In this final paper, you will research a musician of your choice and analyze how their gender identity is performed musically (both in stage and studio performances). This paper should draw from at least 2 course readings and expand on our discussions in a detailed case study. MAKE AN ASSERTION (15 points total): Provide a thesis statement in the opening of your assignment contextualizing how your artist of choice performs their gender in stage and studio performances. Be sure to include: The name of the musician(s) Their gender identity and any other significant information Which specific performance you will focus on for your paper THEORETICAL UNDERPINNING (30 points total): Drawing from at least two course texts, give context to your interpretation of this gender performance. Summarize each reading and its main arguments/evidence. Connect these discussions to the musician’s performance of gender. How do these discussions inform your interpretation? You may draw from other peer-reviewed sources to contextualize your conversations. You may also draw from non-academic sources but please limit these references. SONIC ANALYSIS (30 points total): After connecting the album’s theme to our discussions of gender in class, then ground your arguments in an analysis of the musical material present in the album. This section of your paper may be separate from the section above or interwoven into your connection to course material. What musical idioms explicitly reference this musician’s gender? Please be specific by referencing particular musical moments throughout the album/performance and provide timestamps. While you may draw from textual (lyrics)/visual elements, please focus on the sonic qualities of the album i.e., scales, ornamentation, instrumentation, melody, etc. CONCLUSION (15 points total): Finally, summarize your paper’s arguments. While you should bring up the new ideas below, this final section should overall serve as a summary of your paper so that I as a reader am assured that I understood your overall argument. Do not be afraid to explicitly summarize the road-map of your paper (“First I did this. Then, after talking about that, I did this…). As you wrap-up your argument, also include a discussion of the following: How is gender performed and/or defied in this performance? What are the larger conversations created in the music that speak to our understandings of gender in the course? SUBMISSION FORMAT/CITATIONS (10 points total): The paper should be 6-8 pages (1600-2000 words) of prose, in black, size 12-font, no more than 1-inch margins, and the entries should be double-spaced. All papers should include an introduction, conclusion and title. Include a Chicago Manual of Style citation for “internet sources” to cite our course texts and any other outside peer-reviewed texts used to contextualize your argument.In conjunction with a written paper 3, you will also have the opportunity to present your research to your colleagues. For this assignment, you will upload a presentation of approximately 8 minutes to Canvas for peer feedback. You will be graded on the following rubric: Submission Format (10 pt): All presentations should be uploaded to the discussion thread below. In order to upload your video, please follow this guide (Links to an external site.). All video presentations must be uploaded using the media attachment function. Please do not simply "attach file" at the bottom of the textbox. Additionally, all recorded presentations should be accompanied by a transcript of your presentation (roughly 3 pg. double spaced). All videos should be approximately 8 minutes (no more than 9 minutes, no less than 7 minutes). Preview of Paper Argument (40 pt): Your presentations should a preview of your final paper's argument. Therefore, each presentation should include your thesis statement, theoretical underpinning, and brief sonic analysis. Sonic Material (20 pt): All presentations should include a sample of the sonic material you wish you analyze in your final paper. All sonic material should be accompanied by a brief analysis. Accessibility (10 pt):  This portion of the assignment will consider the accessibility of your presentation. By accessibility, I mean how well your presentation considers the different abilities and learning styles of your non-presenting colleagues. To ensure you are as accessible as possible, please include visual aids on your presentation videos and upload a transcript of your presentation for colleagues along with your presentation. All presentations should be concise and well-rehearsed prior to recording. Peer Review (20 pt): After uploading your presentation, you should reply to each colleague with at least one meaningful comment on their presentation. To reply, please reply within the thread do not begin a new thread. These comments can either be questions your colleagues should consider as they complete their final papers or ways in which you think they can strengthen their thesis statement.