Dr. Dan Lipori's Website

Research Paper Guidelines

1. Each page should have the following margins:

Left- 1.5 inches
Right- 1 inch
Top- 1 inch
Bottom- 1 inch

All text, titles, page numbers, etc., MUST be located within these margins, not on them or beyond them; DO NOT assume that your word processor will set these margins exactly. Use a ruler to check them; they must be exact. Close does NOT count.

2. The only exception to the above is the first page of the text; on the page only the top margin is 2 inches, and the title of the paper (exactly the same as the cover page and all upper case) is centered just below the two-inch margin.

3. Page numbers should be placed bottom center or top right, slightly within the margin. All pages should be numbered, including the first page (but not a title page, if used).

4. Be sure to proof your copy (perhaps have someone else look at it, also) so that there are no errors. Use the spell check feature of your word processor, if available.

5. The text should be double spaced throughout (Of course with exception of bibliography page).

6. All stages of the research paper must be word processed...NOT handwritten. Use a common type font and size, e.g., Times Roman, 12 point. Either 10 or 12-point type is acceptable; type sizes larger or smaller are not acceptable. Emailed may be accepted with prior consent. Beware with emailed papers, however, that you are at the mercy of my printer for margins.

7. With each stage of the research paper, you must also include a bibliography of sources.

8. Whenever ANY name is first introduced, you will include full name along with birth and death dates.

9. You must include citations within the text as to where you received all you information, not just exact quotes. If you do not, that is considered plagiarism and you may receive an ‘F’ for the assignment. Citations will include the page number from the source used.

10. The final paper will have no more than four exact quotes. I want to see your writing style, not someone else’s.

11. The final paper will have minimum ten sources (fifteen for research methods class), two of which are periodical articles, another which is a Grove Dictionary entry. No more than TWO web pages are acceptable (and even this is pushing it!). Wikipedia is NOT to be used or is a search engine (such as answers.com). Book/Recording/Music reviews are NOT to be used.

12. Write out all numbers under 100.

13. Do not use contractions. It is better to write out both words.

14. Do not end sentences with a preposition.

15. Avoid the verb “think”. This is a very vague description that makes it sound as if you are unsure as to what you are talking about. Try perhaps “I know” or “I believe” as possible alternates.

16. Another good word to avoid “like.” I don’t believe any of you are Valley Girls. (I could be wrong though). Try perhaps “as if” or “similar to” as a substitute.

17. Titles of books, compositions, or anything else published, should be in italics. Web pages and theses/dissertations are considered copyrighted, but not published so they will be surrounded by quotation marks but not put in italics. Chapters/sections of works should be in quotations (i.e. “Porgi amor” from Le nozze di Figaro).

18. My preference for bibliography format is either the Chicago Manual of Style or A Manual for Writers, by Kate Turabian. I HATE the MLA Handbook.

19. You should always use the most current edition of a source. For example, I would expect you to use the 2001 edition of Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, and not an earlier one.

20. The final paper will be 10-12 pages of text (12-15 for research methods). Musical examples, figures, tables, footnotes and other non-text related items do not count towards the total number of pages. (Neither will your bibliography page!) Do not put spaces between paragraphs.

21. Since the paper length is so short, a long introduction is not needed. I do not need any background as to why you chose this particular topic (that was what the prospectus was for), just dig right into the topic. If an introduction is much longer than a short paragraph, that text will NOT count towards your total number of pages.

22. Any musical examples, figures, tables, or similar items used within the document will be centered on the page and you will introduce each example right before it appears.
(i.e. Example 1. Beethoven, Symphony No. 4, Movement 2, mm. 5-8.)

23. Write out an acronym the first time it used. Then you can use the acronym afterwards. (i.e. Music Educator’s National Conference (MENC)).