English Lesson on Missy Elliott

 Famous People Lessons.com

  PDF | Word | Quiz | Help my site

Follow this site and my other sites on Facebook.

THE LESSON ON MISSY ELLIOTT

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Missy Elliott. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning rap artist and probably the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having a string of hit singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s success in the rap industry is nothing short of phenomenal.

Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual and physical abuse. She lived in fear that her father would beat her mother to death. She found an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking him to rescue her. She also spent her youth writing song lyrics.

Elliott formed a rap group called Sista with three school friends, which broke up after their record label refused to release their album. She wrote songs and contributed vocals to other artists' songs. The CEO of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew she was special. She won a contract to run her own record label, GoldMind Inc.

Elliott teamed up with her old friend Timbaland and set the world of rap on fire with her stylish songs and image. Six of her albums would go platinum and she received five Grammy awards for her brilliance. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence and teen obesity.

249 words

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.

MY e-BOOK


SEE A SAMPLE


Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.

SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

probably

a.

get away

2

ever

b.

ill-treatment

3.

phenomenal

c.

all time

4.

abuse

d.

most likely

5.

escape

e.

fame

6.

stardom

f.

amazing


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

formed

g.

split up

8.

broke up

h.

focus on

9.

run

i.

joined forces

10.

teamed up

j.

created

11

brilliance

k

manage

12

highlight

l

talent

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

probably the greatest

a.

of phenomenal

2

a string

b.

on fire

3.

nothing short

c.

song lyrics

4.

She found an escape

d.

her own record label

5.

She also spent her youth writing

e.

up with her old friend

6.

contributed vocals

f.

ever female rapper

7.

She won a contract to run

g.

in music

8.

Elliott teamed

h.

and teen obesity

9.

set the world of rap

i.

of hit singles

10.

highlight domestic violence

j.

to other artists' songs

LISTENING GAP FILL

Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning ________________ probably the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having ________________ singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s ________________ industry is ________________ phenomenal.

Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual _______________. She ________________ her father would beat her mother to death. She found an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking ________________. She also spent her _____________________.

Elliott formed a rap group called Sista with three school friends, which ________________ their record label ________________ their album. She wrote songs and ________________ to other artists' songs. The CEO of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew she was special. She won a contract ________________ record label, GoldMind Inc.

Elliott ________________ her old friend Timbaland and set the world ________________ with her stylish songs and image. Six of her albums __________________ and she received five Grammy awards for her brilliance. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence ________________.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was birth / born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning rap artist and probable / probably the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having a string / rope of hit singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s success in the rap industry is nothing short / tall of phenomenal.

Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual and physical abusive / abuse. She lived in fear / afraid that her father would beat her mother to death. She found / discover an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking him to rescue her. She also spent her youths / youth writing song lyrics.

Elliott formed a rap group calling / called Sista with three school friends, which broke up after their record lapel / label refused to release their album. She wrote songs and contributed / contribution vocals to other artists' songs. The CEO of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew she was especially / special. She won a contract to run her own record label, GoldMind Inc.

Elliott teamed down / up with her old friend Timbaland and set the world of rap on fire / fired with her stylish songs and image. Six of her albums would go platinum and she received five Grammy awards for her brilliance / brilliant. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence and teen obese / obesity.

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
 

1.

arbyoplb the greatest ever female rapper

2.

a srgtni of hit singles

3.

the rap yrunidts

4.

ohgintn short of phenomenal


Paragraph 2
 

5.

sexual and physical uesab

6.

She found an spaeec in music

7.

asking him to ceuers her

8.

song lyrics


Paragraph 3
 

9.

Elliott rfmoed a rap group called Sista

10.

their record label sfereud to release their album

11.

knew she was esacpil

12.

She won a rtotccan to run her own record label


Paragraph 4
 

13.

Elliott tdaeme up with her old friend Timbaland

14.

her sihltys songs and image

15.

highlight domestic cnevoile

16.

teen seoiytb

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking him to rescue her. She also spent her youth writing song lyrics.

(    )

 

Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual and physical abuse. She lived in fear that her father would beat

( 1 )

 

Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning rap artist and probably

(    )

 

Elliott teamed up with her old friend Timbaland and set the world of rap alight with her stylish songs and

(    )

 

brilliance. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity

(    )

 

image. Six of her albums would go platinum and she received five Grammy awards for her

(    )

 

the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having a string of hit singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other

(    )

 

her mother to death. She found an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to

(    )

 

top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s success

(    )

 

work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence and teen obesity.

(    )

 

she was special. She won a contract to run her own record label, GoldMind Inc.

(    )

 

Elliott formed a rap group called Sista with three school friends, which broke up after their record

(    )

 

of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew

(    )

 

label refused to release their album. She wrote songs and contributed vocals to other artists' songs. The CEO

(    )

 

in the rap industry is nothing short of phenomenal.

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

-    award    an    is    She    artist    rap    winning

2.

has    other    also    top    written    artists    songs    Elliott    for

3.

short    nothing    phenomenal    of

4.

fear   that   her    father   would   beat    her    mother   She    lived   in

5.

her    spent    also    She    lyrics    song    writing    youth

6.

other    to    vocals    contributed    songs    artists'

7.

run    to    contract    a    label    record    own    her

8.

old    her    with    up    teamed    Elliott    Timbaland    friend

9.

fire    the    of    on    set    world    rap

10.

obesity    teen    and    violence    domestic    highlight

MISSY ELLIOTT DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

What do you know about Missy Elliott?

2.

Would you like to have met Missy Elliott?

3.

What would you like to know about Missy Elliott and why?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

What did you learn from this text about Missy Elliott?

2.

What questions would you like to have asked Missy Elliott?

3.

What would her answers have been to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

MISSY ELLIOTT SURVEY

Write five questions about Missy Elliott in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Missy Elliott for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Missy Elliott. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MISSY ELLIOTT POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Missy Elliott. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Missy Elliott. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she did every day and what she thought about.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to Missy Elliott. Ask her three questions about her life. Tell her how important she is in today’s world and how she is missed. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Missy Elliott expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

probably

a.

most likely

2

ever

b.

all time

3.

phenomenal

c.

amazing

4.

abuse

d.

ill-treatment

5.

escape

e.

get away

6.

stardom

f.

fame


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

formed

g.

created

8.

broke up

h.

split up

9.

run

i.

manage

10.

teamed up

j.

joined forces

11

brilliance

k

talent

12

highlight

l

focus on

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

probably the greatest

a.

ever female rapper

2

a string

b.

of hit singles

3.

nothing short

c.

of phenomenal

4.

She found an escape

d.

in music

5.

She also spent her youth writing

e.

song lyrics

6.

contributed vocals

f.

to other artists' songs

7.

She won a contract to run

g.

her own record label

8.

Elliott teamed

h.

up with her old friend

9.

set the world of rap

i.

on fire

10.

highlight domestic violence

j.

and teen obesity

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE

SEAN BANVILLE'S OTHER WEBSITES

I also have thousands of other lessons on my other websites.