Behind the Music: A Research Paper

In our study of American Literature, we don’t just read the essays, stories, novels, plays, and poems of America, but we look at the history and philosophy surrounding them. Good writers write about what they know, what they see, what they worry about, and what they would like to change in the world around them. In this way, we have learned about what it was like to be living in the late 1800s and early 1900s even though that way of life has long passed. And we have found ways of relating to these people because the struggles they faced, while maybe unique to their time period, are also struggles that are universal and timeless. Years from now, people will read the stories, poems, and books of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s and learn about our hopes, our fears, our concerns, and our problems, and they will learn about us.

Your research paper should be written to help your audience understand what these concerns, problems, hopes, and fears are. You need to analyze some poetry of recent years for meaning, but instead of choosing someone whose poetry is just written down, you will choose a poet whose words are put to music. Choose a musical artist or band that interests you and write a research paper in which you analyze their music for deeper meanings. You need to analyze at least three songs and include this analysis in your research paper.

Your research paper should answer the following questions:
1. What do your chosen songs mean?
2. What larger themes run through this artist's work?
3. What is this artist hoping to express to the world through his/her/their music?
4. In what way does this music reflect the larger concerns, problems, issues of society?
5. How does this artist reflect the specific decade in which he, she, or they is most popular or influential? What is happening in this decade that can be found in these songs?

Full description of the Behind the Music research paper
How to section your paper
Requirements for sources
Basic requirements
Creating a podcast

YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE

If you are looking for the Reflections on Huck Finn discussion board assignment due during class on Thursday, February 12, you want to go to my teacher page on the high school's website.

Direct link to discussion board

Link to teacher page if the above link doesn't work

Persuasive Essay

For students in my third and fifth period classes:

Your next big assignment is to write a formal persuasive essay on a topic related to education or technology. Your essay should include an engaging and developed introduction, a strong, focused, and parallel thesis statement, two to four supporting arguments, at least one reference to an outside source, a direct refutation of the opposing side, and a memorable conclusion. Essays must be in MLA style and must be submitted to turnitin.com in order for you to receive any credit.

Common questions I often receive from students:

When is my essay due? Your essay will be due to turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 3 and on paper in class on Friday, December 5. NO EXCEPTIONS. A late paper is a late paper no matter what. If you aren't at school, your paper is still due. Please see my syllabus if you have questions.

How much is my essay worth? Your essay is worth 100 points. This is a defining grade of the quarter. Do not blow off this assignment.

How long does my essay have to be? Most essays will run between five and seven paragraphs. I would guess that an essay that meets the requirements will be about three pages long. I am less concerned with page and word count than I am with developed, clear, and purposeful writing. You should not be writing to fill paper. You are writing to convey an idea in a meaningful way.

How will you grade these? Here is a rubric that I have used in the past.

Where can I get ideas? First and foremost, try your brain. Only you know what you think about and what you have an opinion on. I can't tell you what to write about because I don't know what gets under your skin. Writers write persuasively because they are thinking about something, not because they've been assigned something. CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS YOU, or your paper will not be memorable. Because you have to choose something related to education or technology, your classmates and I have brainstormed the ideas at this link: Education and Technology Ideas for Persuasive Paper. You can choose one of these or you can use the list to brainstorm your own, but don't just choose something just to have a topic and certainly don't just tell me what it is you think I want to hear. More than anything, I want to read YOUR IDEAS, not mine, not some random internet source's, not even your parents'.

Election Day, November 1884

If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and
show,

'Twould not be you, Niagara--nor you, ye limitless prairies--nor your huge rifts of canyons, Colorado,

Nor you, Yosemite--nor Yellowstone, with all its spasmic geyser-loops ascending to the skies, appearing and disappearing,

Nor Oregon's white cones--nor Huron's belt of mighty lakes--nor Mississippi's stream:

--This seething hemisphere's humanity, as now, I'd name--the still small voice vibrating--America's choosing day,

(The heart of it not in the chosen--the act itself the main, the
quadriennial choosing,)

The stretch of North and South arous'd--sea-board and inland--Texas to Maine--the Prairie States--Vermont, Virginia, California,

The final ballot-shower from East to West--the paradox and conflict,

The countless snow-flakes falling--(a swordless conflict,
Yet more than all Rome's wars of old, or modern Napoleon's:) the
peaceful choice of all,

Or good or ill humanity--welcoming the darker odds, the dross:
--Foams and ferments the wine? it serves to purify--while the heart
pants, life glows:

These stormy gusts and winds waft precious ships,
Swell'd Washington's, Jefferson's, Lincoln's sails.

by Walt Whitman

Salem Witch Trials Webquest and Video Assignment

I thought you might have an easier time finding your project if I linked to it from my real website.

Salem Witch Trials Webquest and Video Assignment

Keirn-Swanson's Edublogs Page

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" style imitation

Your task: Think of a sin we humans are committing, whether it be our failure to play rock, papers, scissors or our insistence on assigning self-esteem deflating speeches, and write a sermon ala John Edwards. Deliver your speech to the class with passion. Have fun with language and imagery and don't be afraid to be over-the-top. Speeches should be 2 - 3 minutes long. Index cards are acceptable.

Due for English 11 Honors (periods 1 and 8) Monday, October 13

Rubric I will use to grade you

Who are you? Your first writing assignment!

Honors 11:

In an effort to look out how content is shaped by style, you are to write the story of your life as if you were running for president. Select the events, moments, and/or people that would sell you to the American people. When choosing your words, think about the connotations those words have and use the connotations to shape your tone and message. Assume that this story of your life will serve as an introduction to your acceptance speech at your party's convention.

This introduction will either be given by a political peer or through video. Your story should be two to three pages long, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font. Make sure to format your paper in MLA.

Due Sunday, September 14 to turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. Hard copy due in class Monday, September 15.

English 11:

You just read de Crevecouer's essay "What is an American?" In an attempt to answer this question, the writer examines what brings people to America and what responsibilities we have as Americans. He also explores the culture and diversity of America. Your job is to choose one of the following questions to answer:

1. What is a Strongsvillager?

2. What is an Ohioan?

Consider the same questions de Crevecouer consider, but also feel free to examine geography, interests, hobbies, and differences.

Your paper should be 2-3 pages long and in MLA style. Make sure to double-space, use 12 point Times New Roman, and head the paper properly.