The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll of Fame Foundation was established in 1983 to honor major contributors to popular music. In 1986, the Foundation began inducting members, but the museum itself was not opened until 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio. Today, it is one of the biggest tourist draws in the area having hosted close to nine million visitors.

Each year, the Hall of Fame inducts new members to its ranks. While there are categories for producers and influential figures, the heart of the organization remains the performer category. Performers can be inducted 25 years after the release of their first album. There is a voting committee of music journalists, producers, and executives. Each year, five to seven performers are inducted with an accompanying ceremony and concert.

The Hall of Fame is not without controversy. There is definitely some question regarding why some groups are selected and others are not. Arguments about what rock and roll is all about rage each year. Certain individuals have criticized the voting process and the members of the voting committee. That controversy is what this project is all about.

You will be assigned a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (You will have a few options and may choose whomever you wish.) Your task is to determine whether or not your performer(s) should have been selected into this prestigious group. Using research that you learn about the performer(s), released songs, time period in which the performer(s) made the most impact, and influence on society, popular culture, and future artists, you will make your final judgment.

Step one of this project will be to find as much information on this artist as you can. You will need to access materials from books, encyclopedias, the Internet, television, and elsewhere.

Once you have found enough information, it will be up to you to develop a thesis. Whether you choose argumentative or analytical is up to you. (You may have an easier time with the development of an argumentative thesis because you are familiar with persuasive essays.)

Possible ideas could include:

·  As part of the legendary “unholy trinity” of British hard rock bands, it is justified that Deep Purple is finally elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame due their significant influence on current heavy metal and alternative rock bands.

·  For its negative portrayal of African Americans as violent street thugs, hip hop artists N.W.A. should not have been selected as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their music presented controversial lyrics with questionable language – qualities that a true Hall of Fame group should not demonstrate.

·  Despite the fact that Cheap Trick has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the fact that the band was passed over by the voting committee for over 15 years proves that its presence alongside more influential acts is not warranted.

In your essay, you will need to give the reader information about the artists (although remember this is not a biographical report). We cannot assume that it is common knowledge. Then use the history and findings to prove your thesis.

Your paper needs to be a minimum of three typed pages. (12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced) This amounts to approximately 800-900 words. Your essay must include a works cited page with a minimum of 3 sources. (One source must be a print resource – book, encyclopedia, magazine, etc.)

The essay will be scored with the writing rubric you are familiar with. Grade will be derived from:

Focus 5 points (Score = points à 4=5, 3=3.75, 2=2.5, 1=1.25)

Are you on target with your thesis and making statements that relate back to the original thesis?

Content 5 points (Score = points à 4=5, 3=3.75, 2=2.5, 1=1.25)

Have you made enough points to really help prove your claim? Do you use enough evidence from resources to make your point? Have you reached the 3-page minimum?

Organization 5 points (Score = points à 4=5, 3=3.75, 2=2.5, 1=1.25)

Are your ideas separated into manageable, sensible paragraphs? Do you have a logical introduction and conclusion?

Style 5 points (Score = points à 4=5, 3=3.75, 2=2.5, 1=1.25)

Do you have diverse transitions between paragraphs? Do you avoid “I statements?” Do you have a mix of direct quotes and paraphrasing? Does the conclusion leave the reader with more than just a recap?

Conventions 5 points (Score = points à 4=5, 3=3.75, 2=2.5, 1=1.25)

Have you made spelling and grammatical errors that detract from the readability of your essay?

Works cited page 2 points (Proper format AND in-text citations.)

Minimum 3 sources 3 points (You either have it or not.)

TOTAL 30 points

RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST

1st day of library research ______

2nd day of library research ______

Thesis statement due ______

Intro paragraph due ______

Works cited due ______

Rough draft due ______

Final draft due ______

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

1.  When did the performer(s) first play? Was he/she/they similar or different to other groups that performed during the same time?

2.  What was taking place during the time period in which the performer(s) was most significant? Did he/she/they have any impact on this time period?

3.  Was the performer(s) and/or his/her/their songs culturally significant? Why?

4.  Did the lyrics talk about something of significance, or was it the way that it was said that was important?

5.  Books/Websites to look at:

  1. Band biographies – If your band is big enough, it may have a book in the biographies section. If the band is newer, it may not be there. You may find more luck using one of the websites for this purpose.
  2. Popular music encyclopedias – There are a number of books in this section that will give you something to get started from.
  3. History books – There are great books on the American decades. Some are in the reference section. Some are in the books that you are allowed to take out. Be sure you know when the song was released.
  4. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website – This is a great source for information about the bands. There are lots of biographies as well as interviews concerning the bands and (in some cases) the songs.

You really need to think in order to figure out the best way to go about this. Be smart. Try different angles. You can do it. Ask for help. J

MY OPTIONS

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