The document provides guidelines for writing a research paper on a classical music concert. It includes steps such as selecting a concert, researching composers, writing the paper, citing sources, and attending the concert while practicing active listening. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of submitting a complete paper that includes a reaction section, a concert picture, and a ticket stub.

1. Exploring Music
Concert Paper Guidelines
Instructions
1) Choose. Pick a classical music concert from the list provided
on Blackboard. Sign up and buy tickets.
2) Research. Using reputable sources, learn about the composers
and music featured at the concert. I
recommend searching Google for program notes from major
orchestras.
3) Write. Write a typed, double-spaced, 2 -3 page research
paper, including properly formatted citations
using APA, MLA, or Chicago style. This must be done before
you attend the concert.
4) Cite. Cite your sources using in-text citations. Include a
works cited list with full citations using MLA,
APA, or Chicago. If you don’t know how to do this, read this.
5) Submit. Turn in your research paper under the “concerts” tab
in Blackboard 2 days before the concert
date. It will be checked for plagiarism.

2. 6) Go. Plan ahead. Dress appropriately. Get to your concert on
time. If you’re late, you might not get in.
7) Listen. Use active listening during the concert. (See “at the
concert” below.)
8) Smile. Take a selfie or have someone take a picture of you
that clearly shows that you were at the
concert. In the lobby during intermission is a good time for this!
Save your ticket and program.
9) Interview. Talk to someone at the concert. Ask them why
they came and what they thought.
10) Write. Add a “part two” to your research paper. This second
part should be a typed, double-spaced, 2-3
page reaction paper to your concert. Talk about what you
thought, show off your active listening skills,
and include the results of your interview.
11) Add. Add your concert picture to the last page of your
paper. If you don’t have this, I can’t accept the
paper for credit. Staple your ticket to your paper.
12) Submit. Turn in a hard copy of your complete paper
(research part AND reaction part with picture and
ticket) in class on or before the due dates indicated.

3. At The Concert: Active Listening
Choose one piece from your concert to analyze. Identify the
meter, texture, and two other musical elements.
Reflect on the music. What emotions do you get from that
piece? Does it spark anything in your imagination?
Does it remind you of anything? What is it about the music that
creates those feelings and ideas?
Interview a fellow attendee after the show or during
intermission. Ask why they came and what they thought.
WARNING
DO NOT OVER-USE DIRECT QUOTATIONS. If your paper
has more than 50 words that are directly quoted, I will
return the paper to you, ungraded. Quotes can be useful, but you
have to know when and how to use them!
Blend your quotes within your narrative. Paraphrase when
appropriate. Read this.
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. All sources, even if they are only
alluded to or paraphrased, must be cited.
http://guides.temple.edu/c.php?g=77953&p=528593
http://www.temple.edu/writingctr/support-for-
writers/documents/BecominganEffectiveWriterinCollege.pdf
http://www.bibme.org/citation-guide
http://infotrac.thomsonlearning.com/infowrite/res_quotations.ht
m

4. Grading Rubric
F
Student
D
student
C
student
B
student
A
student
Uses 1 source or
disreputable
sources. Sources
uncited.
Uses 1 or 2 sources,
which may be
questionable.
Sources citations
may have errors.
2 or 3 sources are
questionable. Some
sources may not be
cited properly.

5. Uses 3 sources, one
may be
questionable. Uses
proper citations.
Uses 3 or more
reputable sources.
Uses proper
citations.
Plagiarizes. Overuses quotes.
Fails to cite
information
properly.
Uses quotes when
paraphrasing should
have been used.
Cites information,
but may be errors in
citation style.
Paraphrases, but
uses too many
quotes or does not
blend quotes well.
All information is
clearly cited.

6. Paraphrases, using
quotes sparingly. All
information is clearly
and properly cited.
Does not
demonstrate
active listening
skills or use
vocabulary terms.
Demonstrates weak
active listening
skills. Uses
vocabulary terms
incorrectly without
providing support.
Demonstrates some
active listening
skills. Uses a
vocabulary term
incorrectly. Fails to
provide support for
answers to
demonstrate clear
understanding of
terms.

7. Demonstrates clear
active listening
skills. Uses some
vocabulary terms.
Provides support for
some for answers to
demonstrate clear
understanding of
terms.
Demonstrates clear
active listening skills.
Uses many
vocabulary terms
when appropriate.
Provides support to
demonstrate
understanding of
terms (i.e. WHY the
texture was
homophonic).
Paper is
unreadable and
doesn’t make
sense. Should
have gone to the

8. writing center for
help, but didn’t.
Demonstrates poor
writing skills with
several grammatical
errors. Doesn’t read
paper aloud before
turning in, misses
simple errors.
Should have gone to
the writing center
for help, but didn’t.
Demonstrates high
school-level writing
skills with several
grammatical errors.
Doesn’t read paper
aloud before turning
in, misses simple
errors. Should have
gone to the writing
center for help, but
didn’t.
Demonstrates
college-level writing
skills with no more

9. than 3-4
grammatical errors.
Proofreads, reads
paper aloud before
turning in. Goes to
the writing center
for help.
Demonstrates
college-level writing
skills with no more
than 1-2 grammatical
errors. Proofreads
carefully, reads paper
aloud before turning
in. Goes to the
writing center for
help if needed.
Turns in paper
more than 1 week
past the due date
or fails to turn in
either paper.
Forgets to submit
the research paper

10. before attending the
concert.
Turns in one or both
papers late.
Turns in papers on
time, but may have
forgotten to staple
or may have minor
formatting issues.
Turns in papers on
time or early and in
the correct format,
including a staple.
Didn’t take
picture.
Picture does not
prove student was
at the concert or
student expects
professor to view
picture on phone.
Forgets to put
picture on paper,
emails it after due
date.
Forgets to put
picture on paper,

11. emails it to
professor
immediately.
Includes concert
picture on the last
page of the paper as
instructed (black and
white is fine).
http://www.temple.edu/writingctr/index.asp
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