American Roots Term Project

TERM PROJECT DETAILS

Overview

For the term project in this class, you will create a report on some aspect of folk music studied in the course. This is an opportunity for you to investigate deeply one aspect of the music we are studying. This could be a personality, a region, a development, a genre or sub-genre, an influential event or concert, or any other narrowly-defined facet of the music we are covering. For example, you might choose to research and write about the musician Lead Belly, or the development of Klezmer music in the New York area. You might create a multi-media report featuring video and song that traces the jam session as a common feature of many musics, or the revival of sacred harp singing, or the events surrounding the first recording of Goodnight Irene. Or you might interview a local musician and then analyze and trace his or her musical influences. These are just a few examples of what the project might entail, and how it might be presented. You will work in consultation with the instructor to identify a suitable topic and presentation format.

Format

• The report could take many forms, including written material, audio recordings, video presentations, artistic renderings, documentary productions, or any other suitable means of conveying information.
• If you choose to write a paper, it should be no fewer than seven pages, double-spaced, in 12-point font.
• Projects with a significant multi-media component should include no fewer than five pages of written text, double-spaced, in 12-point font. This could be a script
• Because this is an online class, the format should be viewable/hearable online in some way, or (ideally) have the ability to be emailed.
• Any writing that you submit should follow the MLA Style. For help on writing in this style, see .

Timeline

During the course we will be reading a sweeping overview of folk music by Kip Lornell, and viewing many videos on several folk musics and folk music-related events. You will probably find many interesting subjects that merit further inquiry. Pay attention to your interests, and think about what you might like to delve into. You may want to look ahead to future topics in the first weeks of class to identify a topic of interest for your term project.

Grading

The report will be graded primarily on content and argument. In addition to providing information about what an aspect of folk music looked like and/or sounded like (who, what, when, and where-type questions), your report should answer in some way the question: Why is this aspect of folk music significant/influential? What does it or did it contribute to the landscape of folk music in America?

Grammar, structure, effective presentation media, and appropriate style considerations will also figure into the grade.

The term project comprises 25% of your final grade