For their final project, second semester Northern Virginia Community College Composition students (ENG 112) work in groups to create presentations that introduce, analyze, and draw a conclusion about a significant American cultural artifact, (a trend, a celebrity, or anything that significantly impacts American culture). Students work together to build a persuasive argument using a combination of text, multimedia, and visual design. Students develop a claim about the negative or positive impact of the artifact on the demographic of American culture it affects. Alternatively, students may discuss what the artifact says about our culture. These students are asked to explore a cultural artifact and determine its significance and/or role in our society. Students are encouraged to present their findings using any media they wish to implement.

1. PAUL MCCARTNEY: HOW HAS
HE AFFECTED AMERICAN
CULTURE?
Andy Nees

2. INTRODUCTION
Bassist and part-time lead
singer for the Beatles
Has sold over 100 million
records with his former band
and throughout solo career
Recognized as one of the great
song-writers of his generation

3. BACKGROUND
Born in Liverpool, England in 1942 -
joined “The Quarrymen” in the late
‘50s
Beatles formed in 1960, and by the
’62, they were off with their first
record
Other than his tenure with Wings,
he has been involved in a solo
career since 1970
Is a prominent figure in the activism
of animal rights and the vegetarian
lifestyle

4. THE BEATLES

5. THE BEATLES
Became the first big “pop-stars” in America
Irreverence
Long hair
Psychedelia
Music videos
Changed the way people experienced music
Lyrics of Blackbird

6. LONGEVITY

7. LONGEVITY
Involved in a 40+ year solo career after the breakup of the
Beatles
Continues to tour to this day
“The case with aging rockers”
No one else from his time is still doing what he’s doing

8. MODERN MUSIC

9. MODERN MUSIC
Collaborations with artists of today’s mainstream generation,
such as Rihanna and Kanye West
Wrote and performed song on soundtrack of video game
“Destiny”

10. COUNTERPOINT

11. COUNTERPOINT
“Kanye has a great ear for talent. This Paul McCartney guy
gonna be huge.”
“Who is Paul McCartney? He bouta blow up thanks to
Kanye!”
“This is why I love Kanye for shining light on unknown
artists.”
“I don’t know who Paul McCartney is, but Kanye is going to
give this man a career with this new song!”

12. WORKS CITED
Buff, Elizabeth. "5 Fantastic Reasons Why Paul McCartney Is the Ultimate Animal Rights Superstar." One Green
Planet. 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 5 May 2015. <http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-paul-mccartney-is-
the-ultimate-animal-rights-superstar/>.
"Paul McCartney | The Beatles Bible." The Beatles Bible. Web. 5 May 2015.
<http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/paul-mccartney/>.
Mastropolo, Frank. "Top 11 Musicians Influenced By the Beatles." Rockcellar Magazine. Web. 5 May 2015.
<http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2014/02/04/top-11-musicians-influenced-by-the-beatles-50th-
anniversary/#sthash.5x19MPpT.XuCkWkrW.dpbs>.
Butters, Tim. "Have Paul McCartney And Other Baby Boomer Rockers Become A Plague On Modern Music?" The
Inquisitr News. Web. 5 May 2015. <http://www.inquisitr.com/1813259/have-paul-mccartney-and-other-baby-boomer-
rockers-become-a-plague-on-modern-music/>.
McGasko, Joe. "We Love Them, Yeah Yeah Yeah: 7 Ways the Beatles Changed American Culture." Bio.com. A&E
Networks Television, 7 Feb. 2014. Web. 5 May 2015. <http://www.biography.com/news/we-love-them-yeah-yeah-
yeah-7-ways-the-beatles-changed-american-culture>.
"Slightly Off Key: Pondering Sir Paul's Longevity." Columbia Daily Spectator. Web. 5 May 2015.
<http://columbiaspectator.com/2013/10/18/slightly-key-pondering-sir-pauls-longevity>.