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.
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
Essay 1- Extra Credit
For the rhetorical essay, you identified and analyzed the rhetorical strategies in the writings of others. For this extra credit assignment, you will now have the opportunity to identify and analyze the rhetorical strategies in your own writing.
This extra credit assignment is worth 30 points.
Assignment:
· Identify and analyze at least two rhetorical strategies that you used in writing essay 1.
· Connect those strategies with the claim(s) that you made.
· Give descriptive detail and examples of those rhetorical strategies (Yes, you will get to quote yourself).
Extra Credit- Essay 1 Requirements:
· Due: Tuesday, September 24th
· Final Draft:
· 1-2 FULL pages, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.
· MLA format