Another Dialogue with Dave

For this blog post we had Dave, a fictional character, asking us questions.  These question are about our research paper.  These question are:

1. Dave: Hey you, I think you can't really say that one opinion is better than another one. Don't you agree?
Me: I think that you bring up a very good point.  One thing that I think is really beneficial to research is to get two different opinions but you also need to pick the one that you agree with the most.  I think that this will help you create a very well rounded paper with two different opinions on the topic that you chose to write about even if you do chose a side and lean towards that you have a balanced paper.

2. Dave: There's all this stuff in the book about research as a process of discovery.  What did you discover?
Me: I discovered many things about music majors and the job market in today's society.  First, I was always told that music majors could not get jobs but while I was researching this topic I discovered that music majors are actually able to find jobs in their field after they graduate from college.  I also learned many other things as well which I thought were very interesting to add to my paper.

3. Dave: What do you figure was the most challenging problem you had to solve while working on this research project? How did you solve it?
Me: I think that the most difficult thing about this research paper was figuring out what the main points were that I wanted to focus on.  There is so much information that I had to find what I believed were the most important topics to discuss and research in this paper.

4. Dave: After all this work, what do you take away from this experience? What have you learned that you can use?
Me: I learned a lot about music majors and the different things that you can find jobs in.  I also learned how to research more effectively and also I became more familiar with using a library database.
 

Cut and Paste Revision

For this blog post we were asked to reflect on what we did in class today during the revision process of writing our proposal essay.  The first thing that we did was write down our thesis, then we cut out each paragraph and put them into piles of which ones fit our thesis and which ones did not.  These are the questions that I had to answer:

1. How did you feel about disassembling your essay?
I was worried at first but once I started the process I knew that it would help me create a better essay.

2. Were you a skeptic or believer that this exercise would be beneficial?
I was very skeptical at first because I had never heard of doing this kind of revision before.

3. What were the results of evaluating each paragraph's relevance to your thesis?
I found that I did have a lot of paragraph that related to my thesis, even though I think that I need to re-word my thesis and make it shorter and more clear.

4. What did you learn?
I learned a lot from this exercise and ti is definitely something that I will consider doing when I have to write other papers.  I also learned that I need to re-word my thesis to make it more clear and direct.

Wrestling with the Draft

For this blog post we had to answer questions about our rough draft for our research paper.  First off, we had to highlight the the sections where our voice was the main focus (pink) and then in a different color we had to do the same thing except for the author's voice (yellow).  The questions were:

Which color dominates? yellow
Are you turning over too much of the text to your sources? Yes, I think that is something that I need to work on.

I also had to observe the pattern of the colors and I saw that they were generally going back and forth even though the author's voice is dominant in the paper.

Three Ways In

For this exercise in "The Curious Researcher" we had to come up with 3 different introductions for our research paper.  I think that this is a great idea because I would have never even thought to do this before.  I believe that it will give my paper variety and also cause me to think outside the box while trying to come up with creative ways to say things.

1.  It is senior year of high school and you have to decide what you are going to major in while you attend college.  The questions, "What will I chose. What do I want to do with my life?" keep running through your head.  You love music and have the talent and ability but you are unsure about the job market for music majors right out of college.  People keep telling you that you will never make it in the music industry, but what if what they are saying is false?  There are jobs in the music industry, in fact there are many different things you can do with a music degree if you keep your mind open to them.

2.  When you think of someone who is majoring in music what do you think of?  Do you think of their talents and abilities, or do you think that they will never be able to find a job in their field of study?  Research proves that music majors can find a job in the music industry.  There are many options out there including, performance, pedagogy, composition, business, just to name a few.  It may seem like people who major in music are not finding jobs, but in reality I believe that they are being too narrow in their thinking and should be more open when it comes to finding something in their field of expertise.

3.  Many people decide to major in music and fine arts because that is what they love to do.  I chose to major in Music Pedagogy because I love playing violin and would like to learn how to teach it privately.  Before I came to college and decided my major I was at a standstill because I had always heard that music majors could never get jobs because they had a "worthless degree".  I was told that many times, but I myself chose to pursue music in college because that is my passion and my life.  This is why many people are majoring in music.  Even though I was told that I would probably never get a job and use my degree for what it is for I found out through research that there jobs available in the music industry.

I like the second paragraph and feel like it will add depth and insight to my research paper.

What do you predict this paper is about? What is its focus? It is about music majors and why people should go into it.
Can you guess what central question I'm trying to answer? Why people should become music majors
Can you predict what my thesis might be? Music majors can find jobs if they are open.
How would you characterize the tone of the paper? Optimistic

Sharpening Your Point

In this blog assignment I was asked to make a thesis statement using a template.  I will accomplish this by using the information I have learned while researching my topic which is, why do people who major in fine arts in college have trouble finding jobs in their field of study?

My thesis statement that I have come up with so far while using this template is:

Based on my research for this specific topic, the evidence strongly suggests that music majors finding jobs is better and more likely than them not finding jobs.  This is because there are many different fields of study and many different directions that a person can go with their talents and gifts.

In this thesis statement I am providing a background for my research paper and also giving some information that I will be able to explain during the course of my paper.

Dialogue with Dave

In this exercise I am responding to a guy named Dave who is a fictional character who is asking me questions about my topic of this research essay.  This exercise will help me understand how much I know about my topic and will give me a good idea of how others will perceive my essay.

Dave: What's the big deal about this anyway?

Me: I feel that music majors not getting jobs is a huge deal in today's society.  Many people major in music because it is their passion, it is what they live for.  This is why I chose to become a music major.  Many people get a degree in music and cannot find jobs.  This is very important because there are many people with these degrees not finding jobs in what they majored in while they were in college.

Dave: Are you kidding? I didn't know that. What else did you find out?

Me: I also found out that there are actually jobs in the music industry.  I feel that a lot of people do not look hard enough for a job or else are not finding them in their field of interest.  This can cause a problem because people who are finding these jobs are not interested in them because it is not what their field of interest was in.

Dave: Did that surprise you?

Me: This actually did not surprise me because I had some knowledge on this topic before I started researching it.

Dave: Okay, this is all very interesting. But based on everything you've learned so far, what's your point?

Me: My point is that many people are not finding jobs which is bringing the unemployment rate up in America.  Also, many music majors are living in poverty because they cannot find a job in their field.  Another thing is that we as music majors, are being told we are getting worthless degrees when in reality we should be able to find jobs.

Annotated Bibliography

Hannan, Michael. "Australian Guide to Careers in Music." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. <http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=70ezTRBX-CcC&oi=fnd&pg=PR8&dq=music+major+jobs&ots=jS_71tj_2n&sig=b1ej1JaPJyXe8KAxxmR24B7ODEQ#v=onepage&q&f=false>.

This article is a credible source for my research because it goes into a lot of detail about what my inquiry question is and gives very resourceful and credible information. The author's credential's include the fact that he wrote this book that gives very specific detail to many things relating to music shows that he is very knowledgeable about the subject. Date-wise this publication is important to include because it is up to date and can be used in the present and future. I can see myself applying these things when I become a music teacher. The author's main goal in this article is to teach and give information about the many things you can do with music and the many different jobs that you can inquire as a music major. The publishing source for this article generally targets an audience that fits the following description: college students or adults who already have or are looking for a career in the music business. This audience would be interested in this subject because it effects their future and would generally agree with this author's perspective in the topic. The author incorporates the following types of evidence: that if you are a music major there are many things that you can do with your degree that would relate to what you like to do. This evidence builds credibility because it shows how many jobs you can get with a music degree but is also limited because I think that even though it is very detailed the author could always give more information and details. Based on my own opinion, experiences, and research, I agree with this author because he brings up very good and thoughtful things in this book. I think this article is important to include in my essay because it helps solve my inquiry question that music mjors can get jobs.

Fredrickson, William E., John M. Geringer, and David A. Pope. "Attitudes of String Teachers and Performers Toward Preparation for and Teaching of Private Lessons." 61.2 (2013): n. pag. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. <http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lbc.idm.oclc.org/eds/detail?sid=5961af4e-651a-4c19-87fb-b22001a3df3c%40sessionmgr198&vid=4&hid=102&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=88205648>.

This article is a credible source for my research because it is an academic journal. The author's credential's include that they specifically researched and examined music teachers. Date-wise this publication is important to include because it is up to date and will be very helpful while writing this research essay. The author's main goal in this article is to inform about the attitude of private music teachers. The publishing source for this article generally targets an audience that fits the following description: private music teachers or young adults (like myself) who would like to become a private music teacher. This audience would be interested in this subject because this is their career and would generally I believe agree and disagree with this author's perspective in the topic. The author incorporates the following types of evidence: some precollegiate students have already been teaching and all they want to do is teach. Also, the authors talk about experience and many other things that contribute to becoming a private music teacher. This evidence builds credibility because it shows that the authors have done their research but is also limited because it is sided and there are also many other factors that are played into becoming a private music teacher, Based on my own opinion, experiences, and research, I agree and disagree with these authors because I think they have good points but I do not fully agree with some of their view points they discovered through their research. I think this article is important to include in my essay because I agree and disagree with the authors so it will put both sides of this argument into my essay.

Roncace, Mark, and Patrick Gray. Teaching the Bible through Popular Culture and the Arts. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2007. Print.

This article is a credible source for my research because the authors took the time to research and put together this book so that you will learn how to teach the bible through music and the arts. The author's credential's include that they are both well researched as you can see when you read this book. Date-wise this publication is important to include because it is up to date and relative to what is going on in the world today. The author's main goal in this article is to teach and inform that you can teach the bible through music and the arts. The publishing source for this article generally targets an audience that fits the following description: music teachers or anyone who wants to pursue a career as a teacher of fine arts. This audience would be interested in this subject because it involves their career and would generally agree with this author's perspective in the topic if they want to teach the bible and witness while being a teacher. The author incorporates the following types of evidence: he is well researched and has laid out the book into different categories. This evidence builds credibility because it shows how much the authors took the time to put this together but is also limited because people who are not Christians will not be able to relate to this book because it is very biblically based and is written from a Christian perspective. Based on my own opinion, experiences, and research, I agree with this author because they have very good points I think this article is important to include in my essay because it gives me insight on my topic with a biblical view.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.

This article is a credible source for my research because it will give me the ability to use bible verses to back up my opinion on this subject. The author's credential's include that they are from a seminary gives them a lot of credential's when it comes to interpreting the bible. Date-wise this publication is important to include because it is an up to date interpretation of what verses in the bible mean. The author's main goal in this article is to interpret the bible and give helpful insight on specific verese and passages. The publishing source for this article generally targets an audience that fits the following description: Christians. This audience would be interested in this subject because it gives Christians a good and credible interpretation of the bible and would generally agree with this author's perspective in the topic. The author incorporates the following types of evidence: helpful insight on the bible. This evidence builds credibility because it is a good and resourceful way to look at passages in the bible but is also limited because you may not agree with everything the author says about the passage or verse. Based on my own opinion, experiences, and research, I agree with this author because of how he views the verses and passages. I think this article is important to include in my essay because it will allow me to use bible verses to back up my opinions.

Yang, Sandra. "Vanity of Vanities or Song of Songs? Music Education from a Biblical Perspective." N.p., 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. <http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_integration_papers/6/>.

This article is a credible source for my research because the author is a college professor at Cedarville University. The author's credential's are that she is a music professor and has a lot of knowledge on the topic of music education. Date-wise this publication is important to include because it is up to date and was recently published. The author's main goal in this article is to give a biblical perspective on music education. The publishing source for this article generally targets an audience that fits the following description: high school seniors thinking of becoming a music education major or college students who are already majoring in music/ music education. This audience would be interested in this subject because it will help decide their opinion on the subject and would generally agree with this author's perspective in the topic. The author incorporates the following types of evidence: she teaches music as a living so she is very credible and knows first hand how and what music majors go through during their experiences in college. This evidence is limited because it is from a biblical perspective so if you were writing from a worldly view it would be hard to use this information. Based on my own opinion, experiences, and research, I agree with this author because she makes very good points and has a great perspective, I think this article is important to include in my essay because it has great information and also has a biblical based background to the article.