1. Identify one African American hip hop song from the 1980s to the early 1990s (no later than 1995) and provide a link to it so that your group members and graders can listen to the song. Pick out specific lyrics from the song and develop a thesis about your song and its lyrics that relates to ideas in the ebook reading how they fit into one or more of the three-step process by Ralph Ellison as part of the blues or the three-step process Craig Werner associates with the gospel. Quote from the ebook. These processes are identified in Ebook Chapter 1 (See attachment), Understanding Black American Aspects in Hip-Hop Cinema. Highlight or underline your thesis so graders immediately know what your argument will be.
2. In this case, you will ALSO reference the chapter in Representing: Social Conservatism and the Culture Wars in Hip-Hop Culture and the Production of Black Cinema by S. Craig Watkins(See Attachment). What additional insight does this chapter give to your understanding your song? A thoughtful inclusion about Werner is worth 35% of this assignment grade. The Watkins reading is required for this module.
3. Be focused, detailed and use short quotes. Yes, you can and will probably need more than 600 words. Remember the essays should contain in-text citations. See the discussion guidelines in the content section and the Course Rubric. You will be graded by the Rubric. This assignment counts for 20% of your grade. Post your original discussion essay in the discussion area and submit to the assignments dropbox before midnight January 22.
4. . Respond to at least one of your group members’ essays and/or to the comments of others who respond to your post. before midnight January 23. This is NOT a peer review. Your comments on style and how well they wrote are not part of this assignment. I am looking for a scholarly consideration of ideas and analysis. You are to address ideas and consider how they apply or don’t apply compared to the scholars and the experts. You are to consider how your classmate’s ideas take the discussion to a deeper or appropriate level. Make sure that your response is meaningful and continues a conversation.

¥ At least 3 proofs to support the thesis
◦ two from course materials
◦ one from your own academic or primary research
¥ Use of in-text citations with page numbers
¥ Works cited with web page links or full printing press information
¥ Good Grammar
Discretionary points for Excellence

his is generally the format of what your essay should look like but refer to the course rubric for even more specific details.
Paragraph 1 — introduction to tell me where you are going. This paragraph includes or starts with a specific distinct thesis that states exactly what you plan to argue. It does not say “I will discuss…” Instead, state your argument and move on to prove it. If I have to wait until the end of the paper to figure out what your point is, you have already failed. Some students put the thesis sentence in italics or bold it. If you want to do this that’s fine. It helps me zero in immediately on what you will argue and may help you keep track of your focus.
Paragraphs 2-5 — justifications. Each subsequent paragraph proves some part of your thesis. They start with and include sub-assertions/topic sentences. These sub-assertions/topic sentences introduce related bits of evidence and are in effect a mini thesis that makes a refined point about SOME aspect of the thesis. In other words, it pinpoints a specific part of the thesis and explains why the information you present is relevant. After the sub assertion, include your evidence — an example, quote, and citation, for example. You must include examples from the narrative. You can combine justifications in paragraphs as long as they relate to the sub assertion, which on a larger scale connects to the thesis. Start each new paragraph with new sub-assertions and justification that highlights another different part of the thesis. Continue until all parts of your thesis are illustrated and justified. Adjust your thesis if need be.
Final Paragraph — add some deeper insight. You started with a thesis — what additional intellectual points can you add that both reflects the original thesis but seems to carry your initial concept further?