In-Class, Jan. 25th: ENGFISH, and Song Texts

Hello!

Task 1:
Read the following website about ENGFISH. There are only two things to remember:
1) DON’T USE IT!
2) Be able to detect it when other people talk to you like this – professors use ENGFISH, too!


Today, we will work in groups, and each group will post one short summary on our blog. (Add all the names of your group members to your blog entry.)


Task 2:
We are going to prepare for our Unit 1 essay, a Song Text Argument Analysis.
Topic: SONG TEXT ABOUT A SOCIAL ISSUE

Work in groups of 3-4 people. Pick a song text (one of the links below). In your group, discuss what the writer’s main point is. Then, create a “perfect” introduction and summary of no more than 200 words, and publish it on this blog. Hint: Do some Internet research to expand your background knowledge (when did the composer write it, in which country, during which social / political circumstances). Distribute those tasks fairly in your group - one person has to type the blog, another does a specific research....

Group 1: “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins

Group 2: “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan

Group 3: “Mother’s Little Helper” by the Rolling Stones

Group 4: “The Streets of London” by Ralph McTell

Group 5: “Space Oddity” by David Bowie

Group 6: “The Town I Loved So Well” by Phil Coulter


Task 3:

Write an analysis of the ARGUMENT the song makes. What feelings does the song text appeal to? Does it inform, convince, or encourage you to explore and take action? Does it talk about past (forensic), future (deliberative), or our daily life in the present (ceremonial)? What is its target? If you don't know, google it and find out what the composer might have wanted to say. (If there are unknown words in your song, google them to find out what they mean, or use an online dictionary.)

Homework:

These were the songs I grew up with, some 25 years ago…. ;-) Now it’s up to you: pick a song YOU like which contains an ARGUMENT dealing with a SOCIAL ISSUE, and write a short MEMO to me why you want to choose this song for your Unit 1 Essay. Either email the link with the song text and your memo to me for Monday, or bring them to class on Monday in paper format, so I can approve of your song by Wednesday.

Have fun!