Email Assignment Instructions

One the most important and common methods of communication and “social integration” with professors will be through email. Email in college, like in the workplace, is much more formal and professional than email or text messages sent to friends or family. In a lot of ways, it should be written in the same manner as any other academic essay/assignment.

For this assignment students will compose a “mock” email to their professor of this class. They will NOT actually send it, but will instead upload a screenshot (or pic) of it for grading. If you are unsure how to take a screenshot, try searching online for a tutorial, as this is a valuable skill. If you are unable to locate an acceptable tutorial, a pic from your cell phone will serve as an acceptable substitute. Students will be graded on: (a) an appropriate subject line and salutation; (b) clear, succinct introduction and paragraph; (c) and mechanics such as grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure.

Note- It is always a good idea to check the grading rubric before beginning any assignment.

Also Note- Students should understand that this is a “mock” email. Professors will grade for format and content. They will not assume that any student is actually asking the question or seeking the appointment. If any student wishes to have their professor respond or address an actual concern, they should email them privately.

Assignment Instructions

1.       Use only your Liberty email account when emailing professors.

a.       Note- How else will a professor know if SuperMonkey643@Yahoo is actually you?

2.       Create an appropriate Subject line- and always include the class name and section number.

a.       Note- Never leave the subject line blank. [good example: UNIV 104-B01 Appointment Request re: Project 2 Due Date]

3.       Use an appropriate salutation. It is best to use a formal greeting and professor title (i.e. Dr.).

4.       Write a sentence or two that introduces yourself and explains the need for this email.

5.       Begin a new paragraph and explain your concern or question. Note- Professors are very busy and receive hundreds of emails each week. Be detailed, but succinct. Make sure that your question is pertinent, and not easily answered by simply reading the syllabus or assignment instructions. Examples include:

a.       You may want to set up an appointment to meet this professor in his/her office.

i.      Note- Always provide the purpose of the meeting so that the professor can be prepared.

b.       You may have a very specific question regarding class, textbook, or an assignment.

c.       You may wish to share an engaging anecdote or story that connects to something covered in the textbook or in class.

i.      Note- Remember to keep it relevant and brief.

6.       Use an appropriate closing, write your first and last name and student ID number, and proofread.

7.       Take a screenshot of your email and upload it (pic of screen acceptable).

Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the last day (Monday) of Module/Week 1.

Ethnomusicologists study the ways that music has meaning and purpose for individuals, families, and communities. This essay asks you to use some of the techniques of ethnomusicology to discuss the meaning of music for someone that you know.

For this paper, we ask that you interview somebody about their favorite popular music. Then you must use some of the ideas, personal experiences, or opinions expressed by this person as evidence to support some kind of argument that you are making in relation to the music. Your argument may deal with any aspect of the music or music scene but it must also connect in some way to the social issues and processes dealt with in this class (e.g. globalization, technology, appropriation, representation and politics of identity, etc.) Our weekly readings provide great examples of arguments that make these types of connections. You can refer to these readings to see how others have made these types of connections.

In this paper you MUST GO BEYOND simply describing a genre of music, or a music scene. You are expected to synthesize the information from your interview with themes from the readings in order to make a strong thesis statement that will guide your paper. Ideally, you should record this interview so you can go back over the recording later and quote your interviewee directly. If you don’t have an audio recorder, take careful notes so that you can accurately paraphrase what was said during your interview. You must also use threeadditional written sourcesand cite these readings using in-text citations as well as a “Bibliography” or “Works Cited” section at the end of your paper. One of these source must be an academic source, and the other two can either be academic or journalistic. You should also cite your own interview using this format: (p.c., Bob Smith, 28 October 2011, Isla Vista, Cal.).

Make sure to give your essay a sensible title, keep your writing focused, support yourself with examples, and communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. You will be assessed for strength of your thesis, the focus and structure of your explanation, and the technical aspects of your writing (spelling, grammar, organization).

Length: 1000 words (not including title or bibliography), double-spaced (e.g., three double-spaced pages in 12-point Times).