Assignment Overview: Identifying arguments and using evidence
The purpose of this assignment is to practice applying the concepts and skills you’ve learned about 1. developing interpretations, which are persuasive arguments, 2. the process of analysis, and 3. using formal, content, and contextual evidence to support those interpretations.
You will listen to an episode of the Switched On Pop about podcast in which the presenters, musicologist to Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding, present their interpretative arguments about two pop songs. You will practice identifying thesis statements, identifying different kinds of evidence (formal, content, context), describinghow the evidence is used to support those arguments, and explaining how the arguments are organized.
The podcast episode you will need to listen to for this assignment is 55 minutes long. Plan your time accordingly. A transcript is available in the Apple podcast app on updated iOS and macOS.
Materials
- Podcast episode: “Anthems of Resilience” . (55 minutes)
- Podcast transcript: I attached photos of the transcript it’s two pages missing because it was too many photos only could upload 10 out of 12!
- Song 1: Kesha, “Praying” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Dur3uXXCQ
- Song 2: Imagine Dragons, “Believer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wtfhZwyrcc
- Elements of Music you can reference this video explanation or this written explanation https://www.schoolofrock.com/resources/music-education/the-7-key-elements-of-all-music
- Elements of Music Chart
Grading Criteria
- All responses must be in your own words, must demonstrate your ability to correctly use and apply the module concepts, and must accurately reflect the content of assignment materials.
- This is not an essay assignment. Do not include extra material (e.g., introduction, conclusion, overly florid vocabulary, unnecessary asides) in your submissions.
- This assignment does not have a research component, and you may not use any outside sources. Any use of outside sources will result in an automatic zero on the assignment.
- Submissions must demonstrate evidence of basic proofreading. Submission may include some errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics, but the errors should not distract from your main ideas and discussions.
- I am not asking about your feelings regarding the music Nate and Charlie are analyzing, whether you like the music or not irrelevant, so be sure you’re focusing on the content and structure of the arguments.
AI Guidelines
For this assignment, the use of generative AI tools is not permitted. This task is designed for you practice applying foundational skills, to assess your understanding, and to reflect on what you’ve learned. Please ensure that all work submitted is your own original thought and analysis.
Instructions
- First, if you’ve not heard the two songs they will be interpreting, you should listen to them before listening to the podcast. They’re both available on youtube and popular music streaming services and linked to in the materials section above.
- Second, Review the questions below, then listen to the “Anthems of Resilience” Links to an external site.episode of the Switched on Pop podcast. I recommend you take notes as you listen.
- Third, open a new document and answer all the questions below (13 in total). Note the words in bold.
Questions (you must answer all the questions completely to earn credit)
- Identify Nate and Charlie’s thesis statement about what they’re arguing Kesha’s “Praying” is about, then paraphrase their thesis in your own words and in no more than one sentence.
- Identify one example of when Nate and Charlie use formal evidence (elements of music) to support their interpretation of Kesha’s “Praying” and explain how they use the evidence to support their interpretation.
- Identify one example of when Nate and Charlie use content evidence (lyrical, thematic, emotional elements) to support their interpretation of Kesha’s “Praying” and explain how they use the evidence to support their interpretation.
- Identify one example of when Nate and Charlie use contextual evidence (anything that’s not an example of form or content is contextual) to support their interpretation of Kesha’s “Praying” and explain how they use the evidence to support their interpretation.
- Identify Nate and Charlie’s thesis statement about what they’re arguing Imagine Dragon’s “Believer” is about, then paraphrase their thesis in your own words and in no more than one sentence.
- Identify one example of when Nate and Charlie use formal evidence (elements of music) to support their interpretation of Imagine Dragon’s “Believer” and explain how they use the evidence to support their interpretation.
- Identify one example of when Nate and Charlie use content evidence (lyrical, thematic, emotional elements) to support their interpretation of Imagine Dragon’s “Believer” and explain how they use the evidence to support their interpretation.
- Identify one example of when Nate and Charlie use contextual evidence (anything that’s not an example of form or content is contextual) to support their interpretation of Imagine Dragon’s “Believer” and explain how they use the evidence to support their interpretation.
- Did you find Nate and Charlie’s arguments coherent, convincing, and comprehensive? Explain your answer with examples and discussion.
- Did you experience any of the three common obstacles to analysis that are described in this “Analysis and Synthesis” Download “Analysis and Synthesis” reading? Explain why or why not. You must reference the reading!
- What have you learned about how to write an interpretive argument and how to support that argument using a blend of formal, content, and contextual evidence?
- What questions do you still have about what an interpretive argument is or the difference between form, content, and content?
- Confirm that you have not used any generative AI tools to complete this assignment.
