The Uncomfortable Legacy of a Genius
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors — contrast, concession, and qualification
A Level 6 English lesson exploring media.
What's in this lesson
A Level 6 (proficiency) ESL lesson on media, practising discourse markers and connectors — contrast, concession, and qualification. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Uncomfortable Legacy of a Genius
In 1982, an album called Thriller reshaped popular music so thoroughly that its aftershocks are still audible in every major pop release today. Michael Jackson did not merely sell records — he redefined what a pop star could be: a dancer, a film director, a brand, a spectacle. At his peak, he commanded the kind of cultural authority that transcended geography, language, and generation. In Lagos and Osaka, in São Paulo and Oslo, children learned to moonwalk from grainy VHS tapes. That reach was not accidental; it was the product of an almost pathological dedication to craft that his collaborators, including producer Quincy Jones, consistently described as singular and unnerving.
Vocabulary
- between
- from
- into
- of
- At his peak
- fed both hungers
- short of appetite
- unnerving
- without conviction
Discussion questions
- Can great art ever fully separate itself from the person who made it?
- Do you think fame protects powerful people from accountability?
- Which artist or musician has shaped your taste more than any other?
The Uncomfortable Legacy of a Genius
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors — contrast, concession, and qualification
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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