Bibliography & Research in Music & Worship – WRSP 650

Course Description

Introduction to research methodologies in preparation for completion of the capstone project in music and worship studies.

Rationale

This course is intended to take the student through the process of research in preparation for developing the internship and master's thesis or project design. It is a prerequisite to completing the Internship and the Master’s Thesis and culminates in the preliminary research proposal.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings, lecture notes, and presentations

Assigned readings will be in textbooks, available online, or on the course website under “Course Documents.” (CLOs: A, B, C, D, and E)

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Peer-Review Discussion: Abstract and Proposal Paper

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will exchange the abstract and proposal paper with a fellow classmate for giving and receiving critique and review. The reviewer will use the track changes review option to enter comments concerning Turabian edits needed. Each reviewer must include a review of the Turabian style and must include at least three citations from the Turabian text. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, and E)

Quiz: Research Question and Hypothesis

The student will study the Lecture Notes: RQ&H Guidelines document, and take the multiple choice 5-item quiz. This quiz focuses on the principles that make a solid research question and correctly-worded hypothesis. The quiz is open-book/open-notes and has a 1-hour time limit. (CLOs: A, C, and D)

Topic Inquiry Study Assignment

The student will complete the three-part worksheets that focus on selecting a solid and unique research topic by narrowing down the student's topic of interest. (CLOs: A, B, C, and D)

Working Abstract Writing Assignment

The student will complete the working abstract writing exercise as a means of creating a unique and informative abstract. The abstract must be one single-spaced paragraph with no indentation, should contain 200–250 words, be free of quotes and citations, and include the research and methodology. (CLOs: A, B, and C)

Establishing a committee for your thesis is an important step in the completion of your degree. The purpose of these assignments is for you to begin your preliminary search for your committee. The Advisor and Reader will guide you throughout the writing courses, and other important aspects in the thesis process. It is important for you to secure an Advisor and Reader with whom you feel comfortable working throughout your thesis journey.

Literature Review Assignment

The student will create a literature review with 8 scholarly sources on the topic of his or her choice relating to worship. The final submission should include a title page, 2 book review forms, 2 magazine review forms, 2 journal article review forms, and 2 theses/ dissertation review forms. The final document should be approximately 9 pages long and follow APA format. (CLOs: A, C, and D)

Abstract and Proposal Section Assignment

The student will revise the original abstract and will write a seven-section proposal. The body of the paper must consist of 8–10 pages of content, not including the title page, abstract, and bibliography of at least 10 sources. This assignment must follow APA format. (CLOs: A, C, and D)

Proposal Paper with PowerPoint Presentation: First and Second Drafts Assignments

The student will compose two drafts of the proposal paper, which is an unpacked version of the seven sections. The body of the first paper must consist of 10–11 pages of content, in addition to a title page, abstract, and a bibliography of at least 15 sources. The body of the second paper must consist of 12–15 pages of content, in addition to a title page, abstract, and a bibliography of at least 15 sources. The student will also create a corresponding PowerPoint, with each section having its own slide. The PowerPoint must include a title slide, one slide for each of the seven sections, and a bibliography slide. Each slide must contain the main points of the section, with a maximum word count per slide of 50 words. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, and E)

Proposal Paper with PowerPoint Presentation: Final Assignment

Professor and peer feedback is examined and incorporated into the revised proposal to reflect word economy, scholarly writing, and substantiated statements throughout. For the final paper, the abstract must be one single-spaced paragraph with no indentation, consisting of 200–250 words. The body of the paper must consist of 12–15 pages of content, in addition to a title page, abstract, and bibliography of at least 15 sources. The PowerPoint must include a title slide, one slide for each of the seven sections, and a bibliography slide. The PowerPoint must contain one slide per each of the seven sections. Each slide should have 50 words or fewer. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, and E)