Grade 12 Keyboard Essay Guidelines

Topics:

• keyboard player and/or composer who has played an important part in the development of the keyboard and/or keyboard music and/or its place in music history.
• impact of technical developments in the keyboard on keyboard playing.
  • how the devlopment provides new possibilities.
  • howthe development restricts creative possibilities.
• an assignment which compares and contrasts important figures in keyboard history.
  • their importance in the development of the keyboard.
  • their importance in the development of keyboard music.
  • their importance in the history of music.

Marking Scheme and Assignment Components:

• Proposal
  • outlining basic topic of essay.
    • areas of research.
    • focus (thesis) of assignment.
  • /10 marks. Communication
• Demonstration of Research
  • accumulation of "hard facts" used in essay.
  • accuracy of facts.
  • bibliography.
  • /20 marks. Thinking/ Inquiry
• Demonstration of Understanding and Development of Opinion.
  • synthesis of facts into a cohesive opinion, thesis and/ or focus.
  • /40 marks. Thinking/ Inquiry
• Essay Skills
  • stucture of essay
    • introduction, conclusion, successful presentation of arguments and supporting evidence.
    • /20. Communication

Due:

• Proposal: Friday, May 29
• Essay: June 19.

Become An Expert:

• learn as much as you can about your topic.
• view as many examples as you can.
• it is far better to have to edit and have too much information than it is to try to stretch out too little information.

Hard Facts:

• no more than 20% of your essay. I want your "educated, researched" opinion.
  • dates, times, where he/ she was born, how big, how fast, how much money, etc.
  • - must be pertinent.

Comparison:

• link your topic to other similar topics. (other performers, styles, instruments, etc.) to provide a better understanding.

The Planet Zog:

• assume that your audience (class, teacher, etc.) knows absolutely nothing about your topic. too often presentation/ essays omit the most obvious and crucial points because "Well everybody knows that, I don't need to mention it!"
• assume we are from the Planet Zog and know absolutely nothing about your topic.

The Big Picture:

• How does your topic fit into the overall picture of the arts, media arts, development of digital tools, development of communications, life, etc.
• Is your topic a major cog or a little widget? Why? Compared to what? (comparison again!)
• Who says he/ she is the world's greatest digitial artist? etc. (we're from the Planet Zog remember!)

Why This Topic?:

• What made you pick this topic? Why do you think it's important and/ or interesting?
• If you can't demonstrate why you're excited or interested about the topic why should your audience be interested?

Examples:

• Try to present concrete examples that your audience from Zog can see.
• In an essay you must convince your teacher that you have actually seen your subject's art, or visual witnessed its visual impact. The best way to do this is to provide a personal description of examples.
• Don't assume that your audience has "seen" your topic before. Give them that opportunity with some examples.

What Do You Think:

• Your opinion is important.
  • In fact it should be the most important part of your presentation/ essay.
  • Do you agree with the experts you've read and/or talked to. Why? Why not?
  • Support your opinions with examples and facts.

Summary/ Conclusion:

• Don't just end your presentation/ essay by grinding to a sudden halt.
• Summarize the points you have made in a concise but thorough conclusion.

Introduction:

• Your introduction is probably best written after you've created the bulk of your presentation/ essay so that you have a firm grasp of what you actually are going to say.
  • Your audience is from the Planet Zog so we need to know what you are presenting to us and how it will be presented.

Bibliography:

• So now you're an expert! Prove it by providing a proper bibliography at the end of your presentation/ essay.