Essay 1: Rhetorical Analysis: Protest Music
One of the most effective ways to make a successful argument is to appeal to the reader or audience. We have learned and practiced three ways writers appeal to their audiences as well as rhetorical strategies. Remember, a rhetorical analysis is analyzing and understanding how all the pieces of an argument work together to persuade an audience.
For this assignment, identify and analyze how the author/song writer is using rhetorical strategies to argue his/her claims. You must identify and analyze 1 rhetorical appeal but can identify more (Refer to chapters 2, 3, and 4). You also need to identify and analyze 1 element of style but can identify more (Refer to chapter 13). After analyzing the song, explain if you think their argument is successful or a failure, why or why not? (Refer to chapter 5). In other words, do you believe that the rhetorical strategies the author/song writer used were successful and/or a failure in arguing their claims. The stance that you take on the success or failure of the argument should be your thesis.
Assignment:
Choose to write on one of the protest songs that is listed on the next page. The links are also listed. You may choose a protest song not on the list but must get it approved by me. A protest song is a song that asks for some type of social or cultural change.
Identify the claim(s) or argument that the songwriter makes in the song.
Identify what appeal(s) (pathos, ethos, or logos) the argument uses.
Give descriptive detail and examples of those appeals.
Identify an element of style and give detail and examples of those elements.
Identify who the intended audience is and explain how the rhetorical strategies and techniques work to persuade this particular audience.
Is the song writer successful or do they fail in persuading their audience of their argument? Why or why not?
What does it mean for the song to be successful? Does it convince or persuade the identified audience, changes the world, etc.
Are you stuck? Refer to chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 13 in EAA.
Essay Requirements:
Draft of Essay 1 Due: Monday, February 10th
2-3 Full Pages (Does not include work cited page), double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.
Do not need a Works Cited for the draft
Peer Review/Draft Workshop Essay 1 Due: Wednesday, February 12th
Final Draft Due: Tuesday, February 18th
3-4 FULL pages (Does not include work cited page), double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.
MLA format (include work cited page)
Protest songs-
Newer Songs
Be Free -J. Cole
Black Rage -Lauryn Hill
Glory- John Legend and Common- https://genius.com/Common-glory-lyrics
Fight the Power Public Enemy- https://genius.com/Public-enemy-fight-the-power-lyrics
To Pimp a Butterfly- Album Kendrick Lamar- https://genius.com/albums/Kendrick-lamar/To-pimp-a-butterfly
***Flawless Beyonce- https://genius.com/Beyonce-flawless-lyrics
Older songs- Civil Rights
We shall overcome- Louis Armstrong- https://genius.com/Louis-armstrong-we-shall-overcome-lyrics
Mississippi Goddam Nina Simone- https://genius.com/Nina-simone-mississippi-goddam-annotated
Birmingham Sunday Joan Baez – https://genius.com/Joan-baez-birmingham-sunday-lyrics
