Report Guidelines
Format
2.5 to 5 pages (not including citation page). This is t
Report Guidelines
Format
2.5 to 5 pages (not including citation page). This is typically between 750-1700 words.
Typed
Double-spaced
8.5 x 11 paper
One-inch margins
Report should include a title, a header with your student ID, class title and the date.
DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME ON ANYWHERE ON THE REPORT, including the file name. This helps me avoid any instructor unintentional bias. I will be grading your papers “blind” with your identities hidden. To help with this, you MUST NOT put your name on your report. Simply use your student ID.
Citation page (All reports should have a citation/bibliography as one cited academic source is required, PLUS your need to cite the video you watched)
Writing Voice and style
Academic Voice
Formal
No contractions, slang, colloquialism, or abbreviations.
Avoid first person statements when possible
Write as if your colleagues taking this class could read the report and gain a clear concept of your experience.
Do not define terminology we have covered in class,
Your audience will not HEAR this concert and will rely on a sense of the experience solely from your descriiptions.
Content
A successful report will address these 4 broad categories. Organizing your paper by this large structure is highly encouraged.
Introduction
Begin with an engaging first sentence that draws your reader in and makes them want to continue reading their paper. Provide any necessary transitions that relate this first statement to the topic of your paper.
Give the basics of the event; name of the concert and group performing, possible soloists and leaders (conductors).
Briefly describe your expectations for the experience- feeling free to point out any observations about our unique to an online experience.
What type of performance did you watch (symphony, opera, solo, chamber, ballet, etc)?
What pieces did you hear, who were the composers, and what were historical eras of these pieces?
Narrow down your focus
Introduce the two movements you will explore in detail.
Provide brief background information about the composer and/or piece including historical information that is of interest. This might include why the piece was significant to history or the composer.
If you choose ballet or opera, you should provide a brief, broad synopsis of the story told (less than 3 sentences, if possible). Same thing if your piece is programmatic (such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6)– give a brief introduction to the programmatic aspects of the piece.
Body of Report: Musical Analysis
Musical Analysis of two movements or short pieces from your concert
Some pieces of art, such as opera and ballet, are formatted as one long story. It might be difficult for you to delineate movements. Instead, you will describe the music at two ‘action points’ in the story.
Example of how to narrow down your focus for opera or ballet: “This paper contrasts the music for the love duet of Lady Carla and Don Giovanni (1:30:20 in video) and during Don Giovanni’s death (2:20:19 in video)”
The main body of your report focuses on accurately and interestingly applying the knowledge gained in this class to the specific music you heard at the concert.
Use YOUR ears and listen for the basic elements discussed in class; you do not need to use all the elements, but a good paper will try to notice a minimum of 7 musical observations.
Use timings from the video stream to help orient your reader to descriiptions (example: “At 0:2:40, the orchestra made a dramatic crescendo…”)
If you choose to use citations in this section, make them brief and only use them to support your own observations, not in place of your observations.
Here are a few approaches to this section that might help you get started. DO NOT ATTEMPT ALL OF THESE IDEAS.
Contrast/compare your two works with references to specific musical elements.
Give an overview of their characters- what types of moods or feelings they evoked, then back that up with references to specific musical elements.
Choose the music composition you liked best and describe why using specific musical elements. Contrast it with the music you liked least and describe why using musical elements.
Conclusion
For an academic paper about art, you will provide either a synthesis or evaluation to conclude your paper. This might be a good spot to bring back ideas associated with your engaging introductory sentence or title.