canon can·on1 ˈkanən/ noun 1. a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged. 2. a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine.

There are many ways in which literary works can be classified, but the canon seems to apply a certain validity or authority to a work of literature. When a work is entered into the canon, thus canonized, it gains status as an official inclusion into a group of literary works that are widely studied and respected. Those who decide whether a work will be canonized include influential literary critics, scholars, teachers, and anyone whose opinions and judgments regarding a literary work are also widely respected.

Read the article “What is the Criteria for Entry into the Literary Canon?” and annotate for the following: ! = an idea I find interesting ? = an idea/phrase/word that confuses me * = this reminds me of . . .

If we think of the canon in terms of music, Rolling Stone Magazine chose its 100 greatest artists of all time in 2010. In a sense, they are canonizing these musical artists. Although not all critics and scholars will agree with their choices, Rolling Stone Magazine is an influential critical voice in the music world. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231

On a sheet of paper, write down five musical artists you believe are worthy of being in the music canon.

The person with the longest hair at your table must tally the votes with the help of the other members of the table.

The person wearing the least amount of jewelry will report the results when it is time to do so.

Musical Canon Write Around Get out a fresh sheet of paper and write your initials on the top left corner. Write a letter to the peers at your table, answering the following question: Which artists on the board do you think are worthy/unworthy of being in the musical canon and why?

Musical Canon Write Around Pass your paper once, clockwise. Write your initials below and to the left of your peer’s writing. Read your peer’s response and then write a response to his/her ideas. Pass the papers one more time. Read both peers’ responses and then write a response to their ideas.

Musical Canon Write Around Pass papers back to their original owners. Quietly read all the responses on your paper. Highlight or make an asterisk (*) next to the most insightful sentence or idea on your paper.

Musical Canon Write Around One at a time, share your paper’s best idea with your group. As a group, choose the one idea that you believe is most insightful or significant. Entire class shares ideas and discusses them.

Go to the following link and answer the survey questions. Canonical Music Go to the following link and answer the survey questions. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KCNL6NM