Group Member Names: _____________________Song Name: ______________________
Historical Event: ________________________
Name of the song
Thin example—Does the song have alternative titles?
Thick example—What significance does the title have?
Thin Questions
Thick Questions
Who is
Researching This?
Initial artist (?) For instance, you may be covering U2’s version of “Helter Skelter,” but it was initially
written by The Beatles
Thin examples: When did the initial artist write this song?
In what year did U2 do a cover of the song?
Thick example: Why did U2 decide to cover this song?
Thin Questions
Thick Questions
Who is
Researching This?
Research on the SPECIFIC backstory (for “Scarecrow” you would be looking at the murder of
Matthew Shepard)
Thin Question examples: Where was Matt born? Did he “come out”?
Thick Question examples: Why was Matt murdered?
Thin Questions
Thick Questions
Who is
Researching This?
Political climate of the time period (Things you may want to consider: current president, new
legislation passed, international relations, war etc.)
Thin question example: Who was the president at the time of the historic event?
Thick question example: How did the war in Vietnam complicate the world’s perception of
America?
Thin Questions
Thick Questions
Who is
Researching This?
Cultural climate of the time period (Things you may want to consider: race relations, specific social
issues such as unemployment, economic hardship, crime, stereotyping, old-fashioned thinking,
discrimination etc.)
Sample thin question: What was the unemployment rate in LA at the time of the riots?
Sample thick question: How did the OJ Simpson verdict affect race relations in LA—past and
present?
Thin Questions
Thick Questions
Who is
Researching This?
Contemporary Connections—Why does the song still matter today? How can you still see these
aspects in today’s world?
Thin example: What recent TV shows/movies have alluded to my song?
Thick example: Why is a song on homosexuality more relevant today than in the 90s?
Thin Questions
Thick Questions
Who is
Researching This?
Additional Tasks
Name of Person
Who will convert a video to add it to the wiki?
Who will work on adding photos to the wiki?
Who will be the MLA documentation expert (adding source
information)?
Who will look up unknown words and allusions?
Who will be responsible for holding on to all print copies of research?