Bill of Rights Summative Assessment

Goal
Your goal is to create a parody song/rap about the amendments of the Bill of Rights

Role
You are a very popular music artist (you can be a rap artist, country singer, indie rock superstar...it’s up to
you!)

Audience
Your audience is 8th grade students who will be exposed to your new songs.

Situation
You have been contracted by the School House Rock Company to create a catchy song about the 10
amendments of the Bill of Rights. The company would like you to create the song using original lyrics, but
they would like it set to the music of a popular/well-known song.

Product
You are expected to produce a music video or perform a live rendition of your Bill of Rights Parody Song.

PROJECT EXPECTATIONS:

Song-Video or Live Performance (20 points)

● This should be a FULL song (minimum of two minutes)
● Set to the tune of a popular/well-known song
● Students are encouraged to find karaoke/music only versions of the song they want to use. They
may also create the music themselves (using their own instruments.)
● If a video is used: the picture must be clear, and the vocals should be easy to hear. If you feel the
vocals are difficult to understand or hear, you MUST include captions
● Not everyone in the group has to sing/rap, but everyone should make an appearance in the
video/live performance (dancing, acting out the lyrics, etc)

Lyrics (25 points)

● A copy of the lyrics be submitted to the teacher upon completion of the project via Google Docs
● Lyrics should be school appropriate and relevant to the subject matter. It is okay (and encouraged)
to add humor to the lyrics, but it should not detract from the message of the song.
● Lyrics CANNOT be plagiarized; they must be the group’s original work. Plagiarism will result in an
automatic zero.
● Lyrics must cover:
o What are the each of the 10 amendments? (what does each one protect, the number of each
{1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.})
o The importance of each amendment/why it was included
o Explanations of how each amendment is still used today
● ANY and ALL information/material must be cited in a bibliography, including music and pictures.

Group Roles (5 points)

● EVERYONE must participate equally in this project. Participation will be monitored during in-class
work days.
Criterion C: Communicating
Maximum: 8

At the end of year 3, students should be able to:

i. Communicate information and ideas in a way that is appropriate for the audience and purpose
ii. Structure information and ideas according to the task instructions
iii. Create a reference list and cite sources of information

Achievement level Level Descriptor

0 The student does not reach a standard by any of
the descriptors below.
1-2 The student:
i. Communicates information and ideas
in a style that is not always clear
ii. Organizes information and ideas in a
limited way
iii. Lists sources of information
inconsistently
3-4 The student:
i. Communicates information and ideas
in a way that is somewhat clear
ii. Somewhat organizes information and
ideas
iii. Creates an adequate reference list and
sometimes cities sources
5-6 The student:
i. Communicates information and ideas
in a style that is mostly appropriate to
the audience and purpose
ii. Mostly structures information and
ideas according to the task
instructions
iii. Creates an adequate reference list and
usually cites sources
7-8 The student:
i. Communicates information and ideas
in a style that is completely
appropriate to the audience and
purpose
ii. Structures information and ideas
completely according to the task
instructions
iii. Creates a complete reference list and
always cites sources