For All Papers: Papers will be in MLA style, will be typed, double-spaced, with

For All Papers:
Papers will be in MLA style, will be typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, 12-point font, Times New Roman font. Research papers will be 5-6 pages in length, PLUS a bibliography (this will NOT count as one of your 5-6 pages but is a necessary component of your paper. Dance performance papers will be 2.5-3 pages in length.
In all papers, always, include an opening paragraph that introduces the basic concepts of your paper, and include a closing paragraph that brings your paper to a close, and concludes your thoughts about your research or experience.
Remember to check for spelling, grammar, and verb tenses. (Regarding verb tenses: “The man went to the park and takes his dog with him” should instead be “The man went to the park and took his dog with him”. And your verb tenses should at least agree within the same paragraph.) Always run spelling and grammar check under tools, and be sure to double check spelling and grammar after your run your check. Here’s an example: preformed when you mean performed. Since both are actual words, spell check will not catch this.
Please use proper, academic language. (Hint: Do not use guys and girls when you intend men and women. Do not use slang. When in doubt, look up the word in question to see if it is recognized in a dictionary – and not the Urban Dictionary, please!)
*Titles of dances should be in italics. Quotations should only be used when you are directly quoting someone.
*At all costs, please avoid plagiarism as this may result in failing the class, or expulsion from the school.
1. Research Paper Proposal – please submit a one to two paragraph proposal about your subject matter and include a minimum of three reliable sources/material, that you will use for your research. While this proposal does have a specific due date, you MAY turn your proposal in earlier so that you can get a running start on your work. NOTE: A proposal differs from a paper in that you are PROPOSING to write about something. You are informing the audience of your PROPOSED subject matter and showing that you have done some research on your topic. Please do not submit an opening paragraph and a second paragraph of a paper, as this is different from an actual proposal.
2. Research Paper – Choose a choreographer (e.g. George Balanchine, Mary Wigman, Bill T. Jones etc.), or a dance form (e.g. capoeira, contact improvisation, salsa, tap etc.), or a period in dance history (e.g. the romantic ballet era, the post-modern dance era), or another issue that relates to dance (male gaze theory, dance and censorship etc.). You may also choose another dance related topic that you find of interest. (e.g., dance and costuming, dance and healing, dance injuries, lighting for dance, careers related to the dance field etc.) Choose something that is genuinely interesting to you, with the understanding that you want plenty of reliable sources to draw from for your paper.
Your research will result in a 5–6-page paper (plus a bibliography page) that further explores the choreographer, dance form, era in dance history, or topic you are covering.
As soon as you decide on a topic, immediately start searching for sources! If you need assistance, ask for help from the Academic Support Center, or from the library. Academic Support Center: (813) 253-7796;
Library: https://libguides.hccfl.edu/hcclibraries Our library is interconnected with other colleges throughout the state, and we can access material with advanced notice.
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Please DO NOT:
Please note, you may NOT cite our textbook. (You may, however, look at the textbook to direct you toward other available resources.)
You may NOT cite the instructor’s notes.
You may NOT cite Wikipedia.
You may NOT cite a random report posted by a high school or college student (except for a masters or doctoral student and under extreme circumstances) or a source of unknown origin.
Use of such sources will result in deduction of points, and possible failure of the project. Please use the resources available to you from our library, or other libraries available to you. You may use class notes and your text as jumping off points to further your exploration. You MAY use books, online articles from reliable sources, magazine and newspaper articles, notes from conferences etc.
Make good use of the databases available to you through your school or local library.
Here are some topics you may address in your paper:
If you are researching a choreographer:
Where and when was the person born?
Is the person still alive and creating work? What is interesting, innovative, or unique about this person’s work?
Where did he or she study dance?
How did this artist evolve?
What are some of the artist’s early influences?
What is the artist’s attitude about their work? How can the work be described or understood?
What are note-worthy things you can mention about this artist? (e.g. did they create a style of dance?) What is their approach to choreography? What dance genre or genres does this artist use?
You may also choose to focus your paper on specific events surrounding this person.
If you are writing about a specific genre/or era:
What are some of the specific characteristics of the particular genre/era you are addressing?
Is there music that is specifically associated with this genre/era?
Who are some of the main players (i.e. choreographers/innovators etc.) of this genre/era?
When and where did this genre/era occur? Under what circumstances?
Some of the questions from choreographers may also be applicable here if you are talking about a specific innovator from this genre/era.
If you are writing about dance choreography or styles specifically, be sure to watch some of the work on film if possible and include comments from your viewing. You will comment on the specific work and be sure to speak about the work you view with some detail. Pay particular attention to anything evident in the work that supports a general thesis about the artist’s work, the era you are discussing, or the style/dance form you are addressing. (e.g. If I am writing about Martha Graham’s use of Greek heroines in her work, I may want to specifically address Cave of the Heart and Errand into the Maze. If I am writing about romantic era ballet,
I may want to watch romantic era ballets, such as Giselle or La Sylphide, and speak about how these works specifically represent ballets choreographed during the romantic era.)
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Please attach a bibliography at the end of your paper. Please refer to at least 6 different sources. Be selective and very suspicious about anything you read online, and please cite anything you use from all your resources. When choosing online resources, reputable dance, or other periodicals, (Dance Magazine, Dance Chronicle, Dance Teacher, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Village Voice Online etc.) are more valid than a highly opinionated essay from a middle school student.
Also, check out the online archives at Jacob’s Pillow; https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/