Essay Planning

Criteria and Standards

Before you begin any research/essay project, you should be familiar with the
criteria. At the completion of your inquiry, check again to ensure you meet a
high standard for each category.
You need to take careful consideration of the following:
Perception & Interpretation:
Identify and interpret relevant music
elements and concepts in music
sources
Identification and explanation
of relevant music elements
Identification of subtleties in
music elements
Clear explanation of what is
happening in the music
Analysis:

Synthesis and structure:

Sythesise positions of music viewpoint
with well-supported justification
through convincing communication
Structure and cohesiveness of
sentences
Have a clearly formulated
introduction, conclusion and
linking sentences
Use of music terminology

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the

manipulation of music elements
Discuss the inter-relationships
of music elements
Discuss and evaluate the
effectiveness of the
manipulation of the elements
Justification of evaluation
(supporting evidence)

Utilisation and references to

sources
Originality
Language and writing style
Spelling, Grammar and
Paragraphing
Quotations/in text references
and bibliography
Length

Discipline Specific Vocabulary

In general you should use simple language avoiding ambiguity, pretentious
language and being unnecessarily verbose. Proper nouns should always be
capitalised.

Understanding the question

Essay topics are framed using a variety of terms. It is essential you understand
what these mean if you are to answer the question properly. You may need to do
a few of these within your essay. Here is a list of the most common terms and
what they mean:
Analysing

The process of examining the parts of something in detail

and discussing or interpreting the relationship of the parts
of each other and to the whole; may involve description,
comparison, explanation, interpretation and critical

Arguing/Persuadi
ng
Comparing
Concluding

Contrasting
Describing

Evaluating
Example
Explaining
Justifying

Providing
Evidence
Synthesising

comment.
Presenting one or both sides of an argument and using
persuasive techniques to convince others that your opinion
about something is the correct one.
Examining two or more things and noting the ways in which
they are similar and different
Drawing together the main ideas of something and
restating them in a succinct way, often as a decision; a
conclusion may involve making recommendations for the
future.
Examining two or more things and focussing on the
differences
Giving a detailed account of the
properties/qualities/features/parts of something or
someone.
Considering something or someone to make a judgment of
value or worth; often this is supported with evidence
Find proof from the music/score to support your analysis
Making the reader understand something by giving reasons
for both how and why things are as they are.
Showing or proving that a decision, action or idea about
something is reasonable or necessary by giving sound,
logical and reasonable reasons for it; answers the question
why?
Referring to sources, illustrations and other evidence about
something to support the points that have been made.
To put together various elements (from several places or
sources) to make a whole; the reassembled material is
often original.

Regardless of the question, every essay paper must be a piece of argumentative

writing. Do not simply tell the story.

Synopsis of Essay Preparation

Read widely and intelligently this means read more than just the script.
Also look at academic sources that explore the dramatic languages,
society, the issues, the play examines etc.
Reflect on the issue raised in your reading before you commence
writing.
Be guided by the needs of the particular Discipline. In Drama you should
have academic sources.
Make sure that your essay has a clear structure that a reader can follow.
o Introduction: Develop your main argument regarding the topic and
state this in your introduction, also clearly identify your signposts
(the topics that will be analysed and evaluated throughout the
body).
o In the body of the essay you have a clear and logical structure:
Topic sentence: clearly and concisely state the focus of the
task

Analysis: consider in detail (support with a quote or reference

from an academic source)
Example: example from the text and/or society to support
your analysis
Evaluation: make a judgement of the worth of the text in
terms of the music and meaning created for the audience
Justification: proof that your evaluation is correct (support
with a quote or reference from an academic source)
Linking sentence: prepare the reader for the next paragraph

Dont forget: you should use the factual information you have collected as
evidence to support your arguments, this will be referenced and/or quoted in the
paragraph and included in the footnotes and bibliography.
o

Conclusions: State whether or not the music used the music

elements to create mood/atmosphere/purpose and communicated
its intent.

Essential Points to bear in Mind when Writing

The essay should be a coherent logical piece of analytical prose: you should ask
and answer questions, present and defend your thesis or argument. Rather than
just stating facts, this approach explains and interprets them. Why did the
composer use this device, what were the consequences, how were the elements
of music manipulated to create the music, did this music support the purpose
and context of the work?
You will need to provide evidence and examples to strengthen your analysis and
arguments. If you encounter material which seems not to agree with the
argument you have proposed, you cannot just ignore it. Remember that the
teacher marking your essay will be aware of the contrary argument. You need to
note that there is more than one interpretation and explain why you think that
other evidence or arguments are less important or persuasive. This can be done
in the text of your essays or in an intended footnote.
You should not be handing in your first draft. Make sure you leave plenty of time
for rewriting to ensure your argument is both consistent and convincing, and the
evidence supports your point of view. You should also be reading for errors in
spelling and grammar the most professional paper will seem amateur if it is
littered with typos. In other words, you should proof read and edit your first draft
and submit quality drafts at least a week before the assignment is due.
As you have seen on the assignment criteria sheet, it is important to structure
your inquiry in accordance with five main processes:

Analysis
Example
Evaluation
Justification
Synthesis

Working Thesis

You should now be able to formulate a tentative hypothesis or thesis

statement. This is a statement that you are attempting to prove through the
argument in your essay. This may (and very likely should) change as the
topic unfolds further in detailed research.

Working Thesis Statement

Base your thesis on the context and function of the music and the task set eg.
Comparison, analysis, etc.

How did you come to this thesis?

Sources
The basis of knowledge in the discipline of music is based on reading, listening,
understanding and analysing sources. Sources come in many forms and it is
important to collect information of different types, views, perspectives and
timeframes. Sources may include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Written sources, which include: books, magazines, newspapers, letters and
personal communications, speeches and poems.
Aural and visual sources such as: scores, visual stimuli eg. Pictures, film
etc.
After surveying the available resources (both electronic and print) record the
details of five relevant sources thus far (you would be wise to include at least
three books/journal articles, so not simply rely on the internet if you want to
achieve highly on any assignment).