Response Blog Assignment Details

 Response Blog Assignment Details

You have chosen your artist. You have chosen your songs. Now, you need to write a response blog.

While reading selections, you will keep a log or a record of your reading journey. There are many reasons for this assignment:

• As with any sport, practice is crucial. Low stakes writing is key to improving your skills. 
• The blog you will write for your independent study is worth 50 points and will be the basis for the class time we spend on your chosen author and work. The Bob Dylan response blog is meant to be practice for the one you’ll do for your artist.  
• These log entries are a great way to gain ideas from your classmates to help you with your nomination.
• All ideas you write in your blog are usable in upcoming assignments, as the goal of this is really to get you diving deeper than just listening to the songs and liking them. 

Each student will post one response blog this semester.

Blogger's Assignment

You will need to post your response blog by 11:59 PM on Tuesday of that week. Your blog will include the following:

• Lyrics to both songs (either include links via Google Docs or from a website that has published them)
• If applicable, YouTube videos with the songs.
• Title your blog with the artist's name-your name, so I know whose blog I am grading.
• Create a label for your blog with the artist's first and last name. 

For the written part of the blog, you will write an analytical discussion question that you want your classmates' to help you answer. Consider: 

• Have any of the lyrics confused you? 
• Are there any contradictions?
• What lyrics stand out from each song? 
• Do the songs have similar or different themes/devices? Why do you think so?
• Is there anything unique about the structure of the lyrics or the presentation of them within the song? Why do you think that is?

Next, attempt to answer your own question. Write at least two paragraphs exploring your answer (at least 8 sentences each). Both songs must be part of the question and answer. 

The next part is a little more fun. Choose two of the following prompts to explore the songs more:

1. What words, phrases, use of language, images particularly struck you?  Why? This a basically a brief passage analysis.
2. Any associations, personal connections, daydreams triggered by the reading/listening?  What insights do these offer about the text and about you as a reader/listener?
3. Create a visual representation, realistic or abstract regarding the theme, the feelings the songs evoke, the imagery, etc. Then, write a brief paragraph explaining how the image represents the songs to you.
4. Consider your research so far, and write a brief paragraph explaining what cultural, political, historical, or personal circumstances you believe shape the songs, and explain how it helps you understand the songs better.
5. Focus on who is speaking in the song. Is it the artist, a persona, or an imagined voice/speaker. Write a brief paragraph explaining how does the point-of-view shape your understanding of the songs or message? What might change if the song were written from a different perspective.
6. Consider the sound and structure of the music and how it adds to the meaning of the songs. Write a brief paragraph explaining how the repetition, chorus, and rhythm add to the messages you hear in the songs.
7. Consider the afterlife of the songs. Write a brief paragraph explaining how the songs have been received, reused, referenced, and/or reinterpreted over time. Has it been associated with movements, moments, or a collective memory? Why do you think it has endured or should endure?

All outside sources must have an MLA in-text and Works Cited citation. Ai is not permitted for this assignment.

Responder's Assignment

Everyone else will respond to one of the blog posts by 11:59 PM each Wednesday (Blogger's are exempt from replying; they have done enough this week!). Replies must include the following:

• A paragraph (at least 8 sentences) in which you attempt to answer the blogger's analytical question.
• MLA Citations, as you should include quotes from the songs
• Ai is not permitted for this assignment.

Also, you can have some fun in the replies. You can share links to movies or songs that remind you of their chosen songs or include their chosen songs within them. You can ask each other questions, you can admit that something confused you. I am not grading these for grammar per se, just be respectful, but this can be as fun as you want it to be. 

Remember:

This assignment is not one in which you need to worry about perfection or about being the deepest, analytical thinker. This is about thinking about these songs a bit deeper than you would if you were just listening to them for fun. This will help us help each other develop ideas during class.