study various ethnic and cultural musics and traditions as well as examining (and perhaps challenging) some biases and preconceptions related to this study

study various ethnic and cultural musics and traditions as well as examining (and perhaps challenging) some biases and preconceptions related to this study

Short paper topic and instructions
In this course we study various ethnic and cultural musics and traditions as well as examining (and perhaps challenging) some biases and preconceptions related to this study. In trying to understand how other people reflect their cultural identity through music, it’s important to first understand how similar processes are at work in our lives
For this brief paper I want you to describe in detail your personal musical soundscape and the role music has played in your process of enculturation.This is not simply listing the music of performers or bands that you like but rather examining what music was around you and may have influenced you during your formative years.
You paper should include the following three primary sections:
Section one: Bio and background
1) A brief biographical sketch that includes birthplace, possibly any ethnic affiliation, early childhood, places of residence, education, and family life. Basically you should describe where you were born, grew up, went to school etc. and more or less how you self-identify.
Section two: Music in your life from childhood to now
2) A detailed description of the role of music in your life. This may include early childhood exposure to music, various styles that have influenced your cultural identity, present listening tastes, bands that you play(ed) in, and the various contexts in which you listen actively or passively to music. Keep in mind that it’s certainly possible to have a strong identification with a type or style of music even if you don’t particularly like it. Often it is due to the music you may have been exposed to during your childhood or in your home or neighborhood that ties in strongly to your self-identity.
Section three: Analysis of expression
3) A self-analysis of how you express yourself through music. This may include why you listen to specific artists or specific songs, why you identify with a certain North American soundscape for example (or a different country if applicable), how specific musics reflect your cultural values, and why you choose to identify with certain musics (as opposed to others).

Due Date: 11:59 p.m. (CST), July 12, 2017.
Length: 800 words. This is the minimum length. (Double-spaced, 12 point font). Papers that are at all deficient in length (even one word) will be deducted one letter grade.
Format: Format your paper into the three basic sections described above. You don’t have to number them. Yes, it is somewhat unsophisticated, but formatting in three sections ensures that everyone’s paper is consistently formatted. This makes your papers easier to read, grade, and hopefully to understand.
Content: No mere assertion. All statements need to be supported. i.e. “I feel this way about x and here are the reasons why”.
Spelling: Spelling counts. Don’t rely solely on spell check. Make sure you proofread carefully.
Syntax: Basically this refers to sentence structure. Along with spelling, if a sentence doesn’t make sense or if I have to work hard to figure out what the heck you are trying to say, then you will be graded down for it or possibly receive a zero. Non-idiomatic writing falls into this category.
Don’t plagiarize. It is fairly easy for me to spot and verify “copy and paste”. Students caught plagiarizing will receive an ‘F’ for the course and may be subject to disciplinary action by Parkland College. It’s just not worth it. Additionally, since this paper draws so strongly on your personal experiences I don’t see how copying someone else’s work could be at all useful or relevant.
Links/Citations: This paper should not contain audio or video links embedded in the text. There is no need really to cite other authors either since you’re giving biographical information. The inclusion of these things (while not expressly forbidden) in most cases will be treated as an attempt to pad the length of this simple assignment.
I want to know what you think and read your words, not what someone else wrote about it. So, don’t be afraid to write in first person, but make sure your reasons for making a particular statement are clear. Due to the personal nature of the subject matter it is not required that you write in a formal, academic manner. That being said, since the second paper does require a formal writing style, you may choose to use this assignment to “practice” writing more formally. As a general rule it’s always good to avoid slang and colloquialisms. If you mention a performer or a band name or a specific music genre, don’t assume that the reader automatically has your level of familiarity with the subject matter. Always provide some explanation or some context to ensure clarity.
Submit: Submit final copy only of your paper as a WORD file. Do NOT use RTF (rich text format) or PDF for your paper. Submit your paper via the “Dropbox” button. The button for “Dropbox” is located at the top of the course site. The process is very similar to adding an email attachment.