Essay Instructions: 1) Utilize the World Wide Web to write a 3 page, 12 pt font, double spaced (.doc) paper., on the origins of Jazz Dance and how it has influenced American culture in our society today.
2) Include cultural, economic, political and musical contributions.
3) Please include at least two (you may have more) video links embedded in your paper.
d) Do not forget to include your works cited page.
Guidelines for Research Paper
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1. You will write a 3-page paper double-spaced with citations detailing the origins of Jazz Dance and how it has influenced American Culture in society today.
2. Seek out resources, the internet, the library, videos, performances and interview, all count. Make sure you get the information necessary to document your resources (bibliographic, page number information comes from, etc.- see ?works Cited? section for examples and guidelines). Devise a system to record your resources while you are researching and taking notes.
A minimum of three resources is required for the research paper, two of which must be from text. One must be from a periodical and/or book and one can be from the Internet. Both text sources CANNOT be from the Internet. It is strongly recommended that you view samples of the topic. Youtube is a great source.
3. Create an OUTLINE! Include your thesis statement (what you will be covering in the paper), then heading and subheadings as they relate to your thesis. This will help you organize your research and help guide you as you seek information. See ?Outline? section for example.
4. Once you have all of your information, start writing! With a good outline, all you have to do is insert the facts you have gathered. Remember to set-up all direct quotes and that even paraphrase information gets a citation! Be artful in how you craft your paper, your job is to inform and excite your reader.
All information except that which is found in more than one resource or is common knowledge MUST BE CITED! IF YOU DIDN?T KNOW IT BEFORE, IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE CITED! PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME!
You may feel like every sentence gets a citation? better safe than sorry!
5. Ultimately, the paper will be SIX or more pages of informative text. It will be typed, double spaced, and proofread (do not triple space between paragraphs). Submit it in the following order:
A) Title Page
B) Outline
C) Research paper -3 pages
D) Works Cited
RULES TO WRITE BY
? The paper will include a Title Page and a Works Cited Page.
? Include a thesis statement in you introductory paragraph.
? All pages (except title, outline and Works Cited) should be numbered, begin numbering with the first page of text.
? You will use the MLA method of citing resources
? Title page will include: Title of Paper, your name, date, class and my name (Becky Marzec Contreras).
? Works Cited Page: write Works Cited centered at the top of the page, skip three lines, then list alphabetically the resources used and quoted from in your paper (notice punctuation and indentations). See sample below.
? Words that are not part of the English language should be italicized.
? Titles to dance pieces should be highlighted (underlined, italicized, quoted).
? Do not use contractions and stay away from informal speech.
? Unless describing a date, spell out numbers (57-no, fifty seven-yes).
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OR WORKS CITED PAGE
Notice indentation, punctuation and order- author?s last name, and first name. Title (underlined) where published: publisher, date published. Double-space the entire list.
Examples:
(Book)
Lodbell, Jared. England and Always: Tokens World of the Rings.
Grand Rapids, Eerdmans 1981
(Article)
Ferrera Jerry L. ?Why Vultures Make Good Neighbors? National Wildlife
June-July 1987; 16-20
(Video)
What Makes Rabbit Run? Dir. David Chesire and R. Eaton. Centre Productions, 1985.
(Interview)
Woodbury, Richard. Personal interview. 27 July 2002
(Internet)- Just site the address to website and the author.
Parenthetical Documentation or Citations
Any information that is not common knowledge must be documented! If you did not know it before you began to research, it should be a citation!
Paraphrased information and direct quotes receive a citation. Citations come at the end of a sentence, inside the final punctuation, in parenthesis- (Author?s last name and page information is found on).
Examples:
Ancient writers attributed the invention of monochord to Pythagoras in the sixth century BC (Marcus 197).
Ernest Rose submits, ?The highly spiritual view of the world presented in Siddartha exercised its appeal on West and East alike? (74).
Long Quotes (over three typed lines) must be indented (10 spaces), set off three lines on both ends, and single-spaced. Notice that the citation comes after the sentence in this case.
Example:
John K. Mahon offers this comment of the War of 1812:
Financing the war was very difficult at the time. Baring Brothers, a banking firm of the enemy country, handled routine accounts for the ??????????... (6-10)
This statement proves ???..
Outline Guidelines:
An outline is due with your research paper (does not count toward the 3 pages of the research paper).
The format should be:
Title of paper
I. Introduction- Thesis statement
II. Part A of thesis
III. Part B of thesis
IV. Part C of thesis
V. Conclusion- Restate Thesis
Example:
Tile: The influence of African American social dances on Musical Theater productions.
I. Introduction- African American social dances have influenced and enriched Musical Theater in multiple ways. In this paper I will illustrate the history of musical theater, the history of African American social dances and how they have influenced Musical Theater productions.
II. History of Musical Theater
A. Evolution and multiple styles of Musical Theater
B. Famous contributing artist and productions (choreographers, directors, actors and dancers)
III. History of African American social dances
A. Jazz Music and how the dances were formed in the clubs of New York
B. List and brief description of the dances
IV. Description of the elements of African American social dances in Musical Theater
A. The Charleston hand jiggle becomes the Jazz hands
B. The integration of improvisation into Musical Theater
V. Conclusion - The vibrant rhythms, footwork and the improvisational elements of African American social dances have enriched and help develop the contemporary concepts of Musical Theater today.
