LYRICS: Using 2Pac's "Thugz Mansion" to teach paraphrasing and quoting from sources

[camille napier bernstein]

There are two similar handouts here, used following presentations on paraphrase and quotation.

One handout asks students to paraphrase an excerpt of 2Pac's "Thugz Mansion" and the other asks them to consider which sections would be better quoted to preserve their "flava."

I introduced it with the song playing (clean version) and suggesting how they might paraphrase 2Pac's message to make their parents understand the universality of the song's message. 

"Mom, you have a lot of stress, right?  So does 2Pac, and he just wants to find a place where he and his friends can hang out."

"Dad, have you ever felt so bad you wanted to end it, but then someone inspired you to persevere?  Well, then you can relate to 2Pac's."

"Mom, sometimes people judge others without knowing the inner turmoil of their lives, lives marked by extreme deprivation."

"Dad, 2Pac is making a socio-political statement about the lack of options for urban youth, and I think you should sympathize with his plight, instead of judge the means by which he shares it."

 

Anyway, enjoy.

Camille