Student+Assignment

In your discussion groups, answer the following questions. Remember, there may be three or four people in your discussion groups for this 6 weeks, but each and every one of you needs to fill this out for your notebook. We will go over these questions at the end of class, so be prepared to share your answers.
 * Musical Musings: Finding the Story in the Music--****In Class Assignment**
 * This piece is called "Pipe Dream". Do you think the title is appropriate for this piece? Why or why not? Use at least three supporting points to defend your position.


 * Brainstorm possible alternative names for this piece. Explain your reasoning behind your top three choices.


 * Envision someone actually building a machine similar to this that would be able to play songs on its' own. How complicated do you think it would be? How would you maintain such a machine?


 * In our recent discussion of Chris Van Allsburg, we explored how authors will sometimes tell a story with little or no words, using pictures and images instead to convey their message. Earlier in the year, we discussed how writing lyrics set to music can be a form of creative writing where the author utilizes music to help tell the story. In fact, those of you in band pointed out that music does not even need words to tell a story as you saw in your sheet music for “The Inferno” which is a purely instrumental telling of Dante Alighieri’s //The Divine Comedy//. Building upon your new-found understanding of the way images and music can be combined or separated to create and tell a story, discuss in your group what story you think “Pipe Dream” is telling --remember, all images and all music express //something,// so //nothing// is not an appropriate answer for this question. Record your thoughts in a well organized paragraph using specific examples from the video.

**Musical Musings: Finding the Story in the Music -- At Home Project** Now that you have discussed “Pipe Dream” in detail with your group and with the class, you will complete an individual written assignment **due at the beginning of class Friday**. You may write either a creative essay or a mini reasearch paper for this project. Regardless of which option you choose you need to think of the story behind the machine in "Pipe Dream" for the creative option, you will imagine and explore a world in which the machine would exist, for the research option, you will research representations of machines similar to that in "Pipe Dream" and discuss where the machine on the video fits in with your research. You may come in before school or by appointment in the afternoons to use the computers in the classroom, use the library computers, or your own computer at home to complete this assignment.


 * Option 1: Create Your Own Story**

As you saw in class today, everything tells a story, even if at first glance it appears not to. You are going to create part of the story behind the scenes for “Pipe Dream.” First, watch the video again on the class website and pay close attention to how everything works from a mechanical perspective: the intricate timing, the precision required to make this machine work, the careful coordination of sight and sound. Next, pick a perspective (i.e.: the machine’s designer, the musician responsible for writing the music, the machine’s caretaker, or even one of the many bouncing balls that roll through the machine). Lastly, write a two to three page creative essay from your chosen perspective. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, the creation/construction of the machine, the time the machine broke during a performance, and the daily maintenance of the machine itself. The important part to remember is that this is a creative piece, so __be creative__ and use your imagination. Dialogue is not required for this piece, but may be helpful in telling your story. Spelling and grammar count in this assignment - as always - so check your work carefully and follow our classroom guidelines regarding format.

Creativity: 50 pts Length: 20 pts Spelling/Grammar: 20 pts Format: 10 pts
 * Grading Rubric:**
 * Late: 10 pts will be deducted for each day this assignment is late.


 * Option 2: Mini Research Project**

The machine shown in the video clip “Pipe Dream” is in many ways similar to the complicated machines depicted in Rube Goldberg’s cartoons. Goldberg’s drawings bring a whole genre of inventions to life: his genius is in imagining complicated machines that perform simple tasks. There are even international competitions to see who can build the best Rube Goldberg machine around a central theme every year. Research Rube Goldberg and Rube Goldberg machines and present your findings in a two to three page paper. At least one paragraph of your paper must be devoted to explaining why the machine in “Pipe Dream” is or is not a true Rube Goldberg machine in your opinion. Use supporting evidence. The “Pipe Dream” video and a list of helpful links are posted on the class website, but feel free to conduct outside research online or in the library. Spelling and grammar count - as always - in this assignment so check your work carefully and follow our classroom guidelines with regard to MLA format. Make sure to include a works cited and/or works consulted page. This page does not count towards the two to three page requirement.

Research evident in paper: 30 pts Length: 20 pts Spelling/Grammar: 20 pts Opinion Paragraph: 10 pts Works Cited Page: 10 pts MLA Format: 10 pts
 * Grading Rubric:**
 * Late: 10 pts will be deducted for each day this assignment is late.