Do you like music? Everyone does! Although no one has the exact same taste, there is probably someone else out there who loves Huey Lewis and the News as much as you do. What if they had the albums you didn't, and you had the albums they were missing? You could swap CD's (or vinyl, if that's your pleasure) and finally hear "Hip to Be Square", or that one in Back to the Future. You know the one I mean. The one they pretend to play to get in to the Battle of the Bands contest, and Huey doing a cameo as the guy who tells them they're too loud...
Anyway, the only problem is that you've never met the other fan of the News (what those in the know call the band)*, plus they live in Australia and you live in Indiana, plus they don't lend out CD's after they didn't get their Boston's Greatest Hits back.
There is only one thing to do! Install Napster on your computer. Wait, Napster is too old. Plus there was thing with the lawsuit...install Kazaa on your computer. It's a piece of software that will connect your computer to a file-sharing service where you can look around for Huey Lewis and the News music, and download the songs quickly in a small, compact format called MP3's, which are playable on media players like RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, or WinAmp. In fact, there are a lot of programs like Kazaa (Morpheus, iMesh, AudioGalaxy, Bearshare, Limewire are a few) that will let you share your music files with other users around the world. You can share other kinds of files too, like software, movies, text, and images.
What? Free movies, music, and software? It's paradise!
Well, no. File sharing has serious legal and ethical implications when copyrighted material is involved. As a member of society, it's important that you have some facts before you, your firends, or your family members use a file-sharing program.
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher's Page
Your task is to participate in a group of four students. Each student will research a role. There are four to choose from:
music industry executive | musician | record store owner | high school student
Look at the links given for your role, and take careful notes on why they hold their position. As a group, discuss your positions so that you can represent each point of view but come to a final consensus for your short position paper.
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher's Page
1. Before you look at the links for your role, everyone should check out these links:
2. Now, check out the links for your role:
music industry executive | musician | record store owner | high school student
3. After you've looked at your links and taken notes to back up your point of view, discuss the problem as a group. Makes sure each position is represented. Make a final decision, by mutual consent, concession, compromise, vote, or something else. Is there a solution? What needs to be done?
As a group, you must write a position paper with all four points of view represented and but one prevailing opinion. Discuss each point of view, then present the point of view you reached as a group along with the arguments that helped you decide on it. The specifics for what is expected in the paper can be found in the evaluation section. The paper should be turned in by the beginning of class the next time we meet.
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher's Page
Category | 1 point | 3 points | 5 points |
Length | Less than one page, double-spaced, 12-type default font. | 1-1 1/2 pages, double-spaced, 12-type default font. | 2 pages, double-spaced, 12-type default font. |
Fairness | At least one point of view not
mentioned.
Facts are misrepresented or grossly omitted. |
All four points of view are
mentioned.
A few good arguments are set forth, but one side clearly dominates the others. |
All four points of view are
accurately and equally represented.
Clear arguments for each point of view are expressed. |
Final Argument | Final argument stated without argument or omitted. | Final argument given with little proof or consensus. | Final argument builds on specific points of view, adding new information and reasoning generated by the group. |
Mechanics | More than 3 errors in spelling or grammar. | Less than 3 errors in spelling or grammar. | No errors in spelling or grammar. |
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher's Page
It's an exciting time for digital media! File-sharing is a sensitive topic and one that needs careful consideration. The laws of copyright and how digital copies of information are being dealt with change from day to day. If you want to read more, go to the additional resources section.
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher's Page
*Not true. I just made it up. (back)