Assignment for History of Popular Music Essay Project
History of Popular Music
Individual Essay Project
Overview
“Discuss the development of Rock & Roll from the 1950’s to the 1990’s.” The essay will encapsulate or combine most of the content in the framework with which we have
been discussing the History of Popular Music. Essentially, a well-written essay will concisely summarize the course content.
Content Requirements
Using a wide selection of the course materials (i.e. text, videos, shared genre presentations, in-class discussions, etc.), discusskey developments in the genre of
Rock & Roll through the latter half of the 20th century.
It is suggested that the reference the four themes of the course when framing your answer. One or two well-written sentence(s) could encapsulate each one of the
following.In review, following are the framing questions or perspective with which we have discussed the music of the era. Some of the decades will include more or
less of each of these following perspectives – depending on the decade and what was happening.
1. How / when / in what ways did technology play a role in the development of Rock & Roll?
2. How did changes in society influence Rock & Roll? How did Rock & Roll influence social change?
3. What were the effects of Rock & Roll on political change and policy? What were the effects of political pressures on Rock & Roll?
4. How did the business of Rock & Roll develop over time? What were its important institutions, business practices, challenges and solutions? Who were some of the
key people involved in this growth and what was their contribution?
5. What technological advancements influenced the proliferation of Rock & Roll?
Essay Format
The paper should be approximately 1,500 – 2,000 words, exclusive of references and formatted in MLA Style. You will be graded on the basis ofthe breadth, depth and
accuracy of your content (70%), clear, concise, correct, and compelling written communication (20%), and formatting (10%).
It is further suggested that you break down the main topic into sub-section of each decade. For example, your essay should include the sections (clearly defined by
the use of side-headings) of 1950 – 1960, 1960 – 1970, 1970 – 1980, and 1980 – 1990.
Use the following to format your essay.
1) Appropriate use of side-headings to help the reader navigate through yourpaper,
2) MLA citation of all your sources in the body of the paper as per the following resources
3) Text Formatting: Times, New Roman – 12 pt. font – numbered pages (simple page number following your name at the right-hand side of the header) – 1” margins –
double spacing.
Note: failure to cite your sources in appropriate MLA style (i.e. both in-text and on the Works Cited page) may result in charges of plagiarism and a ‘0’ on the
assignment.
Here is a text that I use in my class is available to anyone, includes summarize, chapter, etc.
http://thethinkspot.com/rock-2011
