CMP-125 (Blum, Spring 2025)

Essay #1: Album Analysis Project

Proposal Due:                  2/18 @ 11:59 PM to instructor (via email/Canvas inbox. At least 1/2 page. See below for

                                          more specifics)
 

Essay Draft #1 Due:        2/22 @ 11:59 PM to group and instructor (via email. At least 2 full pages)
 

Group Peer Reviews:      2/27 & 3/4 (bring digital or, preferably, physical copies of the essays you’ve peer reviewed to class. 

                                          Come to class prepared to discuss the feedback you’ve given and received)
 

Presentations:                 3/6 & 3/11 (see below for more specifics)
 

Essay Final Draft Due:    3/11 @ 11:59 PM (between 3 – 4 full pages, via Canvas submission process)

Essay Assignment:
For this first assignment, you’re being asked to write a comprehensive historical/creative analysis of an album. Along the way, and in addition to the album itself, your required support should consist of:

At least ONE in-class source (essay) from the “Over the Rainbow” section of Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum PLUS at least TWO outside sources (popular or scholarly).

                                                            OR

At least THREE outside sources (popular or scholarly).
 

In deciding what to analyze (and how), ask yourself: What is an album that I absolutely love and feel is significant in terms of the artist’s catalogue, the genre(s) it belongs to, and/or the time period in which it was released? What led to the album’s creation? How was it made (writing/recording)? What did it attempt to do in terms of themes, music, etc.? How was it received upon release (critically and commercially), and how did it fit into the artist’s career, the associated musical styles, and the world in general? How does it hold up today, and why?
 

Basically, you’ll want to spend roughly half of the paper/presentation setting up the background context/development of the album and the other half fully analyzing the album (all the while using your sources to support your claims). On that note, your outside sources could include interviews with the artist, past analyses of the album (that you use to complement, not replace, your own evaluation), historical information on the artist, etc. Look for sources that offer greater insights into and validation
for your argument. (Obviously, lyrics don’t count toward the outside source requirement, and our Library Day meeting on 2/25 will help you find your outside sources.)

Be sure to follow all citation, course, and essay-specific guidelines (and include a proper Works Cited page as well). Failure to include a Works Cited page will result in a loss of 5 pts. from the final essay grade (in addition to potential rubric penalties).
 

Proposal:

For the proposal (due on 2/18), send me a half-page (minimum) overview of what your essay and presentation will entail so that I can give you some feedback early on. Include aspects such as which album you’ll be discussing, why you’re choosing to deconstruct it, what you plan to say about it (i.e., your general argument), and how you’ll present it to the class (PowerPoint? Prezi? Another slideshow method? Another method entirely?)

Presentations:

On either 3/6 or 3/11, you will present the gist of your paper (thesis, major points, support, etc.) to the class via a presentation. The order of presentations will be chosen randomly, so make sure you’re ready when class starts on 3/6 in case you go first. Your presentation should last 8 – 9 mins (including set-up and room for questions afterward). Again, it should include some visually stimulating aspects—such as a PowerPoint or Prezi slideshow—and although you can display things
such as song/video clips, you should devote most of your presentation to the argument itself. Also, there’s no formal rubric for the presentation; as long as you put your full effort into it, you’ll receive full credit for it. Just make sure that it includes a full discussion/overview of your argument.

Also, if you’re going to be absent on 3/6, make sure you email your presentation to me before class so that I know you still had it ready in time.
 

Breakdown of Assignment Grade:

Proposal: 5%
Draft 1: 10%
Presentation: 15%
Final Draft: 70%
 

Please let me know if you have any questions/concerns along the way!