Aspect of History

·      Your essay may deal with issues related to any aspect of the history, culture, and practice of jazz from its origins to the present (see below for some sample essay topics). You may also choose a topic dealing with the historiography of some aspect of jazz (For example, how and why did the historicist approach to jazz as practiced by contemporary performers such as Winton Marsalis arise?) ·      Your research area or thesis statement must present an issue/thesis that is focussed. A paper dealing with one or two issues in detail is always better than one dealing shallowly with many. Your thesis statement must be presented in the first paragraph and be stated as clearly and succinctly as possible. ·      You may write either an expository or argumentative paper. Students are encouraged to contextualize their topic with concepts/issues from the readings/lectures and to focus upon an issue that appeals to personal musical/intellectual curiosities. Bibliography and Footnotes: Your bibliography must consist of a minimum of six (6) sources not counting your course text (more is better). Students will largely utilize academic/ scholarly sources (i.e. monographs and journals). Most internet sources (e.g. Wikipedia, non- academic sites) are not suitable but, in some cases, peer-reviewed or scholarly blogs/sites and non-academic primary sources such as newspaper or magazine articles may be useful. The discipline of music uses Chicago Manual of Style notes and bibliography citation method and not the author-date (parenthetical in-text) citations and reference list. See the CMS Citation Quick Guide for an introduction to citing sources in footnotes and bibliography style.