Today students shared their homework from Tuesday, we then listened to "Me Against the World," then read:"The Shining Star Within," "Starry Night," "If I Fail," and "What Is It That I Search 4." We spent some time in pairs discussing the song. Students were instructed to list themes and then develop and outline of the song's lyrics.
From there we read the poems, then discussed the common themes, as we referred to references cited in Dyson (chapter 4 which is about Tupac's education). We then talked about introductions and conclusions. I referenced Hacker (24) and listed on the board types of conclusions, emphasizing the importance of audience and purpose in determining what kind of conclusion you want to use.
One of the themes we saw repeatedly was isolation in the song. When we looked at the poems, especially "If I Fail" (27), students noted the triumph and optimism hinted at in "Me Against the World." We also noticed that in all Tupac's writing he gives advice, advice he is also extending to himself.
The assignment was to develop an introductory paragraph and a conclusion. The resources are: the song referenced above and one of the poems.
Students were encouraged to use their outlines (developed collaboratively in class) and develop an introductory paragraph(s) and a conclusion.
Students are to bring their outlines to class on Tuesday, October 9 on a disk so we can post them on-line at the blog.
I'd also like students to begin to dialogue here. After each class please give your feedback on the discussions and ask any lingering questions you might have which we could address here. The comments can be anonymous. This will help me when I get behind on the posts.
Reading
Students were also told to read up to Chapter 7 in Dyson's book.
1 comment:
Tristan Jazmin
Introduction & Conclusion
Failure is a strong word; it means to prove unsuccessful at something. However, in the career of Tupac “Makaveli” Shakur, succession through the themes described in his poems and music echoed each other, which prepared him to become one of the most highly regarded hip hop artists ever. A man that was full of knowledge politically and intellectually, Tupac’s 1995 song Me Against the World outlined his desire to make changes in the political world and for the lives of the corrupted youth. Similarly, his poem “If I Fail” addressed his own willpower to keep trying, even given his circumstances; a harsh but rewarding upbringing.
The themes explained in Tupac’s “If I Fail” poem and song Me Against the World highlight his ambitious mind, and brave heart. Tupac craved so many goals in his life and for the world, including changes for improved life for the youth, despite all the consequences of the streets; the “thug life”. Without a father and not much money, Tupac’s hard life was cut short at the age of 25. Through his music and poetry, however, Tupac’s words have and will hopefully inspire future generations for years to come.
Works Cited
Shakur, Tupac Amaru. Me Against the World.
Shakur, Tupac Amaru. The Rose That Grew From Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
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