your reliable secondary source with a signal phrase to help the reader understand why the source is relevant and trustworthy. Use a mix of quotes and paraphrase from the source to support your argument and then analyze the source in order to make it clear how it connects to your thesis. Include a Works Cited page that lists the three songs (primary sources) and the secondary source in MLA format.
Project Three:
Controversy Presentation. You will give a seven-to-eight-minute presentation of a controversy about an artist in your genre. You must select a specific artist and controversy and make an argument about how the controversy impacts the genre overall. Focus on specific songs, albums, performances, public appearances, quotes, and/or interviews in order to make your case about how the controversy impacts the genre. Along with your presentation, you will turn in a 1 page write up that uses two secondary sources. One of the secondary sources must be scholarly. The other secondary source can be non-scholarly but must be reliable. Your write-up should include an introduction paragraph with a thesis that makes a strong argument about how the controversy impacted the genre overall. Analyze the sources using rhetorical devices such as logos, pathos, and ethos. Introduce your sources with a signal phrase to help the reader understand why each source is relevant and trustworthy. Use of mix of quotes and paraphrase from the sources to support your argument and then analyze the sources in order to make it clear how each connects to your thesis. Include a Works Cited page that lists all sources in MLA format. You should practice your presentation ahead of time in order to be sure that it is the correct length of time to ensure a Complete grade. Any visual components of the presentation must by the day before the presentation date. If you are using a supplemental video, it should be under two minutes.
Project Four:
Significance Paper. You will write a research paper that makes an argument about a significance regarding your genre. This paper will be five to six pages and will use at least six sources. Pick one narrowed topic from this list or check in with me if you want to suggest a different topic: technology, gender, race, class, fashion, health, media, or lifestyle. Make an argument about how your genre has been impacted by one of the narrowed topics and/or how the narrowed topic has impacted your genre. For example, your research could center around the use of artificial intelligence in modern classical music and/or how streaming software like Spotify use AI to create seemingly original works of music in order to directly profit without the use of real musicians. Another example might be examining how the revival of old country music has allowed more space for women in country music because of a growing appreciation for figures such as Dolly Parton. Your write-up should include an introduction paragraph with a thesis that makes a strong argument about how the significance of the narrowed topic in regard to your genre. Analyze the sources using rhetorical devices such as logos, pathos, and ethos. Introduce your sources with a signal phrase to help the reader understand why each source is relevant and trustworthy. Use of mix of quotes and paraphrase from the sources to support your argument and then analyze the sources in order to make it clear how each connects to your thesis. Include a Works Cited page that lists all sources in MLA format.
