Slides for Day 15 in EWRT 1A

1. DAY 15
ONE LAST TIME

2. SOUNDTRACK PRESENTATION

3. PUSHING BACK OUR SCHEDULE
• Updated syllabus now available on
Canvas.
• Paper 3 Draft due in class on
Tuesday.
• Paper 3 FINAL draft due on Monday
AFTER Thanksgiving break.

4. WAYS TO BE “POLITICAL” IN MUSIC
• Descriptions of society can be political.
• Ex.: Society as a safe, happy, comfortable place VS. society as falling apart, dangerous,
scary.
• Stories someone chooses to tell can be political.
• Ex.: Going to the club with your friends VS. your best friend dying of an overdose.
• Critique of society is political.
• Ex.: Society is messed up in certain ways. Things should be different.
• Calls to action or to change behavior are political.
• Ex.: Change your thinking. Get out and vote. Stop treating people in a certain way.

5. THESIS STATEMENTS
• Your thesis statement is your paper's "main
idea." You will need to include an explicit
thesis statement at the end of your
introductory paragraph.
• Your thesis should include your opinion or
point of view.
• It should be something that you can prove
or argue for.
• It shouldn't be too broad or too narrow.
• It should be a point worth making. Beware
opinions that are so widely accepted that
they are almost facts.
• Exercise: Which of the following sentences would make a
good thesis statement for a paper about technology and
romance? Explain why or why not each sentence would be
a good thesis statement.
• 1. Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes.
• 2. There are many ways that technology relates to romance.
• 3. Technology can be very controversial.
• 4. The influence of technology on romance is beneficial.
• 5. Technology has affected romance in a positive way by
providing us with more options.

6. PAPER 3 THESIS STATEMENT
• Question: “How should art engage with contemporary politics?”
• Let’s imagine that I am writing my Paper 3 about Beyoncé’s “Formation” video (even
though it wasn’t one of your choices).
• Here is a possible thesis statement:
Beyonce’s “Formation” demonstrates a productive political intervention in that it
attempts to create and reinforce a community based on shared experience and
identity; however, the video’s attempt to critique broader society is hampered by a
lack of clarity and consistency in the presentation.
• What do you notice about this thesis statement?

7. THESIS STATEMENT AS CONTROLLING IDEA
• What else does a thesis statement
do?
• It controls your body paragraphs.
• How does it do this?
• Topic sentences

8. Thesis as controlling idea for topic sentences.
Thesis: Beyonce’s “Formation” demonstrates a productive political intervention in that it attempts to
create and reinforce a community based on shared experience and identity; however, the video’s
attempt to critique broader society is hampered by a lack of clarity and consistency in the presentation.
Topic Sentences of body paragraphs:
1. In the lyrics to “Formation,” Beyonce’ defines a specifically African American experience.
2. The sense of an African American community that is defined by experience is reinforced by the
visuals.
3. The community that is created by this video is intended to be a specifically political community that
can take action to change society.
4. However, there is a troubling inconsistency between the social critique offered in the visuals and the
lack of strong social critique in the song’s lyrics.
5. The lack of consistency undermines the political urgency that the song’s critique should have.

9. ARTS OF RESISTANCE PROJECT PLANNING
• Discuss with your familia and start to
make plans.
• what kind of performance do you
want to do?
• who will do what?
• what kind of story do you want to
tell?
• when will you each work on what
parts of it?
• I will check in with each familia.

10. HOMEWORK FOR THURSDAY
• Listening:
• 2.12 We Know
• 2.13 Hurricane
• 2.14 The Reynolds Pamphlet
• 2.15 Burn
• Reading:
Annette Gordon-Reed, “Hamilton:
The Musical: Blacks and the Founding
Fathers” (Course Reader pp. 95-98).
• BRING to class: a tentative thesis
statement for Paper 3.
• Presentation: Amalgams
• Snack: Unique