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New iPhone

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New iPhone

Last week, Apple unveiled the iPhone 15. The Times reports:

Every September for the past decade, Apple has convened media from around the world for a marketing event that celebrates the creative feats behind its newest iPhone. It has hyped the shine of the phone’s exterior, the sculpting around its cameras and the power of its processors.

Do you have an iPhone? If not, have you ever wanted one? How excited are you about the iPhone 15 — and do you appreciate the hype? Are you someone who always wants — or gets — the latest phone or technology? Why, or why not?

Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more about the latest iPhone and its newest features.


Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

Word of the Day: impudent

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Word of the Day: impudent

The word impudent has appeared in 11 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Oct. 14 in “Dry Cleaning: It’s Spoken Rock ’n’ Roll, but We Like It” by Simon Reynolds:

LOS ANGELES — At the Primavera Sound festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park, the British band Dry Cleaning played under the bright sunlight of a September afternoon. Festooned with tattoos, the guitarist Tom Dowse rocked out, grimacing and jutting out an impudent tongue now and then. A breeze wrapped the bassist Lewis Maynard’s long hair across his face, making him look like a headbanging plushie. The drummer Nick Buxton pummeled away as if in AC/DC’s engine room. But the vocalist Florence Shaw didn’t fit the picture at all.

Instead of snarling or roaring like the music would seem to demand, she delivered a jumbled sequence of alternately humdrum and surreal observations in conversational tones that shifted subtly between dismay, disapproval and daydream. Wearing a long black lace skirt and a sparkly gold camisole, she curled her fingers around the mic stand like the stem of a wineglass and pulled distractedly at the hair at the top of her head, as if having a knotty heart-to-heart with a close friend.

Can you correctly use the word impudent in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how impudent can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.


Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

What Students Are Saying About the End of Race-Based Affirmative Action in College Admissions

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What Students Are Saying About the End of Race-Based Affirmative Action in College Admissions

White people tend to have a lot of institutional factors benefiting them that make it easier for them to succeed, therefore, on average, one can assume that a person of color probably had to try harder to reach the same level due to institutional disadvantages. Now, of course, ideally, we wouldn’t need affirmative action. It probably isn’t even that effective at curbing racial biases and inequalities due to how limited its application would be. But it’s not a negative for anyone, and it has a reasonable and logical justification for existing.

Connor, St. Peter High School

Although affirmative action was ruled unconstitutional, race should be considered when colleges decide which applicants to admit. This will allow minorities who have lived in the perpetuated racism in our society to have more of a shot at getting into colleges. This is not to say that POC are lesser than, rather that our systems are racially biased, thus continuing the cycle of minorities not getting a shot at certain opportunities.

Ellie, RFHS

Equality and work ethic is what universities should be thoughtful of. Those who worked hard for their grades, joined clubs, and participated in extracurricular activities deserve the right to be noticed no matter what their race is. The [ending of] affirmative action was the right decision and it reminds students that full dedication to their education and community is what colleges are looking for and what colleges would accept. Schools want students who represent leadership, passion, and hard work, so that is what they should be looking for in EVERY student.

Kayla, BHS

As a high school student, and a bi-racial person, I have to side with the court’s decision. Of course, in your [admissions] essay, you can talk about your struggles due to your race, but everyone deserves a chance to get into college. To get into college, you should be dedicated, smart, and able to demonstrate leadership, not based on what race or ethnicity you are. It should be based on merit, not on a quota for different races.

Emily H, Hoggard High School

I like the idea of having diverse campuses but not at the expense of hard work. I think that everyone is equal so everyone should be treated equally and given the same opportunities. I believe that colleges should look more at the hard work put in by the students than at race.

Tobz, Baker High School

What’s Going On in This Graph? | Oct. 4, 2023

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What’s Going On in This Graph? | Oct. 4, 2023

4. After you have posted, read what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting a comment. Use the “Reply” button to address that student directly.

On Wednesday, Oct. 4, teachers from our collaborator, the American Statistical Association, will facilitate this discussion from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time.

5. By Friday morning, Oct. 6, we will reveal more information about the graph, including a free link to the article that includes this graph, at the bottom of this post. We encourage you to post additional comments based on the article, possibly using statistical terms defined in the Stat Nuggets.

We’ll post more information here on Thursday afternoon. Stay tuned!


More?

See all graphs in this series or collections of 60 of our favorite graphs, 28 graphs that teach about inequality and 24 graphs about climate change.

View our archives that link to all past releases, organized by topic, graph type and Stat Nugget.

Learn more about the notice and wonder teaching strategy from this 5-minute video and how and why other teachers are using this strategy from our on-demand webinar.

Sign up for our free weekly Learning Network newsletter so you never miss a graph. Graphs are always released by the Friday before the Wednesday live moderation to give teachers time to plan ahead.

Go to the American Statistical Association K-12 website, which includes teacher statistics resources, Census in the Schools student-generated data, professional development opportunities, and more.

Students 13 and older in the United States and the Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

AIU Receives Widespread Media Coverage for Innovative Efforts in Education and AI

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AIU Receives Widespread Media Coverage for Innovative Efforts in Education and AI

Atlantic International University (AIU) is proud to announce the resounding success of its recent press release, which focuses on our pioneering initiatives in education, artificial intelligence, and innovation.

 

The news has been spotlighted by major media platforms in the tech and business sectors. Notably, our story has been featured on NBC News, Yahoo Finance, New York Times, Latin Business Today, Canadian Insider, IT News Online, Reuters, and New Tech Bites, among others. This expansive coverage implies that our trailblazing research and projects are gaining the recognition they deserve.

 

AIU AI’s efforts are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation, and this media attention is a testament to the impactful work being done. Our dedicated team and contributors are the backbone of these achievements. Together, we aim to continue driving innovation and setting new standards in the industry.

 

Learn more about AIU AI initiative: 

 

At Atlantic International University, we are committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). To enhance your learning experience and empower you with hands-on AI capabilities, we have introduced a dedicated section that focuses on AI tools, including ChatGPT in your Student Section. This tool provides an interactive environment where you can ask questions, seek clarifications, and explore AI-related topics in a conversational manner. By leveraging ChatGPT, you can enhance your understanding of AI concepts and receive personalized assistance tailored to your unique learning needs.

 

 

Some ideas about what AIU can do for you:

 

 

Here you can see some student’s creations using IA:

 

 

Are you ready to take advantage of the new tools?

 

If you want to see some of the mentioned articles that cover the news, here you have some of the links:

prnewswire

benzinga

Yahoo

Campus Technology

It News Online

Apprenticeships: Learning and Earning on the Job

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Apprenticeships: Learning and Earning on the Job

Finding the correct route to a successful career might be difficult in today’s constantly changing work environment. Many young people must decide whether to pursue a conventional college degree or look for alternate ways to gain practical experience and develop workplace skills. Apprenticeships are an attractive choice for people wishing to learn on the job while also making money. In this article, we will explore the world of apprenticeships, their benefits, and why they are gaining popularity again as a viable educational and career path.

What are Apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are not a new concept. They have a long history dating back centuries. An apprenticeship is a paid position that incorporates on-the-job instruction with practical work experience. They are intended for students who are interested in working in practical, technical subjects, preparing learners to become proficient in a trade or profession. For many years, craftsmen, artisans, and tradesmen have used apprenticeships to pass down skills and knowledge from one generation to the next.

What are the Benefits of Apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships offer a range of benefits to both students and employers and make them a win-win skills development and training environment before formally joining the workforce.

  • Skill development: Apprenticeships provide students with industry-specific knowledge, technical skills, and practical experience that are directly applicable to their chosen career path.
  • Employability: Apprenticeship graduates are highly employable because companies won’t need to spend money training candidates. Employers often seek staff who have hands-on experience and a track record of success in a real-world work environment.
  • Paid work and increased earning potential: The apprentice gains valuable experience and skills during the programme, and this can lead to increased earning potential. Many apprenticeships often lead to full-time employment that comes with competitive salaries and benefits.
  • Networking: Apprenticeship programmes allow individuals to build strong and valuable professional networks that may come in handy during their careers. The opportunity allows them to connect with experienced mentors and colleagues, which can set the platform for future partnerships and career advancement.
  • Career growth: Apprenticeships are the beginning of a long and successful career. Many apprentices can grow to become experts in their fields, supervising a new crop of apprentices, and for others, inspiring them to start their own businesses.

Types of Apprenticeships

Many industries offer apprenticeships. Some common types of apprenticeships include: 

  • Trade apprenticeships: You can consider trades like plumbing, carpentry, or welding with trade apprenticeships. These are your pass to mastering hands-on skills that set you apart from the rest in this field. Plumbing apprentices not only learn the technical aspects, but they tackle everything from home repairs to big commercial installations. They also excel at problem-solving, customer service, and project management skills, essential tools of the trade.
  • Technical apprenticeships: Technical apprenticeships open the door to a fulfilling career in tech and automation. Tech-savvy individuals learn about fixing gadgets, setting up networks, and coding alongside tech specialists. Later, you can step into roles like network administration, or systems analyst, or become a software developer in the booming tech world.
  • Professional apprenticeships: This type of apprenticeship is for individuals who dream of a career in law, accounting, or finance. Part of what you’ll learn is complex systems and you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a regulated industry. You can take your career up a level and earn certifications like the CPA for a finance career working at banks, investment firms, or accounting offices, crunching numbers and serving clients.
  • Creative and digital media apprenticeships: This apprenticeship is for creatives, whether it’s graphic design, digital marketing, or video production, this is a great outlet for all your creative juices. You could work with designers, bring ideas to life, and master software tools like Adobe Pro. These apprenticeships can launch your creative journey.
  • Manufacturing apprenticeships: If you love nuts and bolts, a manufacturing apprenticeship is for you. Here, you will learn the various behind-the-scenes roles in manufacturing and production, from auto assembly lines to specialised machinery. You’ll also learn how to troubleshoot and ensure smooth operations. You can get started in roles like manufacturing technician, quality control pro, or production supervisor.

Apprenticeships are crucial to any sector and economy by closing the skills gap and providing a competent workforce for the future as industries continue to change. These programmes provide a strong foundation for people to establish successful and happy careers. Additionally, they are well-positioned and specially designed to meet the demands of a quickly changing work market thanks to their versatility and emphasis on hands-on learning.

Looking Ahead with Apprenticeships

Globally, governments and businesses are recognising the value of apprenticeships in addressing skill shortages and promoting economic growth. Apprenticeship programmes are adaptable and allow different industries to be proactive and responsive to their changing needs. This quality makes apprenticeships a great choice for individuals who want hands-on experience and a dynamic and practical education. Apprenticeships bridge the gap between theory and practice and ensure that learners not only gain knowledge but are also capable of applying their skills in real-world scenarios.

What makes apprenticeships an attractive pursuit is that there is no upper age limit to when you can start your journey. To help get you started, explore some of our free apprenticeship courses:

Like many things making a comeback, apprenticeships are experiencing a resurgence and can pave the way to a practical and lucrative pathway to a successful career. Through these, learners acquire valuable skills, earn a salary, and gain real-world experience. Employers also benefit from these programmes and can take pride in their contribution to shaping and moulding the next generation of skilled workers. For those seeking an alternative to traditional education, apprenticeships are a compelling option that should not be overlooked. 

Tiny Homes

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Tiny Homes

The internet is awash with popular videos of microapartments and tiny homes. Would you want to live in one?

Is the idea of cozy and cheap attractive to you? What do you think would be the benefits of having a tiny home? How about the drawbacks?

What does your dream house look like? Spacious? Practical? Luxurious? Fantastical? Eco-friendly?

Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more.


Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

Word of the Day: elocution

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Word of the Day: elocution

The word elocution has appeared in four articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on May 5 in “Gordon Lightfoot’s 10 Essential Songs” by Rob Tannenbaum:

In an expansive career that drew from Greenwich Village folk and Laurel Canyon pop, Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr., who died on Monday at 84, was embraced by a diverse group of musicians: Elvis Presley and Duran Duran, Lou Rawls and the Replacements. He sang in a rueful baritone full of tenacity and an almost professorial air, and specialized in songs that dwelled on solitude, or recounted unhappy relationships, in grounded language that drew on folk and blues modes.

… The mid-70s was Lightfoot’s commercial peak, but this successor to the Top 10 pop hits “Sundown” and “Carefree Highway” didn’t get the reception it deserved. The chords and lyrics call to mind Jimmy Webb, as Lightfoot, with his usual precise elocution, celebrates the way loyal friendships give succor to “high-stepping strutters who land in the gutters.”

Can you correctly use the word elocution in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how elocution can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.


Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

8 Ways to Teach and Learn About Hip-Hop

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8 Ways to Teach and Learn About Hip-Hop

Over five decades, hip-hop has grown from a new art form to a culture-defining superpower. At first dismissed as a fad, often derided as a nuisance or a menace, hip-hop has become a multibillion-dollar industry and a global juggernaut — woven into nearly every corner of American life. Jon Caramanica, a New York Times music critic, writes:

It is a fount of constant innovation, and a historical text ripe for pilfering. It is a continuation of rock, soul and jazz traditions, while also explicitly loosening their cultural grip. It is evolving more rapidly than ever — new styles emerge yearly, or faster, multiplying the genre’s potential. And it has impact far beyond music: Hip-hop is woven into television and film, fashion, advertising, literature, politics and countless other corners of American life. It is lingua franca, impossible to avoid.

In this resource, we suggest eight teaching ideas for bringing hip-hop into your classroom — based largely on The Times’s multimedia package chronicling hip-hop’s 50th anniversary — including exploring the ingenuity and wit of rap lyrics and making predictions about the genre’s future.

Teachers, please let us know how you are teaching hip-hop in your classroom in the comments section or by emailing us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com.

Hip-hop is ubiquitous. Whether students are huge fans of the culture, everyone has a connection to it — big or small. Before diving into The New York Times’s coverage of the 50th anniversary, ask them to make personal connections to the genre.

Through journal writing or discussion, students can respond to one or more of these prompts:

  • What does hip-hop mean to you? What role does it play in your life?

  • Are you a big hip-hop fan? Do you go to shows? Create beats? Write or perform raps? Has hip-hop culture affected your style and dress?

  • What moments, artists, songs and lyrics stand out to you? Who are your favorite artists? Who would you say is the GOAT — the greatest rapper of all time?

  • What do you know about hip-hop and its 50-year history? What would you like to know more about?

Students can share their thoughts, experiences and opinions with teenagers from around the world in our related Student Opinion prompt.

A centerpiece of The Times’s 50th anniversary coverage is a collection of oral histories gathered from hip-hop artists across generations, regions and styles. It includes testimonials from superstars like Lil Wayne, Cardi B and Eminem as well as from outlier champions like Trippie Redd and Slug. Here’s an excerpt from what 50 Cent said:

I fell in love with hip-hop, but it was only playing for one hour out the week on the radio. My grandmother used to go to church and take a tape recorder and record everything the minister said, and she would play Sunday service to herself again on like, Wednesday. She had all of these Maxell cassette tapes that once you record, you break the little tab off. I had to go get toilet paper and put it in the square and record over what she already had for the church. It was only on for one hour — I had to record it then.

To begin, students can take a quick tour of the entire collection. They can click through the interactive and listen to as many rappers as they can, taking notes on the names of each artist, the names of the featured songs and the years they were released. (Each testimonial has a song by the artist at the top of the interview.)

Then ask students to read at least three interviews from different eras of hip-hop, highlighting key biographical information as well as their favorite quotes and details.

Students, individually or in groups, can address these prompts:

  • Which rappers did you choose, and why?

  • What did you learn from their stories?

  • Which images, sounds, details and quotes stood out, and why?

  • What question would you ask one of these rappers, if you could?

Together as a class, they can discuss: What story do the oral histories tell us about hip-hop? How has the genre grown and evolved over its first five decades? What questions do you have about the oral histories or about hip-hop in general?

Another idea? Invite your students to make a 50th anniversary playlist: If some of them have never heard of hip-hop, or don’t like rap, what songs would you play for them to explain its meaning and significance, or to win them over? What would be on your essential hip-hop playlist?

To celebrate hip-hop’s birthday, The Times asked Mahogany L. Browne, Lincoln Center’s first poet-in-residence and an acclaimed author, to write a love letter to the genre, composed entirely of lyrics both beloved and obscure, with a little remixing.

The piece features lyrics from every decade of hip-hop, including from Slick Rick, LL Cool J, MC Lyte and Lil’ Kim, as well as from more recent artists like Ice Spice and Kendrick Lamar. Students can hover over a lyric to listen to the songs Ms. Browne sampled, or to learn more about them. Students can also hear the author read her piece all the way through.

Finally, there’s a Spotify playlist, featuring 56 of the songs sampled in Ms. Browne’s work.

After students have interacted with the piece, ask them to analyze and reflect on Ms. Browne’s lyrical remix: What’s your favorite lyric in the track, and why? Which lyric do you think best captures the spirit of hip-hop? What does Ms. Browne’s homage reveal about the art and poetry of hip-hop?

Students can then consider this statement by Veronica Chambers, the lead editor on Ms. Browne’s piece: “Rap music, at its core, has been a 50-year love affair with the English language.” Do they agree? In what ways does hip-hop make you understand, appreciate and connect more deeply to the English language?

Finally, ask students to create a “cento” poem — a piece composed of lines from different works — made of lyrics from hip-hop songs, using Ms. Browne’s remix as a model. Have your students explain which song lyrics they used and why. What message do they want to convey with their new creative work?

Students can read an interview with Ms. Browne in which she explains the goals for her remix poem, how she chose the lyrics she incorporated, and what hip-hop means to her. They can also refer to these instructions on creating a cento poem.

Dope
Woke
Ghost

Hip-hop, through its wordplay, wit and ingenuity, has helped to transform language over the past 50 years, bringing the Black vernacular’s vibrancy to the world.

In “How Hip-Hop Changed the English Language Forever,” Miles Marshall Lewis unpacks five words to demonstrate rap’s unique linguistic influence. Here, using songs by Spoonie Gee, Lil Wayne and others, Mr. Marshall Lewis traces the way a new meaning for “dope” moved from rap records to common lexicon:

Consider “dope,” which apparently originated in the 19th century from the Dutch doop, which means “dipping sauce.” In 1909, “dope” was employed to describe the “thick treacle-like preparation used in opium smoking,” per the Oxford English Dictionary. But “dope” also had another meaning: a stupid person. In the wider culture, stereotypes of Black people as being unintelligent still endured, so it was an act of radical reclamation when, in the 1980s, rappers began to use “dope” to refer to superlative music, lyrics, fashion or anything else considered praiseworthy.

Hip-hop made “dope” — and also the genre at large — the arbiter of cool. And unlike similar inversions like “sick” or “bomb,” its pop-cultural usage as a synonym for “outstanding” persists into the present day.

Have students read Mr. Marshall Lewis’s interactive and ask them to reflect on the many ways hip-hop has shaped how they communicate: How has it affected how you and your peers speak? Are there words and slang you regularly use that come from rap and hip-hop culture?

Then, invite students to analyze a word or phrase popularized through rap and hip-hop, using Mr. Marshall Lewis’s piece as a model.

Hip-hop has changed the fashion industry and the way young people around the world dress.

Students can explore “A Brief History of Bling,” which argues that the story of hip-hop can be told through the stunning and surreal evolution of the jewelry artists wear. They can look through the photo-rich “Hip-Hop, Still Fly at 50,” which chronicles the evolution of hip-hop style. Or, they can peruse short interviews with hip-hop designers, stylists and models in “Reminiscing About Clothes That Shaped Hip-Hop.”

Together, students can then reflect on the impact of hip-hop on their own style and dress: Which of your clothing items and looks have been influenced, directly or indirectly, by hip-hop?

For a fun challenge, they can write a love letter to their favorite hip-hop-inspired clothing item: What is one article of clothing or jewelry that you could not live without? How can you express your appreciation and thanks? (Feel free to rap your letter!)

If you have more time, ask students to design their own museum exhibition on the history of hip-hop fashion: What items of clothing would you include? Kangol hats? Timberland boots? Flavor Flav’s clock? Tyler, the Creator’s “Igor” pendant made of gold and diamonds? Which brands? Which styles — old and new?

When the Sugarhill Gang in 1979 released “Rapper’s Delight,” the first hip-hop single to become a Top 40 hit, it was dismissed as a novelty — a passing fad. Now, five decades later, rap and hip-hop are at the center of American pop music. Will hip-hop survive another 50 years? If so, what will it sound and look like?

For one take on the future, students can read “The Future of Rap Is Female” from the Times Magazine. In the piece, Niela Orr argues, “As their male counterparts turn depressive and paranoid, it’s the women who are having all the fun.” Ask your students whether they agree with Ms. Orr’s thesis: Are female rappers the future of the genre? Which artists and trends do you think will make the future of hip-hop?

What predictions do you have about the next 50 years? Will hip-hop still be around five decades from now?

We’ve gathered here today to raise a glass to hip-hop. It’s 50, baby! Half a century of effrontery, dexterity, elasticity, rambunctiousness, ridiculousness, bleakness, spunk, swagger, juice, jiggle and wit, of defiant arrogance, devastating humor, consumptive lust and violent distress, of innovation, danger, doubt and drip. Salud!

So writes Wesley Morris, a Times critic at large, in “How Hip-Hop Conquered the World,” as he takes the reader through his initial ambivalence to his ultimate embrace of the milestone. How do you feel about hip-hop’s birthday? How do you think we should best celebrate its big anniversary? What aspects of rap and hip-hop should we toast and honor?

One idea: Inspired by The Times’s 50th anniversary package, students can create their own package for The Times, or their school newspaper. Imagine The New York Times asked you to help create the next hip-hop oral history project: Whom would you include? Rappers? D.J.s? Producers? Break dancers? Graffiti writers? What questions would you ask? What eras, themes and topics would you highlight? What would you hope readers and audiences would learn?

Here’s another idea: At last year’s Grammys, the Roots drummer Questlove put together a stunning tribute to the pioneers of hip-hop, fitting 50 years of rap history into 12 minutes, with performances from LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Queen Latifah, Public Enemy, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes and many more. Invite your students to curate their dream hip-hop concert: Who should perform (living or dead)? What songs would they perform? Where should the event be held?

One final challenge: Write, record or perform a rap to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th birthday.

There is no better way to respond to this big milestone than for students to try their own hand at D.J.ing, beatmaking and M.C.ing.

A good place for students to start the fun (but perhaps daunting) task might be to choose a favorite rap song and analyze it as a model: What makes it so memorable, catchy, danceable or moving? What do they notice about the beat, the rhymes, the hook or chorus?

For inspiration and practical tips, students can watch The Times’s Diary of a Song episode “‘No Pen, No Pad’: The Unlikely Way Rap Is Written Today,” or check out these YouTube videos on how Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Eminem, and J. Cole write their raps. They can also view these videos with Dr. Dre on making beats and Grandmaster Flash on D.J.ing.

Then, invite students to create their own original rap and share it with the class.

What Does Hip-Hop Mean to You?

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What Does Hip-Hop Mean to You?

Hip-hop is a wondrous and centerless tangle, ubiquitous even if not always totally visible.

It is a fount of constant innovation, and a historical text ripe for pilfering. It is a continuation of rock, soul and jazz traditions, while also explicitly loosening their cultural grip. It is evolving more rapidly than ever — new styles emerge yearly, or faster, multiplying the genre’s potential. And it has impact far beyond music: Hip-hop is woven into television and film, fashion, advertising, literature, politics and countless other corners of American life. It is lingua franca, impossible to avoid.

Mr. Caramanica goes on to walk the reader through hip-hop’s many eras. He starts with the early years in the Bronx, when few of the genre’s pioneers could have imagined that they were laying what he calls “the foundation for the defining cultural shift.”

Fifty years ago, though, that outcome seemed fanciful at best. In the 1970s, Bronx block parties gave way to nightclubs, and talking D.J.s laid the foundation for dedicated M.C.s to begin taking over. Soon, the intrusion of capitalism removed and packaged the part of these live events that was the easiest to transmit: rapping.

Then it was off to the races. By the mid-1980s, the hip-hop industry was a small club but big business, as audiences around the country were primed by the commercial release of recordings from countless New York artists. A wave of soon-to-be-global stars arrived: Run-DMC, LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys. Hip-hop became worldwide counterculture.

By the dawn of the 1990s, it flowered everywhere in this country — the South, the West, the Midwest — and seeped into the global mainstream. In the mid-90s, thanks to the work of Biggie Smalls and Puffy, Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, Bad Boy and Death Row, it became the center of American pop music, despite resistance from those convinced rock was destined to forever reign supreme.

Into the 2000s, the genre’s power center shifted from the coasts to the South, where the genre was flourishing (largely away from the scrutiny of the major labels) in Miami, Houston, Virginia, Atlanta and Memphis. 2 Live Crew, the Geto Boys, Missy Elliott, Outkast, Three 6 Mafia — each had absorbed what was being imported from the rest of the country and created new lingo and sonic frameworks around it. Hip-hop was becoming a widely shared language with numerous dialects.

All the while, the genre was expanding, becoming more commercially successful and inescapable with each year. It became centrist pop, which in turn spun off its own dissidents: the New York and Los Angeles undergrounds of the 1990s; the progressive indie scenes of the 2000s; and the SoundCloud rap of the 2010s. In the past 20 years, hip-hop has been responsible not only for some of the biggest pop music of the era — Drake, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Cardi B — but its templates have become open source for performers in other genres to borrow from, which they did, and do, widely. Hip-hop became a crucial touch point for country music, for reggaeton, for hard rock, for K-pop and much more.

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