For Monday, March 26, bring to class:
1) A printed copy of your final revised essay
2) Printed copy of your final Reflective Essay
3) I will bring copies of your two in-class essays, and you can tell me which one you want to put in your portfolio
Note: Please DO NOT staple the pages together.
Essay 4, Part 2 (at-home) <- Click here
Additional tips for Essay 4, Part 2:
To make sure that stay focused on one main idea (and develop it with detailed examples and explanations), you may wish to review everything we have talked about songs in general, and “hooks,” in particular, including both:
Below are links to material on concepts we have talked about:
1. Write your in-class essay:
Paper #4, Part 1: in-class essay directions (EWRT 200)
Paper #4, part 1: in-class essay directions (EWRT 211)
Hello, Everyone.
Who noticed that I have not posted the promised tips for doing well on Monday’s in-class essay? Reply to this , and we’ll all know 
I’ve been listening to the songs you have chosen, and looking over your answers to “Favorite Song “Hook” Pre-Writing Worksheet for Paper #4.”
I’ve decided that the right strategy is to keep it simple:
I am sure you will write a GOOD ENOUGH! (PASSING) in-class essay tomorrow, especially if:
To make sure that you can easily focus on one main idea to develop with detailed examples and explanations, you may wish to review everything we have talked about songs in general, and “hooks,” in particular, including both:
Below are links to material on concepts we have talked about:
EWRT 211 students get a conditional “pass” so they can register in EWRT 1A. However, once the grades are posted to the system, the system will check that each 1A student actually did pass 211. If not, the system will drop the student from 1A prior to or shortly after the quarter begins.
I would look up the definition of the genre of your song, e.g., “pop” music, in Wikipedia or an online music encyclopedia of some sort. Wikipedia says,
”there are core elements which define [pop music]. Such include generally short-to-medium length songs, written in a basic format which is often the verse-chorus structure, which generally make usage of repeated choruses, have a melodic sound, and have catchy hooks.” [Wikipedia contributors. “Pop music. ––” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2 Mar. 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012.
Question #10:
a. short-to-medium length
b. verse-chorus structure
c. repeated choruses
d. melodic sound
e. catchy hook
My song, “Hey, Hey We’re the Monkees” conforms to “e” because of it’s catchy hook, “Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees,” which is repeated over and over (c).
(Click on the link above for downloadable Word file – print, and submit your hand-written responses)
For those of you who missed class on Wednesday, February 29:
We started class singing rounds of a well-known “children’s” song [Note: we need to practice this ]:
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrilly, merrily, merrily merrily
Life is but a dream.
We talked about why *both* its form and its *content* are so powerfully positive and attractive.
Then we switched to:
Ring around the rosy,
Pocket full of poesies
Ashes, ashes
We all fall down!
We talked about why its form is so powerfully attractive that its dark content tends to be “made light of.” We were lucky to have students who suggested variations of meaning from historical contexts. [Note that the lyrics have changed over time, as well as the meanings ascribed to them may or may not be historically accurate.]
Then, those who had mp3 players plugged into their personal favorite feel-good song and listened to it in class – those without mp3 players got to watch the listeners, listening, which was almost as much fun.
Your final paper will be an analysis of the power of the “hook” (chorus) of your favorite feel-good song. The downloadable worksheet, above, should get you well on your way to writing a great paper, if you spend some thoughtful time (hours, not minutes!!!) on it.
One thing to think about, is whether or not – or to what degree – you have been simple-minded” your liking your chosen “feel-good” song, keeping in mind Jay-Z’s brilliant example of the power of the “hook,” in “99 Problems But the Bitch Ain’t One.”
Favorite Song “Hook” Pre-Writing Worksheet for Paper #4 (downloadable Word file):
