Exam Activity

Dear Friends: Welcome to you exam! There shouldn’t be many surprises here. Here’s the drill:

First of all, choose one of the two songs as your essay focus. You are welcome to pull up the lyrics on your laptop, but you should not, on your honor, read anything else about these songs on the internet during the exam period.

Song: "People are Crazy" by Billy Currinton OR "Marilyn Monroe" by Nicki Minaj

Please write a two-three page EXPOSITORY (thesis-forward) essay that answers the following question, employing terminology from our close-listening lessons and activities:

How does your chosen song transmit cultural messages, ideas or values using AT THREE methods (through lyrics, through instrumentation, through performance, through rhythm, through sampling, through references to other art, etc)?

Your essay should:

·       Have a strong expository structure with a clear, recognizable thesis that addresses the essay question.

·       Be well-organized on the paragraph level, with clear topic sentences.

·       Contain your own original thinking in each paragraph, offering insight into the song and your ideas about the song that are products of your own mind.

·       Use at least three specific examples from your chosen song(s) derived from close listening techniques.

·       Be properly MLA formatted with in-text citations and a works cited entry for your chosen song(s).

You may:

·       Use a 4 x 6 index card (both sides) containing ideas/info prepared in advance

·       Look up the lyrics to the song on the internet

·       Use the Purdue Owl MLA Guide to verify that your citations and formatting are correct

You may not:

·       Use the internet to access email, Facebook, or look up any information while your exam is in progress.

·       Consult others during the exam period.

You will have ninety minutes to complete this activity from start to finish. I STRONGLY recommend setting aside the first five minutes of the activity for pre-planning and outlining, and last five minutes for proofreading and editing. Once you have completed the exam, please email it to me as an attachment.

Thank you so much for a wonderful semester. I really respect the work you’ve put in, and I’ve had so much fun with you! I’m on side in all your future endeavors! You are awesome!