WRSP 650 Bibliography & Research in Music & Worship

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.

Textbook readings, lecture notes, and presentations

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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 his or her completed draft of the Proposal Paper: First Draft Assignment with a fellow classmate to give and receive critique and review. First, each student will create 1 thread and attach the abstract and proposal paper draft. The reviewer will use the Review options in Microsoft Word to enter comments concerning any edits needed. After completing the review, the reviewer will attach the edited document in 1 reply to the author’s initial thread. Each reviewer must include a review of the Turabian style and must include at least three citations from the Turabian text or the Turabian Writing Guide. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Topic Inquiry Study Assignment

The student will complete the three-part worksheet (Topic Inquiry Study Template) that focuses on selecting a solid and unique research topic by narrowing down the student’s topic of interest. The student will develop 4 potential topics, providing 9 sources and identifying at least 3 existing dissertations, theses, or research projects for each, before deciding on the best topic to pursue based on the criteria provided in the worksheet. The student will propose potential application for 2 of the 3 possible capstone options and determine the best choice for their selected topic. The student will then create 2 research questions and provide 3 sources for the chosen topic. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Working Abstract Writing Assignment

The student will complete the working abstract writing exercise (Working Abstract Writing Template) as a means of creating a unique and informative abstract. The abstract must be one double-spaced paragraph in future tense with no indentation, follow Turabian format, contain 250–300 words, be free of quotes and citations, and include the research and methodology. (CLO: A, B, C)

Literature Review Assignment

The student will create a literature review with 6 scholarly sources on the topic of his or her choice relating to worship. The final submission should include a title page, 2 book templates, 2 journal article templates, and 2 dissertation/thesis templates. The final document should be approximately 7 pages long and follow Turabian format. (CLO: A, C, D)

Abstract and Proposal Sections Assignment

The student will revise the original abstract and write a seven-section proposal, following the order set forth in the instructions. In these sections, the student will identify 2 unique research questions, evaluate the significance of each research question, list core concepts, and develop a working hypotheses, method, methodology, and bibliography. The body of the paper must consist of 8–10 pages of content, not including the title page, a 250–300-word abstract, and a bibliography of at least 10 sources. This assignment must follow Turabian format. (CLO: A, C, D)

Proposal Paper: First Draft Assignment

The student will compose a draft of the proposal paper, which is an unpacked version of the seven-sections proposal created in the Abstract and Proposal Sections Assignment. The body of the first draft must consist of 10–11 pages of content, in addition to a title page, a 250–300 word abstract, and a bibliography of at least 15 sources. This assignment must follow Turabian format. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Proposal Paper: Final Assignment

Professor and peer feedback is examined and incorporated into the final proposal to reflect word economy, scholarly writing, and substantiated statements throughout. For the final paper, the abstract must be one double-spaced paragraph with no indentation, consisting of 250–300 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. This assignment must follow Turabian format. All changes, edits, and added material since the previous draft must be highlighted in yellow. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

This assignment provides the foundation for planning the capstone project required for the student’s degree plan. It also helps to identify potential faculty members who may serve on his/her committee. The student will use a digital form to answer questions about his/her future capstone. The student will provide details on the planned topic, reason for selecting the topic (in 1–3 paragraphs), proposed title, main research question, research approach, planned start date for the initial writing course, and preferred committee members. Once submitted, the student will submit a screenshot of the confirmation page. (CLO: B, D, E)

Quiz: Capstone Options Proposal

The student will examine each of the options available for the capstone project, select the template for his or her preferred option, and answer questions based on the template. The quiz is open-book/open-notes, contains 10 true/false questions and has a 1-hour time limit. Multiple attempts are allowed. (CLO: B, D, E)

Quiz: Research Question and Hypothesis

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

Quiz: CITI Certification

In this quiz, students will complete CITI training and provide the completed certification as a file upload to show evidence of passing/completion. (CLO: A, D)