Applied English for American Society and Culture through Music
Fall 2006 - J. E. Seibert -- Tokyo International University of America

_____ My paper is at least three pages long. The font is 12 point and the margins are normal.

_____ My paper has a specific title that reflects the paper contents and is centered above the first paragraph.

_____ My paper:

• gives a a brief background to my topic and a general description of the musical tradition
• explains when and where it occurred
• explains who participated in it and on what instruments, and
• explains where the tradition came from and how it is related to its time in history/society/culture

_____ I have used my own words except for brief quotations in quotation marks.

_____ My paper has a thesis statement that states the main point of the essay and briefly introduces my main points. This is usually the last sentence of the introduction.

_____ My essay has an introduction, two to five paragraphs in the body, and a conclusion that summarizes my main points.

_____ Each of my main points (usually each a paragraph) is introduced with a topic sentence and supported by facts and examples.

_____ My verbs are all in the correct tense. A past tense verb describes each event in the past. Singulars and plurals agree (e.g., "people are", "history is", "discrimination is", "civil rights are", etc.) The present perfect verb form (have/had + ... ed) is often used to describe events that began in the past are are continuing to the present.

_____ Most shorter sentences are combined using coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating: for, and, nor, but, so, yet, so
Subordinating: (examples) because, since, in order that, although, whereas, while, etc.

_____ Information from any source is followed by the author's last name and the page number . Every source cited in the paper is listed in alphabetical order by author's last name on a page titled References or Works Cited at the end of paper.

_____ My paper is typed and spell checked and each paragraph is indented. I have checked my capitalization and punctuation.

_____ My first and last name, the course name, Professor Doan's name, and the date are on the top of the paper. The pages are numbered.

• Use (1) note cards, (2) an outline, or (3) your paper with the main points highlighted in color.
• Clearly state your topic.
• Look at the audience, not at your paper or the floor. Make eye contact with everyone. Stand up straight: don't lean on the table.
• Before your presentation, teach vocabulary that the other students may not know so they can understand you! Another idea is to make a vocabulary chart and hang it on the wall.
• Check your grammar and pronunciation with your grammar books and your dictionary. Have a native speaker of English check your pronunciation and your grammar.
• Each English word of two or more syllables has only one most-strongly-stressed syllable: "hi-story". Stressed syllables are said higher, longer and louder.
• In English sentences, these parts of speech are stressed: nouns, main verbs, adjectives, adverbs, demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those), negative words (no, none, don't, won't, never, etc.), questions words (who? what? when? where? why? how?), numbers, and names
• Be sure your main points are on visual aids in big letters. You can use Power Point.
• Practice a million times. Be able to speak naturally so it doesn't sound like you're reading.