Option Two—Analysis of an Album:
You will write an essay of between 1200-1400 words, based on -Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
In your essay, we do not want you to just recount factual information such as who produced it or its placement in the charts (in other words, it should not read like a Wikipedia entry). Make sure to avoid the language of a fan (excessive praise, hyperbole, exaggerated claims, etc.). Attributes to consider might include instrumental sounds, beats, samples, lyrical content, collabs, etc.
Carefully describe and analyze what you hear. We recommend that you focus on just 2-3 tracks, given the length of the paper. In other words, your analysis should not be a general review of the entire work; it should be focused around a main idea, thesis, or point of view. We also recommend consulting websites (Genius, Whosampled.com, etc.) and reviews.
Use of Sources: Each essay, regardless of topic, must make substantive use of two course readings or documentary films. Substantive includes use of key ideas/topics, as well as citations or references.
Audience & Formatting: You should write your essay for a college-educated reader, one who is relatively familiar with the texts or terms you discuss.
