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? 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.
· 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, 6, and 13 in EAA.
Essay Requirements:
· Final Draft Due: Tuesday, September 24th
· Draft (2-3 pages) Due: Thursday, September 19th
· Final Draft:
· 3-4 FULL pages (Does not include work cited page), double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.
· MLA format (include work cited page)
· Essay must be turned in as a hard copy in class and as a digital copy on Canvas on the due date in order to receive a grade. In order for essay to be considered on time, essay must be either submitted in class or on Canvas by the start of class.
Protest songs-
Newer Songs
“Be Free” -J. Cole- https://genius.com/J-cole-be-free-lyrics
“Black Rage” -Lauryn Hill- https://genius.com/Lauryn-hill-black-rage-annotated
“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