Blues Lyric Assignment

Pts. possible: 2

Instructions

Write a good blues lyric, at least 8 stanzas long, drawing on what we’ve been discussing in class as well as the details of your own life. Be sure to:

1)     provide adequate detail and avoid vague generalities;

2)     heed information we covered in class (see class notes as well as print-outs: “The Rock Lyric as Formal Craft,” “Contemporary Blues Poems,” and “African-American Roots of Rock” );

3)     make the lyric real and true to your own life;

4)     avoid clichés (“classic” isn’t the same as “stale”);

5)     provide a good title;

6)     type your work and post it in Blackboard, under “Student Blues Lyrics” in the Discussion Board by Sun., Jan. 21^st, 6pm.

Evaluation Criteria

I’ll look for a thoughtful, real effort—a lyric which reads well on the page and which would likely work well with music also.  Be sure to apply what we’ve discussed in class as well as information from all readings to date. Make the piece interesting, imaginative, and moving (mournful, funny, raunchy, etc.), and try to keep to the spirit of the blues. Proofread your work for clarity issues and mechanical slips. For policies regarding late work, see our Homepage, under the "Original Lyrics" requirement.

Very Good = A= 1.75-2 pts.. Meets all of the stated criteria and instructions exceptionally well. Excels in inventiveness, originality, and energy, relative to work produced generally in 226. Well-edited and proofed. Possibly publishable.

Good =B = 1.25-1.5 pts. Meets all of the stated criteria and instructions, or meets several of them exceptionally well, despite a weak performance with others.. May be especially striking in spots, despite noticeable flaws. Very competent, but may lack originality or inventiveness, relative to work produced generally in 226. Good attention to style and mechanics. Clear attention to assignment.

Fair = C =. 75-1 pt.. Meets some of the stated criteria, or meets all of them only partially. Uninspired but minimally competent; or very inspired but lacking competence in key areas.. May show some inattention to, or misunderstanding of, instructions. Weak proofreading and editing.

Poor = D = 5. Meets few of the criteria. May not not heed or understand instructions. May be sloppy, unproofed, unedited, and/or very perfunctory and uninspired.. An unsatisfying lyric, saved by at least minimal attention to at least one facet of the piece.

Unacceptable = F = 0 pts. Lyric either fails to meet any of the stated criteria, or demonstrates severe oversights or weaknesses in significant areas.