Music All Around Us: The Influence of Music on the Emotional State

Title of the paper – Music All Around Us: The Influence of Music on the Emotional State

Thesis: Music aids in receptive interpretation that may counter or encourage an emotional state.

Three main points:

 

1. music is educational

2. music is therapeutic

3. music is inspirational

 

25 pages

APA

due Saturday, November 13th no later than midnight

 

Introduction (Connection to Discipline and Explanation of the Issues)

Explain the issues and make a connection to your discipline. Introduce the topic with reference to your thesis or main question in the opening paragraph.

· Describe the issue or problem clearly and with enough relevant information that your reader will fully understand it. Make connections between your topic and important theories/facts/examples from your discipline or area of study (e.g., psychology, history). The purpose of the literature review is not to answer your questions but to situate your topic within the wider literature on the subject matter.

Source Finding Analysis (Accessing Information and Evaluating Sources)

· What databases did you use to find potential sources and why? (Reminder: Google and other search engines are not databases.) What key word searches did you use, and which were most effective? What database or key word did you exclude from your search, and why? How did you make sure that your information sources were highly relevant?

· Explain how you evaluated and selected sources to use for this project. How do you know your selected sources are appropriate to your research question? How do you know you have chosen a variety of sources that are appropriate for the scope of your project?

· How did you make sure that you were fully complying with all ethical and legal restrictions on the use of published, confidential, and/or proprietary information?

Themes (Use Information Effectively to Accomplish a Specific Purpose)

· Synthesize the information from your sources in order to help your reader fully understand your topic’s background and relevant issues. What;

main themes emerge in the literature on this topic?

do different sources have to say about these themes? What patterns, differences, or similarities emerge from the sources?

What significant scholarly disagreements have you noticed? Provide your reader with a sufficient breadth of the topic under your themes or means of organizing your sources so that the reader can be aware of and acquainted with the topic’s background and relevant issues. Be sure to situate the topic within a larger context and draw out themes and key ideas.

Curiosity (Sources and Evidence)

· What information have you found that illustrates both your interest and rich awareness of your topic? Why is this information so interesting? What ideas are you developing that are appropriate for your discipline?

 

After you have completed the body of your review, provide a paragraph summary. What have you learned thus far?

Keep in mind, the literature review is not an extended annotated bibliography whereby you list each source you have read and provide a brief synopsis of it. Rather, the literature review is a running narrative that develops the background and context for your topic.

 

 

Consider what you have learned. Critically analyze the arguments and conclusions you have found in the literature. Be sure to cite evidence from source material in your discussion. This paper must contain a thorough discussion section as well as a detailed conclusion section.

 

In your discussion, analyze and interpret the arguments you have found in the literature. Evaluate the significant theories and concepts related to your topic. Writing in the third person, make a convincing case that your interpretation is reasonable. Use supporting materials such as quotations, statistics, or illustrations to strengthen your case. Address alternative views, and explain how you question or challenge the viewpoint of an expert whose viewpoint differs from yours.

Address the following questions in your discussion:

· What are the most important discoveries or insights that researchers have made about this topic?

· Where do the researchers agree and disagree? Provide examples.

· Having analyzed the literature and primary sources, what is your opinion on this issue and why? What key theories and concepts have you evaluated and applied to reach this determination?

· Where did you find the most support for your thesis? Why should your reader be convinced by this support?

· What aspect challenged your thesis? Did it change your mind, or did you overcome the challenge?

Keep in mind, your discussion should reflect the development of what you have found specifically related to your thesis or main question. It should not simply reiterate or summarize the literature review.

Conclusion

Now, bring your final thoughts together. Incorporate key terms into the broad conclusions you have reached about your topic, including the larger or practical implications of your research. Finally, recommend avenues for future research. Your conclusion should be impactful and memorable, not just a summary of your work.