Saturday, November 15, 2008

Open Question: Hey I really need help with a thesis statement for my project, can anyone help me?

The paper is on how 5 genres of music impacted the music industry. I'm pasting the directions in here for further guidance. I can get started on the paper as soon as i get a thesis statement down but i can't think of one basically just steps one through 3 are important for this but im pasting all 7 just in case. Oh and my 5 genres are classical, hip hop, punk rock, heavy metal, and death metal. STEP 1: CHOOSE A TOPIC (the topic for this assignment is…) “Different Musical Genres and Their Impact on The Music Industry Past and Present” Your paper must address the follow through discussion (DO NOT just answer the question): • Provide a historical backdrop as it relates to the music business for at least five different genres of music (one must be classical) and the impact (negative or positive) on the development of the recording industry. • Analyze RIAA statistics of the selected five genres and develop a conclusion to what might be the economical future of each genre in the recording industry. You must provide an original spreadsheet of your own making and evaluate your findings. • Discuss the impact of social networks on each of the five genres • Provide a recommendation as to how the least economically successful genre (pick one) might find success in the music Industry in the coming years. • What elements make a hit in this day and age? • What will make a hit in the future? • How will art compete with business in the future? • Discuss the many ways music is currently distributed to the consumer and how it might change. • How will or has the new paradigm (based on your research) impacted on you personally. STEP 2: CRAFT A THESIS Very often a chosen topic is too broad for focused research. You must revise it until you have a working hypothesis, that is, a statement of an idea or an approach with respect to the primary source that could form the basis for your thesis. In other words, think about the topic and decide on a position that you want to take on the given subject matter. Sample Hypothesis: The art in the (hiphop/rock/country) music industry is giving way to the business concerns of all the record labels who want to exploit artists as much as they can in exchange for high profits. Test your working hypothesis to be sure it is 1) broad enough to promise a variety of resources. 2) narrow enough for you to research in depth. 3) original enough to interest you and your readers. 4) worthwhile enough to offer information and insights of substance. Now it is time to craft your thesis, your revised and refined hypothesis. A thesis is a declarative sentence that a. focuses on one well-defined idea b. makes an arguable assertion; it is capable of being supported c. prepares your readers for the body of your paper and foreshadows the conclusion. Revised Hypothesis/Thesis Statement: “The traditional music industry model is dead, major labels are not the only route to success. Artists and songwriters need to set artistic and commercial goals before getting into the business.” STEP 3: EVALUATE THESIS AND SOURCES Remember, like your hypothesis, your thesis is not carved in stone. You are in charge. If necessary, revise it during the research process. As you research, continue to evaluate both your thesis for practicality, originality, and promise as a search tool, and secondary sources for relevance and scholarliness. The following are questions to ask during research: 2 a. Are there many journal articles and entire books devoted to the thesis, suggesting that the subject has been covered so thoroughly that there may be nothing new to say? b. Does the thesis lead to stimulating, new insights? c. Are appropriate sources available? Is there a variety of sources available so that the bibliography or works cited page will reflect different kinds of sources? d. Which sources are too broad for my thesis? Which resources too narrow ? e. Who is the author of the secondary source? Does the critic's background suggest that he/she is qualified? After crafting a thesis, consider one of the following two approaches to writing a research paper. a. Excited about your thesis and eager to begin? 1) Return to the primary source to find support for your thesis. 2) Organize ideas and begin writing your first draft. 3) After writing the first draft, turn to the authorities for their support of your ideas. In the appropriate places, cite these sources. 4) Document facts and opinions from secondary sources. 5) Remember, secondary sources are no substitute for original thought b. Confused about where to start? 1) Use your thesis to direct you to appropriate secondary sources. 2) These secondary sources will help you clarify your position and find a direction for your paper. 3) Keep a work-in-progress bibliography. You may not use all the sources you record, but you cannot be sure which ones you will eventually discard. 4) Create a working outline as you research. This outlin

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