Use the information on this page to guide you in creating your Early American iPods wiki page.

After you have read this info, go here to create your Early American iPods wiki page.

Learning Goals

• Creating connections between literary works across time
• between the different periods covered in our reading
• between historical periods and the present
• Giving the appearance of having read and understood the literature we have read
• Constructing  paragraphs that explain ideas coherently and include
• topic sentences
• evidence from texts
• explanations of the evidence
• closing sentences
• Using literary terminology effectively. This is a VERY IMPORTANT GOAL-- perhaps the most important.  Use the literary terms and concepts we have been discussing in the course. Show that you understand what they mean in the context of these writings and songs.
• Comparing or contrasting the two playlists
• Using Modern Language Association (MLA) format correctly to identify sources (quotes, paraphrases, examples, and so on) 
• creating clear sentences

• Beginning to use the online medium effectively to communicate ideas (clear page formatting and organization, links, images, embedded playlists)

Purpose and Content

The overall goal of this assignment is to create and explain two 2-3 song playlists, one playlist each for two authors or characters from our readings in the first 10 weeks of the semester.

To create your playlists consider these questions:

• What songs do you think a particular author or character would have on his/her iPod?
• Why would these songs be on that person's iPod?
• What is the connection between the author's writings or the character's actions/ideas/comments and the songs you are thinking of?
• What overlaps do you see between the literary devices or literary period associated with the author or character and similar devices or ideas in the songs in question? (VERY IMPORTANT)

Once you have chosen your songs for the two playlists, for each song write at least one paragraph justifying why it is on the playlist and connecting it to the author or character and the literary devices or literary period that have been discussed in relation to that author or character.

As you explain these connections, DO NOT USE the biographical sketches that we have read of the authors for this assignment; use only their writings.

Finally, be sure to compare or contrast the two playlists to show similarities or differences between the two individuals. This can be done within the individual paragraphs for each song or in a final paragraph.

Audience
The audience for this writing includes the instructor (me) and all of your classmates.  The wiki is public, so it is available to others as well.

Format
The combined explanations should be at least 1200 words long and will be posted on our wiki. I will grade the Early American iPods assginment based on how it achieves the "learning goals" listed above and conforms to the format below. Here is the specific grading rubric I will use.

Each paragraph should include complete sentences and have a recognizable paragraph structure including such things as a topic sentence, evidence, explanations, and a closing sentence.

In addition, as you  explain your ideas please include the following:

• at least 1200 words,
• at least one specific example or quote from a work we have read in each paragraph justifying one of the songs of the authors/characters we have read
• at least two references (i.e. quotes, paraphrases, examples) to Discussion postings by your colleagues. These can be anywhere in your explanations
• at least one reference to specific literary devices, concepts, genres, or periods we have discussed in each paragraph justifying one of the songs
• a link to your playlist on the web or your embedded playlist in your wiki page from a service such as playlist.com, mixpod.com, or whatever your favorite is. Here is an example of a link: http://www.playlist.com/playlist/20517039371. Below is an example of an embed:

(I was thinking of Edward Taylor's "Meditation 8 (First Series)" when I created this brief playlist.)

Additionally,

• bulleted lists and tables may be used, but are not mandatory;
• images may be used, but are not mandatory.

In addition to the obvious work involved in creating this letter, you are also allowed to have fun with it.

For examples of this assignment, check these

• Brian Mathison: Early American iPod
• Betsy Barta: Early American Ipods
• Rachael Seeley: Ipod playlist