Breaking News English Lesson: Kendrick Lamar

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Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer Prize for music (20th April, 2018)

The Reading / Listening - Kendrick Lamar - Level 3

The American rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar has become the first non-classical or jazz musician to win the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for music. The annual award is given to musicians who have created a "distinguished musical composition". Lamar won it for his album "DAMN". The 30-year-old Lamar wrote and rapped about the reality of life as a black man in the USA. He wrote songs like "Alright" and "The Blacker the Berry". These have become very well known since the police shootings of many black people in America. The Pulitzer board said the album was a "virtuosic song collection" that captured "the modern African-American life". Mr Lamar has not yet commented on his award.

The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition. It started in 1917 to honour news reporting. The first prize for musical composition was awarded in 1943. Kendrick Lamar is the first rapper to win the award and the most commercially successful musician to receive it. The prize is usually given to classical musicians. The Pulitzer committee said: "We are very proud of this selection. It means that...the best work was awarded a Pulitzer Prize." It added: "It shines a light on hip-hop in a completely different way." Sky News said: "Lamar has won...for his deep lyrical content...and his profound mix of hip hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, poetry and African sounds."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Kendrick Lamar - Level 0, Kendrick Lamar - Level 1 or Kendrick Lamar - Level 2

Sources

https://news.sky.com/story/kendrick-lamar-becomes-first-non-classical-or-jazz-musician-to-win-pulitzer-prize-11334352
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kendrick-lamars-pulitzer-win-is-just-the-beginning-w519246
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/arts/music/kendrick-lamar-pulitzer-prize-damn.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. RAPPERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about rappers. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
rapper / songwriter / classical / jazz / reality / police / shootings / song collection /
award / achievement / journalism / literature / musician / proud / hip-hop / poetry
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HIP-HOP: Students A strongly believe hip-hop is more important than jazz; Students B strongly believe jazz is more important. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AWARDS: Who would you give these awards to and why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Who to?	Why?
Musician
Actor
Politician
Business person
Peace maker
Athlete

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. MUSICIAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "musician". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MUSIC: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

classical
country
electro
folk
hip-hop
jazz
soul
funk

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	musician	a.	A prize or honour given to someone for doing something great.
2.	prestigious	b.	The world and life as it really is.
3.	annual	c.	A person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a job, or is musically talented.
4.	award	d.	Said something about something or someone.
5.	reality	e.	Having a high status.
6.	captured	f.	Happening once every year.
7.	commented	g.	Recorded or described well in words or pictures.

Paragraph 2

8.	achievements	h.	About the words of a popular song.
9.	journalism	i.	A thing done successfully, usually by effort, courage, or skill.
10.	commercially	j.	The activity or job of writing for newspapers, magazines, or news websites or of preparing news.
11.	proud	k.	Totally.
12.	completely	l.	Feeling very, very happy or satisfied because of something you did or have, or because of what someone you know well did.
13.	deep	m.	In a way that is about buying, selling, and making money.
14.	lyrical	n.	Emotional thinking.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Kendrick Lamar is the first non-classical musician to win the prize. T / F
Mr Lamar won the prize for one of his songs. T / F
Police shootings in the USA made Lamar's songs better known. T / F
Kendrick Lamar said he was very happy with the award. T / F
The Pulitzer Prize is only for journalism and music composition. T / F
The Pulitzer Prize for music started after the one for journalism. T / F
The Pulitzer Prize committee was proud of its choice of winner. T / F
A news channel said Lamar mixed rap with African sounds and jazz. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

musician
prestigious
reality
collection
commented
literature
awarded
proud
completely
mix

given
spoken about
selection
blend
leading
pleased
performer
totally
truth
writing

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

the first non-classical or
created a distinguished musical
Lamar wrote and rapped about the reality
captured the modern African-American
Mr Lamar has not yet commented
an award for achievements
the most commercially successful
The prize is usually given to
It shines a light on hip-hop in a completely
Lamar has won for his deep

of life as a black man
lyrical content
on his award
classical musicians
musician to receive it
jazz musician to win
different way
life
in journalism
composition

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

classical
reality
collection
songwriter
yet
album
annual
since

The American rapper and (1) ____________ Kendrick Lamar has become the first non-(2) ____________ or jazz musician to win the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for music. The (3) ____________ award is given to musicians who have created a "distinguished musical composition". Lamar won it for his (4) ____________ "DAMN". The 30-year-old Lamar wrote and rapped about the (5) ____________ of life as a black man in the USA. He wrote songs like "Alright" and "The Blacker the Berry". These have become very well known (6) ____________ the police shootings of many black people in America. The Pulitzer board said the album was a "virtuosic song (7) ____________ " that captured "the modern African-American life". Mr Lamar has not (8) ____________ commented on his award.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

usually
first
deep
literature
poetry
proud
successful
light

The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in journalism, (9) ____________, and musical composition. It started in 1917 to honour news reporting. The (10) ____________ prize for musical composition was awarded in 1943. Kendrick Lamar is the first rapper to win the award and the most commercially (11) ____________ musician to receive it. The prize is (12) ____________ given to classical musicians. The Pulitzer committee said: "We are very (13) ____________ of this selection. It means that...the best work was awarded a Pulitzer Prize." It added: "It shines a (14) ____________ on hip-hop in a completely different way." Sky News said: "Lamar has won...for his (15) ____________ lyrical content...and his profound mix of hip hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, (16) ____________ and African sounds."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) the first non-classical or jazz musician to ______ Pulitzer Prize
     a. wind the prestigious
     b. wins the prestigious
     c. win the prestigious
     d. whine the prestigious
2) The 30-year-old Lamar wrote and rapped about the ______
     a. realty of life
     b. reality of life
     c. royalty of life
     d. regality of life
3) These have become very well known since the ______
     a. police shoot-ins
     b. police shootings
     c. policy shootings
     d. policy shoot-ins
4) the album was a "virtuosic song collection" that captured "the modern ______
     a. African-American live
     b. African-American rife
     c. African-American life
     d. African-American alive
5) Mr Lamar has not yet commented ______
     a. in his award
     b. of his award
     c. on his award
     d. oh his award

6) an award for achievements in journalism, literature, and ______
     a. musical composition
     b. musicals composition
     c. musically composition
     d. musicality composition
7) the most commercially successful musician ______
     a. to receive it
     b. to receives it
     c. to received it
     d. to receiving it
8) It shines a light on hip-hop in a completely ______
     a. difference way
     b. different way
     c. differential way
     d. differentiate way
9) Lamar has won...for his deep ______
     a. lyre recall content
     b. lyric all content
     c. lyre a call content
     d. lyrical content
10) his profound mix of hip hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, ______ sounds
     a. poetical and African
     b. poetry and African
     c. poet try and African
     d. poet array and African

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The American (1) ___________________ Kendrick Lamar has become the first non-classical or jazz musician (2) ___________________ prestigious Pulitzer Prize for music. The annual award is given to musicians who (3) ___________________ "distinguished musical composition". Lamar won it for his album "DAMN". The 30-year-old Lamar wrote and rapped about the (4) ___________________ as a black man in the USA. He wrote songs like "Alright" and "The Blacker the Berry". These have become very well known (5) ___________________ shootings of many black people in America. The Pulitzer board said the album was a "virtuosic song collection" that captured "the modern African-American life". Mr Lamar has (6) ___________________ on his award.

The Pulitzer Prize is (7) ___________________ achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition. It started in 1917 to honour news reporting. The first prize for musical composition (8) ___________________ 1943. Kendrick Lamar is the first rapper to win the award and the most commercially successful musician (9) ___________________. The prize is usually given to classical musicians. The Pulitzer committee said: "We are very (10) ___________________ selection. It means that...the best work was awarded a Pulitzer Prize." It added: "It (11) ___________________ on hip-hop in a completely different way." Sky News said: "Lamar has won...for his deep lyrical content...and his profound mix of hip hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, poetry (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

What other music genre has won the award besides classical and rap?
What is the name of the album that won the prize?
How old is Kendrick Lamar?
What made the album more well known?
What did Kendrick Lamar say about the award?
When did the Pulitzer Prize for journalism begin?
When did the Pulitzer Prize for music begin?
Who is the prize usually given to?
What did the committee say the prize shone on hip-hop?
What kind of lyrical content did Sky News say Lamar wrote?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What other music genre has won the award besides classical and rap?
a) world music
b) jazz
c) opera
d) folk
2) What is the name of the album that won the prize?
a) DAME
b) DARN
c) MAD
d) DAMN
3) How old is Kendrick Lamar?
a) 30
b) 31
c) 32
d) 33
4) What made the album more well known?
a) a viral campaign
b) Internet news
c) police shootings
d) a TV show
5) What did Kendrick Lamar say about the award?
a) "Thank you"
b) nothing yet
c) "I'm so happy"
d) "I'm speechless"

6) When did the Pulitzer Prize for journalism begin?
a) 1917
b) 1719
c) 1971
d) 1197
7) When did the Pulitzer Prize for music begin?
a) 1941
b) 1942
c) 1943
d) 1940
8) Who is the prize usually given to?
a) classical musicians
b) composers
c) conductors
d) pianists
9) What did the committee say the prize shone on hip-hop?
a) a light
b) a shadow
c) a sunbeam
d) moonlight
10) What kind of lyrical content did Sky News say Lamar wrote?
a) emotional lyrical content
b) novel lyrical content
c) original lyrical content
d) deep lyrical content

Role play

Role A – Hip-Hop
You think hip-hop is the best music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): jazz, classical or folk.

Role B – Jazz
You think jazz is the best music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): hip-hop, classical or folk.

Role C – Classical
You think classical is the best music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): jazz, hip-hop or folk.

Role D – Folk
You think folk is the best music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of music. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): jazz, classical or hip-hop.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'jazz'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'rap'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

literature

1917

most

proud

light

spoken

non

annual

rapped

since

collection

yet

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer Prize for music

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'rapper'?
What do you know about Kendrick Lamar?
How important is it to hip-hop that a rapper got this award?
What do you think of rap?
How good is this album to beat all other kinds of music?
What do you think about what Mr Lamar raps about?
Should all music be about real life and important issues?
What do you know about police shootings in America?
Would you like to listen to the album?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'songwriter'?
What do you think about what you read?
Who do you think should get a music award?
Is classical music better than rap music?
How does hip-hop influence your country's culture?
What are the similarities between rap and poetry?
How important are deep lyrics?
Who is the best rapper in history?
What questions would you like to ask Mr Lamar?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The American rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar has become the (1) ____ non-classical or jazz musician to win the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for music. The annual award is (2) ____ to musicians who have created a "distinguished musical composition". Lamar won it (3) ____ his album "DAMN". The 30-year-old Lamar wrote and rapped about the (4) ____ of life as a black man in the USA. He wrote songs like "Alright" and "The Blacker the Berry". These have become very well known (5) ____ the police shootings of many black people in America. The Pulitzer board said the album was a "virtuosic song collection" that captured "the modern African-American (6) ____ ". Mr Lamar has not yet commented on his award.

The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements (7) ____ journalism, literature, and musical composition. It started in 1917 to honour news reporting. The first prize for musical composition was (8) ____ in 1943. Kendrick Lamar is the first rapper to win the award and the (9) ____ commercially successful musician to receive it. The prize is usually given to classical musicians. The Pulitzer committee said: "We are very (10) ____ of this selection. It means that...the best work was awarded a Pulitzer Prize." It added: "It (11) ____ a light on hip-hop in a completely different way." Sky News said: "Lamar has won...for his deep lyrical content...and his profound mix of hip hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, (12) ____ and African sounds."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) frost (b) fist (c) fast (d) first
(a) giving (b) gives (c) gave (d) given
(a) of (b) for (c) by (d) at
(a) really (b) real (c) reality (d) realize
(a) since (b) as (c) for (d) on
(a) life (b) live (c) living (d) liver
(a) to (b) at (c) on (d) in
(a) awarded (b) awards (c) award (d) awarding
(a) must (b) most (c) mist (d) mast
(a) pride (b) prod (c) proud (d) proudly
(a) shining (b) shiny (c) shines (d) shiner
(a) poetic (b) poetry (c) poem (d) poetically

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The American rapper and nserwrtgoi
The alnaun award
the ityrlea of life as a black man
since the police isotsnogh
urecpatd "the modern African-American life
Mr Lamar has not yet mcementod

Paragraph 2

journalism, ertuialtre, and musical composition
the most commercially euulscscfs
usually given to acaclslsi musicians
We are very proud of this ioletnsce
in a yecploemlt different way
funk, teoyrp and African sounds

Put the text back together

(...) The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition. It started
(...) selection. It means that...the best work was awarded a Pulitzer Prize." It added: "It shines a light on hip-hop in a completely
(...) collection" that captured "the modern African-American life". Mr Lamar has not yet commented on his award.
(...) win the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for music. The annual award is given to musicians who have
(...) created a "distinguished musical composition". Lamar won it for his album "DAMN". The 30-year-old Lamar
(...) in 1917 to honour news reporting. The first prize for musical composition was awarded in 1943. Kendrick Lamar is the first
(...) given to classical musicians. The Pulitzer committee said: "We are very proud of this
( 1 ) The American rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar has become the first non-classical or jazz musician to
(...) rapper to win the award and the most commercially successful musician to receive it. The prize is usually
(...) of hip hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, poetry and African sounds."
(...) shootings of many black people in America. The Pulitzer board said the album was a "virtuosic song
(...) "Alright" and "The Blacker the Berry". These have become very well known since the police
(...) different way." Sky News said: "Lamar has won...for his deep lyrical content...and his profound mix
(...) wrote and rapped about the reality of life as a black man in the USA. He wrote songs like

Put the words in the right order

to first non-classical The musician win .
distinguished who composition . have musical created a Musicians
man . a black life of reality The as
have since shootings . known become well the These
commented has not Lamar his award . on yet
started reporting . in to honour It 1917 news
is win the Lamar first the award . to rapper
to usually prize given classical musicians . is The
It on light a hip-hop . shines
deep won content . for lyrical has Lamar his

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The American rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar has became / become the first / firstly non-classical or jazz musician to win the prestige / prestigious Pulitzer Prize for music. The annual award is given to / at musicians who have created a "distinguished musical composer / composition". Lamar won it for his album "DAMN". The 30-year-old Lamar wrote and rapped about the reality / real of life as a black man in the USA. He wrote songs like "Alright" and "The Blacker the Berry". These have become very well knowing / known since the police shootings / shoots of many black people in America. The Pulitzer board said the album was a "virtuosic sing / song collection" that captured "the modern African-American life". Mr Lamar has not yet commented on / in his award.

The Pulitzer Prize is an award for / to achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition. It started in 1917 to honour news report / reporting. The first prize for musical composition was awarded / awarding in 1943. Kendrick Lamar is the first rapper to win the award and the must / most commercially successful musical / musician to receive it. The prize is usually given to classical musicians. The Pulitzer committee said: "We are very pride / proud of this selection. It means that...the best work was awarded a Pulitzer Prize." It added: "It shines / shining a light on hip-hop in a completely different weigh / way." Sky News said: "Lamar has won...for his deep lyrical contain / content...and his profound mix of hip hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, poetry / poem and African sounds."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

T h_ A m_r_c_n r_p p_r _n d s_n g w r_t_r K_n d r_c k L_m_r h_s b_c_m_ t h_ f_r s t n_n - c l_s s_c_l _r j_z z m_s_c__ n t_ w_n t h_ p r_s t_g___s P_l_t z_r P r_z_ f_r m_s_c . T h_ _n n__ l _w_r d _s g_v_n t_ m_s_c__ n s w h_ h_v_ c r__ t_d _ " d_s t_n g__ s h_d m_s_c_l c_m p_s_t__ n " . L_m_r w_n _t f_r h_s _l b_m " D A M N " . T h_ 3 0 - y__ r -_l d L_m_r w r_t_ _n d r_p p_d _b__ t t h_ r__ l_t y _f l_f_ _s _ b l_c k m_n _n t h_ U S A . H_ w r_t_ s_n g s l_k_ " A l r_g h t " _n d " T h_ B l_c k_r t h_ B_r r y " . T h_s_ h_v_ b_c_m_ v_r y w_l l k n_w n s_n c_ t h_ p_l_c_ s h__ t_n g s _f m_n y b l_c k p__ p l_ _n A m_r_c_. T h_ P_l_t z_r b__ r d s__ d t h_ _l b_m w_s _ " v_r t__ s_c s_n g c_l l_c t__ n " t h_t c_p t_r_d " t h_ m_d_r n A f r_c_n - A m_r_c_n l_f_" . M r L_m_r h_s n_t y_t c_m m_n t_d _n h_s _w_r d .

T h_ P_l_t z_r P r_z_ _s _n _w_r d f_r _c h__ v_m_n t s _n j__ r n_l_s m , l_t_r_t_r_, _n d m_s_c_l c_m p_s_t__ n . I t s t_r t_d _n 1 9 1 7 t_ h_n__ r n_w s r_p_r t_n g . T h_ f_r s t p r_z_ f_r m_s_c_l c_m p_s_t__ n w_s _w_r d_d _n 1 9 4 3 . K_n d r_c k L_m_r _s t h_ f_r s t r_p p_r t_ w_n t h_ _w_r d _n d t h_ m_s t c_m m_r c__ l l y s_c c_s s f_l m_s_c__ n t_ r_c__ v_ _t . T h_ p r_z_ _s _s__ l l y g_v_n t_ c l_s s_c_l m_s_c__ n s . T h_ P_l_t z_r c_m m_t t__ s__ d : " W_ _r_ v_r y p r__ d _f t h_s s_l_c t__ n . I t m__ n s t h_t . . . t h_ b_s t w_r k w_s _w_r d_d _ P_l_t z_r P r_z_. " I t _d d_d : " I t s h_n_s _ l_g h t _n h_p - h_p _n _ c_m p l_t_l y d_f f_r_n t w_y . " S k y N_w s s__ d : " L_m_r h_s w_n . . . f_r h_s d__ p l y r_c_l c_n t_n t . . ._n d h_s p r_f__ n d m_x _f h_p h_p , s p_k_n w_r d , j_z z , s__ l , f_n k , p__ t r y _n d A f r_c_n s__ n d s . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the american rapper and songwriter kendrick lamar has become the first nonclassical or jazz musician to win the prestigious pulitzer prize for music the annual award is given to musicians who have created a distinguished musical composition lamar won it for his album damn the 30yearold lamar wrote and rapped about the reality of life as a black man in the usa he wrote songs like alright and the blacker the berry these have become very well known since the police shootings of many black people in america the pulitzer board said the album was a virtuosic song collection that captured the modern africanamerican life mr lamar has not yet commented on his award

the pulitzer prize is an award for achievements in journalism literature and musical composition it started in 1917 to honour news reporting the first prize for musical composition was awarded in 1943 kendrick lamar is the first rapper to win the award and the most commercially successful musician to receive it the prize is usually given to classical musicians the pulitzer committee said we are very proud of this selection it means thatthe best work was awarded a pulitzer prize it added it shines a light on hiphop in a completely different way Sky News said lamar has wonfor his deep lyrical contentand his profound mix of hip hop spoken word jazz soul funk poetry and african sounds

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheAmericanrapperandsongwriterKendrickLamarhasbecomethefirs
tnon-classicalorjazzmusiciantowintheprestigiousPulitzerPrizeform
usic.Theannualawardisgiventomusicianswhohavecreateda"distingu
ishedmusicalcomposition".Lamarwonitforhisalbum"DAMN".The30-
year-oldLamarwroteandrappedabouttherealityoflifeasablackmani
ntheUSA.Hewrotesongslike"Alright"and"TheBlackertheBerry".Thes
ehavebecomeverywellknownsincethepoliceshootingsofmanyblackp
eopleinAmerica.ThePulitzerboardsaidthealbumwasa"virtuosicsongc
ollection"thatcaptured"themodernAfrican-Americanlife".MrLamarh
asnotyetcommentedonhisaward.ThePulitzerPrizeisanawardforachi
evementsinjournalism,literature,andmusicalcomposition.Itstartedi
n1917tohonournewsreporting.Thefirstprizeformusicalcomposition
wasawardedin1943.KendrickLamaristhefirstrappertowintheawarda
ndthemostcommerciallysuccessfulmusiciantoreceiveit.Theprizeisus
uallygiventoclassicalmusicians.ThePulitzercommitteesaid:"Wearev
eryproudofthisselection.Itmeansthat...thebestworkwasawardedaP
ulitzerPrize."Itadded:"Itshinesalightonhip-hopinacompletelydiffere
ntway."SkyNewssaid:"Lamarhaswon...forhisdeeplyricalcontent...a
ndhisprofoundmixofhiphop,spokenword,jazz,soul,funk,poetryandA
fricansounds."

Free writing

Write about Kendrick Lamar for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Rap is one of the best forms of music. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. KENDRICK LAMAR: Make a poster about Kendrick Lamar. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. RAPPERS: Write a magazine article about rappers and their influence on society. Include imaginary interviews with people who think rap is great and with people who don't think it is great.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on rap. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on rap. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: Kendrick Lamar

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