Instructions for the Social Commentary Term PaperOverview of assignment: The Social Commentary paper is a combination of research and criticalthinking. Only the second section, Discussion of the Social Issue, requires any research. In fact, noother outside information should be used in any of the other sections except for lyric quotes of theselected songs.The writing process: This paper is written in three stages; the first two are reviewed by fellow studentsin class, the final stage is graded by your instructor after you have posted it on Blackboard and submittedit to SafeAssign. There are five sections to the paper: 1) Introduction (single paragraph), 2) Discussion ofthe Social Issue, 3) Comparison of Songs (discussing in a constant comparison fashion how the songsdiscuss the social issue), 4) Music/Lyric Connection (not a comparison, but both songs are discussed),and 5) Conclusion (again, a single paragraph). ??.?.Assignment workflow:1. The first part you will write is actually section 4, Music/Lyric Connection. Students will bring ahard copy of this section as well as a copy of the Music/Lyric Peer and Self-Assessment Guide(on Bb>Course Docs>Writing folder>Peer & Self-Assessment Guides) to class. Each student willexchange their paper with another student and provide a critique of the other student?s work usingthe Peer and Self-Assessment Guide. After completing the assessment, the guide will be given tothe student assessed for reference. This section of the paper can then be revised/rewritten.2. The second part you will write is section 1, the Introductory Paragraph. Be sure to use theIntroductory Paragraph Peer and Self-Assessment Guide to self-assess the paper before the peerreview and then bring a hard copy of the Introduction and the guide to class on the day of the peerreview. The process for assessment and rewriting will be the same as for the Music/LyricConnection.3. Upon completion of the two peer reviews and subsequent rewrites, the final form of the paper, theCompleted Social Commentary term paper can be written. Remember that the alreadycompleted sections of the paper must be included in their correct places in the final paper whichwill be submitted through Blackboard. (specific submission instructions will be given prior to duedate.)4. Your instructor will grade the paper and post grade on Bb. At that time you may opt to meet withyour instructor for clarification and explanation of your earned grade. No hard-copy or emailsubmissions! ??.?.(Cont. below)Social Commentary/Activism in Music ? Instructions2 of 8 pagesInstructions for Writing Music/Lyric Connection, Introductory Paragraph and FinalVersion ? Comparison & Opinion: 1500 words (minimum)AssignmentIn this paper, you will choose two songs, each from a different artist (or band), preferablyfrom a different genre, and compare how they address a single topic of broad social interest(social issue).Nature of AssignmentThis is a formal writing assignment requiring research AND critical thinking. There will besources, 2 minimum (described below,) that you are required to include in a bibliography, andcite at points of their use in the body. DO NOT use an artist?s song/performance video as asource for discussion, but you may use a video source that contains information about the issue.Social IssuesIssues of broad concern such as, the environment, natural or manmade disasters, childwelfare/abuse/neglect/molestation, domestic violence, rape, abortion, gang violence, classwarfare, war, terrorism, propaganda, politics, national image, military service, religion, racism,racially-motivated violence, slavery, human trafficking, materialism, among others, areacceptable. In some cases, songs of a more personal nature are acceptable if they speak to abroad audience. Topics such as mental illness, loneliness, drug or alcohol abuse (substanceabuse) would fall into this category. Generally speaking, songs about love, sex, cars, the joys ofrock and roll, or sports are not acceptable. Topics so general as to include everyone, like death,should be covered from the standpoint of the issues surrounding it; survivors dealing with aloved ones death, or views on the after-life are acceptable. When in doubt, consult yourinstructor.NOT ACCEPTABLE as an issue ? Music, music business, artists, groups or any historicalperspective on music used to protest or bring attention to things. This is where a few studentsmisinterpret the title of this assignment (without reading these instructions) and assume that thispaper is on the subject of social-commentary music. It is not. It is about two specific songs thatare centered on one specific issue.InstructionsSelect Songs ? Choose two songs that have the same social condition or issue at their core.They do not have to take the same position, or even have a position, but it should be fairlyevident that the same issue is embodied in both. Further, the two songs should be written orperformed by different artists, each from a different genre of popular music. Other thanintroducing an artist as hard rock or hip-hop, no further discussion of genre need ensue. Ifyou are unsure, you should ask your instructor.Structure ? Your paper should be divided into five sections each with its own bold-facedheading. (Use bolded headings below, an explanation of each follows)Read the following guidelines for the term paper thoroughly.Through experience we have seen that most of the problems students have with assignments arerooted in their misunderstanding of the instructor?s expectations. We have gone to great lengths toexplain our expectations here. Please avail yourself of this information by reading thoroughly and donot hesitate to consult your instructor for clarification.Social Commentary/Activism in Music ? Instructions3 of 8 pagesSect. 1- Introduction (written second)Sect. 2- Issue DiscussionSect. 3- Comparison of SongsSect. 4- Music/Lyric Connection (written first)Sect. 5- ConclusionSections 2, 3 & 4 will each be more than one paragraph long. Avoid long andunstructured paragraphs. Sections 1 & 5 should be a single paragraph. Follow contentguidelines below for each section:1) Introduction ? The introductory paragraph will be submitted as a separateassignment second, after section 4, Music/Lyric Connection.This is the opening paragraph. It should be concise and to the point, while giving the reader agood sense of what they are about to read. Avoid giving the reader too much detail here.Include the following: ??.?.a. introduce topic issue, being as clear as possible to identify or define the issue. Ifyou cannot name the issue in three words or less, you may need to refine it.b. introduce the songs and the artists, including album references and releaseyears (see class text appendices B & C for text formats of song and album titles.)c. a reference to a relationship between music & lyrics (Sect. 4, Music/LryicConnection) Since there will be a section of the paper (which you will havealready written) on this critical thinking element, there should likewise be areference to it.d. A strong thesis ? central point to be bourn out in paper. The thesis is a clearlydefined statement of intent, which includes the salient points that will have beenaddressed in the paper. Your thesis should be a summary idea, not a question or alist of what you are going to write about in the paper. Imagine having alreadywritten the paper and creating a single sentence statement defining what thereader should expect to learn. If it seems like a challenge, you are doing itright.???- end of Intro Paragraph assignment????2) A discussion of the social issue ? more than just your opinion or general knowledge.This is where your 2 (or more) sources come in. Here you can describe the issue in moredetail, separate from the songs? discussion of it. You are expected to demonstratecritical thinking here. Simply pasting in some text from a website does not constituteoriginal thought. You will be evaluated on how well you synthesize what you havegleaned from your research. Regardless of how other disciplines cite sources, we expect acitation referencing the bibliography, every time you quote or otherwise use informationfrom that source. (This is NOT the case for lyrics, see discography below) This sectionshould NOT be longer than the following section! If it is the longest section, then youhave missed the point of the assignment.3) A comparison of the songs and their respective takes on the issue, whether it is anoutright strong position, or a declarative, matter-of-fact approach. Keep in mind that theSONGS are ultimately the subject of the paper. Though the two songs have the samesocial condition or issue at their core, they do not have to take the same position, or evenhave a position. It should be fairly evident that the same issue inspired both.Social Commentary/Activism in Music ? Instructions4 of 8 pagesNOT ACCEPTABLE: Any discussion of the artists? motivation/inspiration for writingor recording the song. We are ONLY interested in what the lyrics have to say (to you) onthe issue. ??.?.a. Effective use of lyric quotations is key to helping the reader make the connectionto the subject (see below for information on citing lyrics). Long blocks of lyric,however, or entire verses are seldom necessary and are often cumbersome. If youfeel the entire chorus is germane to your argument, then at least break it up intodigestible parts, with some discussion inserted. Use sufficient lyric quotes to bringreader into the song, but not so many it dilutes their potency.b. Comparison in this assignment means specific, direct, side-by-side comparisonof the ideas at hand. Integrate the discussions of how each song addresses theissue throughout this section. DO NOT discuss songs separately. You will lose aminimum of a full letter grade if this discussion is not integrated.4) Describe the Music/Lyric Connection. This section will be written first and peer assessedin class, later to be revised and submitted along with the completed term paper. Aminimum two examples per song explaining how the music supports/enhances themeaning of each song (four total examples). Please see section below, *Examining theMusic/Lyric Connection, as well as the Understanding the Music/Lyric Connectiondocument on Blackboard and the accompanying streaming musical examples.Remember, this is actually the section you will write first.5) Conclusion ? wrap up the main thoughts of your discourse; show the reader that thethesis was proved out. A strong conclusion is critical to a successful paper.6) DiscographyA discography of albums used for your papers is required, and should include the nameof the artist/group, title of album, record company, year, and catalog number (usuallyfound on the thin edge of the cd case ? on either end.) (see example format below).This should be on a separate page at the end of your paper, or it may appear after thebibliography on the same page, but DO NOT mix discography and bibliography sources,keep separate and label as such.**The source for the lyrics is the song itself, NOT a website that publishes them.Therefore the reference is in the discography. Cite only the albums from which yoursongs come (see explanation below). The discography acts as a blanket reference for alllyrics quoted, with no citation marks required in the body of the paper. Put anotherway; It is not plagiarism to copy lyrics off of a website and not cite it BECAUSE it is notthe original source, the CD is. As long as you have a discography, quote away!Discography ? finding the info:BUT WAIT ? My songs are downloaded.- or ? I don?t have the physical disk thesongs are from.If you do not have the original CD cover, you will have to research to find theinformation required. If you know the record company that released the song/album, youcan find the catalog number on the company?s website (you do not need to cite thewebsite, however). If you do not know the record company and/or the album title, a goodsource is www.allmusic.com. If it is a popular artist, you can go to a music retailer andNOTESocial Commentary/Activism in Music ? Instructions5 of 8 pagescopy the info off the CD spine.Example: Miles Davis, Bitches Brew, Columbia Records (1969), G2K 40577(please notice: no song title ? because the song is like a chapter in a book, which islikewise not listed in a bibliography.)7) Bibliography: You must list all sources in a bibliography and cite them in the body ofthe text when they are being referenced. Web sources must include the complete URLaddress. Wikis of any kind are not an acceptable source.2 possible methods ? choose one:1) Hybrid: Number sources in bibliography 1 thru X. All citations will use the samenumbers, corresponding to the source as listed in the bibliography. Like anendnote, but citations won?t necessarily be in numerical order, plus the samesource (and corresponding reference number) may be used multiple times. (seedetails on p. 1)2) Any accepted standard reference citation method ? endnote, parenthetical,bibliography, using MLA, APA, Chicago Style Manual, Turabian, etc.When you cite an internet source, you must include: author (if known), title ofarticle or page, date (if known), and full URL (not the home page) of the source.DO NOT copy/paste bibliographic text from websites without changing font tomatch the rest of your paper.Bibliography, notes, or song lyrics are considered extra with respect to the required paperlength.Evaluation:Evaluation of your paper will be based on the depth and sincerity with which you go intocomparing the songs. Discussion of biographical/historical events that have influenced theartist, or are otherwise about the inspiration for the song, is irrelevant to this assignment.The evaluation of your term paper will be based on how well you address the aforementionedguidelines. Specifically, 40% of the term paper grade is based on writing ability (formal, thirdpersonprose, organization, grammar, spelling, etc?), 60% on content. The content grade willbe based in part on the degree to which you (1) integrate interdisciplinary skills and knowledge;(2) demonstrate intellectual acuity, imagination, and sensitivity; (3) demonstrate awareness ofinterrelationships among music, self, society, and culture; (4) apply argumentation andmethodology of music; and (5) interpret, perceive, and apply course content.Important: In addition to the above, read appendixes B-D in your course packet. Theseguidelines apply to the term paper and are binding with respect to the term paper grade.The vast majority of the writing must be yours. Your reactions, thoughts, and opinions aremore relevant to this assignment than those of anybody else.????end of instructions???*Examining the Music/Lyric Connection ? a guide to understanding and writing about it.Music ?The artist can use any aspect, characteristic, or element of music to support lyrical ideasthey want to convey. Below is a list of common elements in much of pop music, each followedby qualities to consider. Discuss any of the following in conjunction with a lyric discussion orSocial Commentary/Activism in Music ? Instructions ??.?.6 of 8 pagesquote. In your paper, include more than one aspect, demonstrating, as best you can, what thatelement is doing, what impact these aspects have on the meaning ? of the lyrics being examinedat that point, or its support of the general idea in the song. Choose from the following aspects orderive your own:? vocal ? style, delivery, range, intensity, dynamics, sound quality, tone, backing vocals,usually the most direct connection to lyric. (see Vocal inflection, under Connection below)? instrumentation ? the instruments used in a song/band. Should be limited to the contributionof the sound of the instruments, as a group make, i.e. the banjo, fiddle and harp give the songan intimate warmth. It is not necessarily what each individual instrument plays. Theircontribution can be discussed in connection to an individual instrument (see below). Note:instruments play, instrumentation just IS.? tempo ? slow, plodding, ballad, somber, moderate, mellow ? indicate a sad or reflectivemood. Fast, upbeat, moving, churning, charging, burning ? indicate a happier, more animatedmood.? dynamics ? general volume changes, specific loud or soft passages, often connected totexture.? texture ? layering of parts, few = thin, many = thick, can also mean many layers of the sameinstrument or voices? production ? may relate to sound, instrumentation. May include studio techniques: mix, echoor reverberation effects, texture, special sounds, sound effects.? Individual instruments:? drums/percussion ? beat, groove, intensity, dynamics, syncopation, includes electronicor sampled drums (drum machine, beat-box)? bass ? rhythm, intensity, density, prominence, consistency.? guitar ? acoustic, electric, rhythm, lead, tone, solo.? keyboard ? traditional sounds; piano, organ. Or synthesizer, weird, special effects.? horns ? saxophone, trumpet, trombone, etc.You should make observations and draw conclusions. In every observation should be a sense ofthe contribution that it lends to the music. Moreover, using above aspects, make a point todiscuss how your song?s music enhances or amplifies what you perceive to be the meaning of thesong. Put simply, you should have a reason for mentioning the observation.Lyrics ?1) In the introduction to your paper try to discern and convey (in brief) the overarchingmessage, mood, moral or meaning in the lyrics.2) All lyric discussion must be describing a connection to the music.? Use of lyric quotesThe most direct way to connect the reader with the song is through the effective use of lyricquotes. It is not the abundance of lyric quotes we are looking for, it is the effectiveness of theones you use. Do not just write about the lyrics, rather show evidence through direct quotes.Make observations regarding the text of the song. What is it about? Does it tell a story? Not allsongs tell a story, but they usually have a meaning. Interpret the meaning. If you cannot, pleasechoose a different song! Look for a general message, mood or moral. If it adds to the reader?sunderstanding of the meaning, observe something about the structure of the lyric: rhyme scheme;first person or third; wordy or efficient; concrete or abstract.Social Commentary/Activism in Music ? Instructions ??.?.7 of 8 pagesConnectionDiscuss how and to what extent the music enhances the lyrics. In order to clearly MAKE theconnection you must use lyric quotes in conjunction with the musical aspect you are describing.Without them, the connection is vague to nonexistent. Consider this formula as you write:Lyric quote + musical aspect + emotional impact = CONNECTIONSince we have already established that music enhances lyrics, to simply write, the musicdefinitely enhances the words of the chorus is inadequate. It neither addresses the words OR themusic. That is like a defense attorney adamantly swearing to his client?s innocence withoutpresenting any evidence! Look for the specific mechanism. It can be one or a combination ofmany things. A guitar riff, the pulsing bass, a drum beat that is steady or one that is convoluted,the singer?s delivery, his/her vocal tone, or quality, or range, or volume, or intensity or all theabove, bringing a nuance to the song beyond the written word. Remember, these are impressions.There is no right answer per se, but write it as though it is a fact, unapologetically.Ways that music relates to lyrics:Word Painting: The most obvious type is direct word painting, i.e. the word stopcoincides with the band stopping momentarily; a line about a car, coinciding with a guitarimitating an engine revving or tires screeching. Lyrics involving falling (leaves, rain, snow,in love) accompanied by a downward moving melody, countermelody, or otherinstrumental device. Some songs even include sound effects (thunder, rain, surf, seagulls,train on tracks, gunshot, cars, etc.)Vocal inflection: There is usually a more direct emotional connection from the voice towords, for obvious reasons ? listen for it. An impassioned, near cracking voice, at the topof his/her range, pleads, don?t go/ I can?t live without you conveys the emotion lacking inthe words alone. Try to describe the mechanism (why or how) conveying an emotion, i.e.the voice is smooth, husky, smoky, gravely, gasping, screeching, laughing, full throated,belted, whispering, childlike, sarcastic, slurring, enunciated, etc. NOT effective: ?shesounds happy, (sad, angry, hurt) ? it does not describe why or how. A combination ofmechanism + emotion is most effective.Representation: Where a musical element (vocal or instrumental) represents an idea,person, emotion or thing. Examples:The swelling string section where he sings, My heart takes flight? representshis love for her, as though his heart is flying away, out of his control.Nearly whimpering, she sings, A black hole where my heart should be as thepounding rhythm halts suddenly, leaving only the voice, brilliantly depicting theemptiness felt.Emotion: Less direct, but effective, (and more likely) the mood of a lyric section matchessomething in the music, i.e. a lyric expressing an uplifting, joyous idea is accompanied bymusic that is animated, generally moving up or, has a lot of major chords. Conversely, asad or reflective part may be accompanied by slower moving music, a smaller rangingmelody, or minor sounding harmony. A dark or ominous subject can be supported by anagitated, dissonant (unsettled) background. Notice how different emotions are expressedmusically.MOST IMPORTANT!Social Commentary/Activism in Music ? Instructions8 of 8 pagesEmphasis: Sometimes lyrical phrases or words are emphasized or punctuated by the music.It could be done by the singer singing the word or phrase harder, higher or both. It couldalso be achieved by instruments hitting a stop just before, or making stabs surrounding theword or phrase. This kind of connection is usually characterized by something unusual inthe song. Logically, you cannot assert that the drumbeat or the style of the songemphasizes a meaningful lyric. Those elements are more or less constant. Conversely, ifthe drums (or any instrument) hit something departing from the established groove, on oraround the word(s) in question, that is an emphasis.Construction and Strategy? Thesis ? placed at the end of the intro, it informs the reader, in very brief terms, what they willlearn by the end of the paper. It is NOT a statement of what YOU are going to DO, analyzethe issue and words to show a connection? That is the process you are going through. To thecontrary, a thesis is about the RESULT of that process. If your thesis only addresses the story,told through the lyrics, or the issue, then the reader will not be fully informed about what theyare about to read.? Use declarative third-person prose throughout. References to self (I, me, my) have no place ina formal paper ? including I will discuss?, I chose this song?, in my opinion?, Ithink?, etc. Neither should you use the pronoun you, which is addressing the reader. Usethe word one to replace me or you. ?ex. the lyrics give one a sense the story isallegorical rather than autobiographical? ? or avoid the issue altogether, the lyrics tell thestory allegorically rather than autobiographically? ??.?.? Integration ? To the extent that you closely compare ideas and lyrics of the two songs you willdo well to alternate between songs as the discussion unfolds. It is not a comparison when onesong is discussed at length followed by the other. Instead, breakdown the discussion intodigestible elements and compare each element more directly.? References to points in song ? Identify events, lyric quotes, etc. relative to sections of the song,such as: introduction, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, solo, interlude, ending, as may apply.Do NOT refer to minutes and seconds, i.e.. ?at 3:22 there is a guitar riff?. It is of no helpto the reader.? Chronological Commentary ? Resist the compulsion to go through the songs? lyricscompletely, in the order they appear, and explain what they mean. Not all lyrics are of equalimportance. The song?s relationship to the issue does not rely on the order in which the lyricscome. Neither do you need to only compare verse to verse or chorus to chorus.? Research/Organization ? Begin by finding the songs, of course. Research the social issue.That should be the easiest part. You will be judged in part on the quality of your sources.Don?t use the first item you find. ??.?.
Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.
[order_calculator]