ORGANIZATION OF THE TERM PAPER
Length and organization of the term paper: 15-18 pages of the main text, including footnotes on
all or most pages. Bibliography, and appendices follow the main text and ARE NOT counted in
this required page length. When appropriate, include musical examples, which must be given in
an appendix, not within the main text. Illustrations (copies of photographs or images) should be
included when available, in an appendix, not in the main text. Lists and other documentary
material must be put in appendices, not in the main text. Assign each Appendix a letter (A, B, C,
etc.).
Illustrations and Musical Examples: When included, illustrations (photographs and other
visual materials) and musical examples should be scanned (high-resolution scans) and imported
into the Word document, in an appendix. You must follow the requirements for margins. Each
illustration must be numbered and identified (Figure 1, followed by a brief description of the
image).
Bibliography: The single-spaced bibliography appears at the end of the paper, after the
narrative, prose portion, and any Appendices. You must have between 15-18 pages of narrative
text, and with your complete bibliography (without annotations), and appendices. You must have
a minimum of 40 acceptable bibliographic items.
You must have at least 30 scholarly sourcesbooks, journal articles, dissertations, and theses.
The other items can be recordings, scores, videos, and internet sites.
Pagination: All pages must be numbered sequentially, beginning with page 2, on the bottom of
the page (centered).
Format: Use 12 point Times Roman type, with 1-inch margins on all sides. The main text must
be double-spaced. No cover page is to be used. Do not put your term paper in any sort of binder.
Double-space: Double-space your paper. Do not single-space, except for lengthy quotes (four or
more lines). Do not skip a space between paragraphs; indent the first line of each paragraph one
tab stop.
Section headings: Include several centered, bolded section headings, but not for the introduction
to the paper. Skip a space before and after each centered heading.
Include footnotes: You must include footnotes, not endnotes. Add footnotes by using the insert
footnote option and let the computer format these for you. Do not try to manually enter
footnotes.
Staple: Staple your paper at the top left-hand corner. Do not include a title page or put your
paper in a binder or folder.
Number pages: Type page numbers at the bottom of each page, centered. Do not number page
one.
PROCEDURE
Sections: Your research paper should have at least four main sections: 1. Introduction, 2.
Overview of topic or general analysis/discussion, 3. Detailed analysis/discussion, 4. Conclusion.
Citation Style: Use proper citation style according to Turabians style manual.
Bibliography: You must have a bibliography of at least 40 sources for your paper, which will
include up-to-date scholarship on the topic (books, articles, some appropriate websites), as well
as scores, recordings, and DVDs/videos (when available). Only include in your bibliography
those works that you actually used in your research. You must cite many of your sources in your
text in your footnotes. You may not cite Wikipedia or similar websites.
Annotations: Do not include bibliographic annotations in the complete version of your paper.
Musical Examples: Musical examples should be included if at all possible. Include these after
your main text, in an Appendix. Do not put them in the body of the paper. Identify each example
by number (Ex. 1, Ex. 2, etc.), title of work, and section/measure numbers. Be sure to discuss
each example and refer to it in the body of the paper. If you dont discuss it, dont include it.
Only include significant musical examples that illustrate important points brought up in your
text.
Quotations: Do not include lengthy quotations in your paper. These can be included in an
appendix if necessary. Acknowledge all direct quotations and paraphrases in your footnotes. Not
to do so is considered plagiarism.
Introduction/Conclusion: Include a general introduction to the topic in a paragraph or two;
likewise, at the end of your paper, give a conclusion in the last paragraph.
Thesis Statement: Be sure to give a strong thesis statement, usually at the end of the
introduction. See the following website for information:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/.
Section Headings: Include several centered section headings (extra space before and after) that
capture the essence of that section. Do not include too many of these section headings, however.
Paragraph-level Focus: Keep each paragraph focused on one aspect of your topic. Make each
paragraph relate in some way to surrounding sections. Paragraphs should start with topic
sentences.
Coverage: Do not try to discuss too many things. Pick the most important aspects of your topic
and discuss them in detail. Take care to elegantly express your ideas and to present your
information in a clear, concise, and direct manner.
Attached is the 1. syllabus with specific instruction, 2. 40 item bibliography (has not been organized) 3. something i wrote already on the general subject of the Baroque Suite 4. an article with great music examples and the bibliographies.
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