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- Mon May 15, 2017 4:37 pm
#34880
Passage Discussion
Paragraph One:
This paragraph accomplishes several objectives: it describes the corrido as a narrative folk song,
outlines its historical and geographic context, mentions its reportorial capability, and explains its
broader cultural significance to the Border communities. Not surprisingly, the paragraph concludes
with the main point of the passage: by relying on familiar linguistic and thematic conventions,
corridos promote the cohesiveness of those communities (lines 18-20).
Paragraph Two:
The second paragraph elaborates on the linguistic and thematic conventions typified by the corrido.
As folk songs, corridos tell their stories simply and directly. The use of metaphors is rare, and
usually involves highly conventional and easily recognizable imagery. The author illustrates this
claim by focusing on two corridos that use familiar everyday imagery.
Paragraph Three:
The last paragraph focuses on the despedida—the corrido’s formal closing verse—which relies, in
part, on ready-made lines. Because some lines in each despedida are shared among all corridos while
others are unique, the author regards the despedida as a clear marker of both the corrido’s uniqueness
and its “generic continuity” (lines 50-52).
VIEWSTAMP Analysis
The only Viewpointpresented here is that of the author, who expresses a scholarly interest in the
corrido. Although the Border communities are discussed at length, their position is never overtly
discussed.
The general Structure of the passage is as follows:
Paragraph 1: Introduce the corrido as a narrative folk song and explain its significance to
the Border communities.
Paragraph 2: Elaborate on the linguistic and thematic qualities of the corrido, which uses
familiar imagery to tell a story.
Paragraph 3: Focus on the despedida as an example of ready-made lines that carry over
from one corrido to another.
The passage exhibits scholarly curiosity towards the corrido. The author’s Tone is descriptive rather
than prescriptive.
The only Argument presented is that of the author, who argues that corridos promote the
cohesiveness of Border communities through conventional themes and language. This position is
supported by several examples of corridos using familiar imagery (second paragraph) and readymade
lines (third paragraph).
The Main Point is to describe the corrido as a narrative folk song, highlight some of its linguistic
and reportorial qualities, and examine its cultural significance to the Border communities.
Purpose:
It is important to make a distinction between the purpose of the passage and the purpose of the
corrido: The purpose of the passage is to describe the corrido and examine its cultural significance.
The purpose of the corrido, on the other hand, is to tell an authentic Border story, and in doing so to
promote cohesiveness in the community.
Paragraph One:
This paragraph accomplishes several objectives: it describes the corrido as a narrative folk song,
outlines its historical and geographic context, mentions its reportorial capability, and explains its
broader cultural significance to the Border communities. Not surprisingly, the paragraph concludes
with the main point of the passage: by relying on familiar linguistic and thematic conventions,
corridos promote the cohesiveness of those communities (lines 18-20).
Paragraph Two:
The second paragraph elaborates on the linguistic and thematic conventions typified by the corrido.
As folk songs, corridos tell their stories simply and directly. The use of metaphors is rare, and
usually involves highly conventional and easily recognizable imagery. The author illustrates this
claim by focusing on two corridos that use familiar everyday imagery.
Paragraph Three:
The last paragraph focuses on the despedida—the corrido’s formal closing verse—which relies, in
part, on ready-made lines. Because some lines in each despedida are shared among all corridos while
others are unique, the author regards the despedida as a clear marker of both the corrido’s uniqueness
and its “generic continuity” (lines 50-52).
VIEWSTAMP Analysis
The only Viewpointpresented here is that of the author, who expresses a scholarly interest in the
corrido. Although the Border communities are discussed at length, their position is never overtly
discussed.
The general Structure of the passage is as follows:
Paragraph 1: Introduce the corrido as a narrative folk song and explain its significance to the Border communities. Paragraph 2: Elaborate on the linguistic and thematic qualities of the corrido, which uses familiar imagery to tell a story. Paragraph 3: Focus on the despedida as an example of ready-made lines that carry over from one corrido to another.The passage exhibits scholarly curiosity towards the corrido. The author’s Tone is descriptive rather
than prescriptive.
The only Argument presented is that of the author, who argues that corridos promote the
cohesiveness of Border communities through conventional themes and language. This position is
supported by several examples of corridos using familiar imagery (second paragraph) and readymade
lines (third paragraph).
The Main Point is to describe the corrido as a narrative folk song, highlight some of its linguistic
and reportorial qualities, and examine its cultural significance to the Border communities.
Purpose:
It is important to make a distinction between the purpose of the passage and the purpose of the
corrido: The purpose of the passage is to describe the corrido and examine its cultural significance.
The purpose of the corrido, on the other hand, is to tell an authentic Border story, and in doing so to
promote cohesiveness in the community.