American...Grammar Idol!

Grammar...Boring...Music...BETTER! You are going to embark on a quest to become MCMS's next Grammar Idol!

To become a master of your group's part of speech and present your musical talents to the class:



Group Roles (all group members are the talent):

Coach/Producer: Makes sure everyone participates and is on task.

Recorder/Mixer: Writes down all answers on paper.

Typist/Hacker: Person who does all the typing and clicking.

1. Pick your group roles. Your lyric topic will be given to you.

2. Make a song that teaches your topic.

3. Rehearse your song.

4. Present your song to class.

Use the website that corresponds with what your group was assigned:

Phrase:

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/phrase.htm

Independent Clause:

http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/independent_clause.htm  

Dependent Clause:

http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/dependent_clause.htm 

 

Compound Sentences:

http://www.softschools.com/examples/grammar/compound_sentences_examples/442/

http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/compound_sentence.htm

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers:

http://www.chompchomp.com/rules/modifierrules.htm 

http://www.chompchomp.com/modifiers01/modifiers01.htm

Coordinate Adjectives:

http://www.write.com/writing-guides/general-writing/punctuation/mastering-the-art-of-comma-usage/commas-coordinate-adjectives/

http://www.chompchomp.com/handouts/commatip06.pdf

Analogies:

http://writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/analogy

http://www.literarydevices.com/analogy/

http://www.softschools.com/examples/grammar/analogy_examples/116/

You will be evaluated on your lyrics. 

It does not have to be a Top 40 hit, it just has to show your understanding of your topic.

Be ready to present! 

There are three main parts to a song:

Verse

Chorus

Hook

Yes, even a song has a hook!

• Everyone starts at a different spot, but most start with the hook.

What is a hook?

The catchiest and most stand-out part of a song. It usually encompasses the main idea of a song, and often relies on repetition.

What makes a hook interesting, is that they are quotable, catchy, and reveal personality

Some hooks you may know are:

"Because you know I'm all about that bass, 'bout that bass, 'bout that bass"

"Jumpman, jumpman, jumpman"

"Rain drop, drop top"

"Sit down, be humble"

• A verse is:

Similar to how paragraphs are the body of a letter or essay. The verse is like a stanza in poetry. The length is usually larger than the rest of the components.

They are the proving points of the lyricist.

Some verses you may be familiar with are:

"You look as good as the day I met you

I forget just why I left you, I was insane

Stay and play that Blink-182 song

That we beat to death in Tuscon, okay"

"Been sitting eyes wide open behind these four walls, hoping you'd call

It's just a cruel existence like there's no point hoping at all" 

"Somethin' ain't right when we talkin'

Somethin' ain't right when we talkin'

Look like you hidin' your problems

Really you never was solid

No you can't son me, you won't never get to run me

Just when it look, outta reach, I reach back like one, three

Like one, three, yeah"

• A chorus is:

The most recognizable and relevant part of a song. The word “Chorus” comes from the old days of Ancient Greece.

Now in popular and modern music, we have instrumentalists, vocalists in all genres who specialize in this songwriting technique. Most of the time the song title is said in the chorus, summing up the entire theme, other times they are not.

Some choruses you may be familiar with:

"I've been down so long it look like up to me

They look up to me

I got fake people showin' fake love to me

Straight up to my face, straight up to my face

I've been down so long it look like up to me

They look up to me

I got fake people showin' fake love to me

Straight up to my face, straight up to my face"

"If we go down then we go down together

They'll say you could do anything

They'll say that I was clever

If we go down then we go down together

We'll get away with everything

Let's show them we are better

Let's show them we are better

Let's show them we are better"

"I don't wanna live forever, 'cause I know I'll be living in vain

And I don't wanna fit wherever

I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home

I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home

I just wanna keep calling your name until you come back home"