What is a topic/issue related to our class that you feel needs to be further investigated and shared? Why do you feel this way? 

The topic I feel that needs to be further investigated is how we reveal things about ourselves through more than the way we talk, but also other ways too. I was going to use Art and Music as an example. I feel that the nonverbal forms of expression, that is, visual art and music, can serve as powerful tools for those who struggle with or are judged by language proficiency. 

What personal experiences have you had with this issue, if any? What details from your life or the lives of your friends, acquaintances, or relatives might serve as examples or other kinds of evidence? 

When I was in middle school, I joined a multicultural choir. Even though I didn’t speak some of my classmates’ home languages, singing together helped us bond. As they say, “music is a universal language,” 

What evidence/information might you hope to find in encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, scholarly journals, and/or statistical resources (such as U.S. Census Bureau data or Statistical Abstract of the United States)? 

I would look for educational and social-science sources documenting the links between art/music and cultural identity. 

Which of our course texts might you draw on and why? What specific ideas might you paraphrase or quote? 

A key text is Baldwin’s essay “If Black English Isn’t a Language…”. His insight that language reveals our “private identity” and can connect us to community fits my topic. I might quote “language comes into existence by means of brutal necessity…” to illustrate how marginalized voices create their own forms of expression. 

Try searching via google.com a phrase that captures one of the topics you’ve identified so far. Some examples include: language politics; language diversity; immigrant English; World Englishes; speaking English with an accent; English-only ideologies; prescriptivism; prescriptive language ideologies; language and race; linguicism; language discrimination; language and culture; etc. Add multiple phrases/terms together with AND (must capitalize) to fine-tune your search (e.g., “language diversity” AND “education”). Try searching with and without quotation marks. How many hits did you get? What are the titles of some of the more promising websites that populated? Save or bookmark any keepers. Jot down here the phrases you used that seem to capture your idea. 

How many hits: 3 

Titles of promising sources: 

 “Sound Heritage: The Role of Music in Shaping Cultural Identity” (East End Arts Council) 

“Notes of Unity: Exploring Music as a Universal Language” (East End Arts blog) 

“Music as a Path to Belonging and Expression” (Friends School Haverford blog) 

Repeat the above search through scholar.google.com. How many hits did you get? What are the titles of some of the more promising scholarly sources that populated? Save or bookmark any keepers. 

How many hits: 3 

Titles of promising sources: 

 “Music, Culture, Politics: Communicating Identity, Authenticity and Change” (a scholarly book) 

“A Global Cypher: The Role of Hip Hop in Cultural Identity”.  

“The Role of Musical Aspects of Language in Human Cognition” (Frontiers journal) 

Select one or two promising sources or websites that you’ve found so far through your searches. Skim through it. In what ways does it provide information or perspectives that relate to or differ from your own stance? 

One of the sources that stood out to me the most was from The East End Arts “Sound Heritage” article discusses folk music, national anthems, and festivals as expressions of identity. It notes that national songs are “musical representations of national identity and values” that “unite people, evoke national pride, and reinforce a shared sense of belonging.” This supports my stance that music helps community bonds. 

How strongly do you feel about adopting for your Exploratory Essay assignment the topic(s) you’ve been researching in this worksheet? What questions/concerns do you have, if any? 

I feel very enthusiastic about pursuing this topic for my paper. The sources and personal stories I’ve found provide plenty of material to explore how art and music serve as cultural language.