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INTRO
When I do a show or an assembly, a student always comes up to me and asks how I take my ideas and turn them into a song. I tell them it’s the WRITING PROCESS. They usually ask, “What’s the WRITING PROCESS?” So, I realized I needed to use the WRITING PROCESS to write a song about the WRITING PROCESS. Are you following me?
CHORUS
When I want to write something and my thoughts are all a mess/
I put it all together with the WRITING PROCESS/
I've got thoughts I must express or issues I must address/
The way to do it best is the WRITING PROCESS/
PREWRITING, DRAFTING, REVISING, EDITING, PUBLISHING/
PREWRITING, DRAFTING, REVISING, EDITING, PUBLISHING/
PREWRITING, DRAFTING, REVISING, EDITING, PUBLISHING/
PREWRITING, DRAFTING, REVISING, EDITING, PUBLISHING/
VERSE ONE
When I’m pre-writing I’m brainstorming what’s gon’ happen/
So before I start rapping I begin by MIND MAPPING/
Start by writing down on paper everything I feel like telling/
No worries ‘bout grammar, punctuation, handwriting or spelling/
Now my idea is in pieces, this is the genesis/
I’m turning my research into a working thesis/
Once I’ve gathered ideas then I make an outline/
This works for letters, essays, books, speeches, or rhymes/
The audience and the purpose sets me on the right path/
Who am I writing for and what arguments do I have/
With those questions asked, I make my first draft/
There’s no exact answer, this ain’t science or math/
To perfect the tone and style I must revise it so I read it/
I see what else is needed and what needs to be deleted/
Like a garden when you water it and weed it, then I repeat it/
No reason to feel defeated, you’ll know when it’s completed/
CHORUS
VERSE TWO
I’ve done pre-writing, drafting, revising and I re-read it/
Now I put that polish on it cause I’m gonna edit/
I proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics/
This part can be a terror but there is no need to panic/
Let me tell you what I’m gonna do, I take my time and read it through/
I find another writer to give it to, because four eyes are better than two/
I make edits to improve on the clarity and style/
Remember to be patient because this might take a while/
I can publish it in so many ways, print it out on a page/
Read it at class or on a stage, depends on the audience I want to engage/
An email blast, television broadcast, an article with photographs/
Or my podcast, maybe a performance with a cast/
Most important thing is that I get it out/
And that I’m clear on what I’m talking about/
So when I turn on the microphone and put it on a track/
You can bounce your head to the WRITING PROCESS when you play it back/
CHORUS
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CHORUS
Rhetoric just like Frederick (8x)
What you talking 'bout? Typing on your keyboard or out your mouth
What you talking 'bout? Words are power make them count
What you talking 'bout? Typing on your keyboard or out your mouth
VERSE ONE (autobiography)
He was many things, including a biographer
America was on trial, he’s the stenographer
Key witness and prosecuting attorney
He took the whole world on his slavery journey
became a voice for the voiceless
enslaved Africans faced with hard choices
back when they thought a former slave couldn’t be literate
Destroyed the myths that masters were considerate
Blew you away with vocabulary
above ordinary, distinguished dignitary
emissary, representing for black pain
deep and philosophical or simple and plain
You know you got a story are you telling it?
Don’t ever think your story isn’t relevant
like Douglass tell your own narrative
So you can have rhetoric just like Frederick
VERSE TWO (journalism)
1847 he started the North Star
At the time black newspapers were bizarre
he felt he had to use his freedom of the press
“Those who suffer injustice are those who must demand redress”
he appreciated white abolitionist
But thought former slaves should tell what the mission is
They pushed forward their efforts
Sold copies through networks, turned readers to experts
then he teamed up with Martin Delaney
Who was astute (that’s another word for brainy)
He thought the publication should be named for its creator
So the name became “The Frederick Douglass Papers”
What’s the story in your world, are you telling it?
Don’t ever think your story isn’t relevant
Telling your story is imperative
So you can have rhetoric just like Frederick
VERSE THREE (orator)
He used his skills to write and perform speeches
That’s readings out loud that inspires and teaches
Before the Civil War few had seen before
a black orator on nationwide tour
When it comes to speeches he might be the GOAT
From slave abolition to women’s rights to vote
Good speeches are the art of story telling
Presenting arguments in a way that’s compelling
Look at the titles, they tell you no lie
Like “What to the slave is the fourth of July”
“The hypocrisy of American slavery”
Giving these speeches showed poise and bravery
What’s your message to the world, are you telling it?
Don’t ever think your message isn’t relevant
Write your words down and then start yelling it
You can have rhetoric just like Frederick
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CHORUS 3X
ASK the right questions, IMAGINE how to solve them,/
PLAN out each and every move/
CREATE a solution to the problem/
See what works and then IMPROVE/
VERSE 1
The first step of EDP is to ASK
What are the key elements in this task?
What is the problem, what have other people tried
What devices are similar, what lessons can that provide
What are things you can do and the things you can’t
Also known as limitations or as the restraints
ASK is the first EDP step
It’s mental exercise so you got to get our reps
CHORUS 3X
VERSE 2
Second step of EDP is IMAGINE
Brainstorm what kind of gadget you want to happen
You’ve asked the right questions, now think up solutions
It’s good to take notes to watch your ideas evolution
The job of imagination is never really done
But when you have a list
of ideas you can pick
take your time so you pick the best one
IMAGINE is the 2nd EDP step
It’s mental exercise so you got to get your reps
CHORUS 3X
VERSE 3
3rd step of EDP is to PLAN
Best way to do it is a diagram
It’s the “design” of the engineering process
Fail to plan or plan to fail,
pay attention to details,
it will help your progress
Make a list of all the materials that you will need
The better you plan the more likely it is you’ll succeed
PLAN is the 3rd EDP step
It’s mental exercise so you got to get your reps
CHORUS 3X
VERSE 4
4th step of EDP is CREATE
You want to get it right so you concentrate
Follow the plan in step 3 precisely
If you planned out right maybe it just might come together nicely
To make sure that your new invention works without a doubt
You have to a test run that means try it out
CREATE is the 4th EDP step
It’s mental exercise you got to get your reps
CHORUS 3X
VERSE 5
5th step of EDP is IMPROVE
Now that you finished your creation what’s your next move
You’ve pressed all the buttons, pulled all the levers
What works and What doesn't?
What’s smooth and What’s buggin’?
What’s perfect and what could work better?
No matter the outcome, you’ve learned so that means that you win
Now take what you learned and do E – D – P over again
IMPROVE is the 5th EDP step
It’s mental exercise; you’ve got to get your reps
CHORUS 3X
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Never know what viruses you might have
From the many things that you might grab
When you sneeze or when you cough make sure you dab
And when you can wash sure your hands
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
The reason for this recital
Is to be like a disease and go viral
Hand washing is our biggest weapon
here’s your hand washing lesson
Do the whole thing there’s no half stepping
It should take about 20 seconds
Turn the water on yeah
Put some soap all in your palms yeah
Make sure you get a good lather
hands are where bacteria gather
mucus splatter, fecal matter
Soap and water make virus scatter
Help you fight disease yeah
Intertwine your fingers like your saying please yeah
Same thing to the back of each hand like this
Then you wipe down both of your wrists
Wash each finger make sure you don’t miss
Then give each thumb a twist
Rinse your hands off yeah
Dry With a towel, hopefully soft yeah
Do this every time you eat, handle vegetables or meat
come in off the street take shoes off your feet
come near a toilet seat,
Wash rinse repeat
Never know what viruses you might have
From the many things that you might grab
When you sneeze or when you cough make sure you dab
And when you can wash sure your hands
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands, wash rinse repeat
Wash your hands several times each day
It works best if you do it this way
For at least 20 seconds that’s what the experts say
Let’s do it right now while the breakdown plays
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