Song Lyrics

Song Lyrics

Optional: Set to the Music of a Well Known Song

Write lyrics to a song or ballad (a song that tells a story). You should have several verses. Think of the main ideas you want the song to express. Remember that songs are to be sung, so think of that as you compose. If you're really adventurous, record your song and make your genre an audio file. Look at the structures of some of your favorite songs to use for examples.

Category	Distinguished 4	Proficient 3	Apprentice 2	Novice 1
Organization	Lyrics are very well organized. One idea follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions, Optional: and it fits the rhythm of the original words.	Lyrics are is pretty well organized. One idea may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used and Optional: usually fits the rhythm of the original words.	Lyrics are a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear. Optional: At times does fit the rhythm of the original words.	Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged and Optional: doesn’t fit the rhythm of the original words.
Focus on Assigned Topic	All lyrics are related to the topic or theme of the project and allow the reader to understand much more about the topic.	Most of the lyrics are related to theme or topic of the project. The story wanders off at one point, but the listener can still learn something about the topic.	Some of the lyrics are related to the topic or theme, but a reader does not learn much about the topic.	No attempt has been made to relate the lyrics to the topic or theme.
Creativity	Lyrics contain many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the listener’s enjoyment. The author has really used his/her imagination.	Lyrics contain a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the listener’s enjoyment. The author has used imagination.	Lyrics contain a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the verse. The author has tried to use his/her imagination.	There is little evidence of creativity in the song. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.
Setting	Many vivid, descriptive words are used to tell When and where the verse took place.	Some vivid, descriptive words are used to tell the audience when and where the verse took place.	The listener can figure out when and where the verse took place, but the author didn’t supply much detail.	The reader has trouble figuring out when and where the verse took place.