In 2016, American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first musician to ever receive the award. The award sparked debates about whether a musician qualifies for the award. Educate yourself about both sides of the
argument and form your own opinion about the topic. Read the four articles provided here to learn more about both sides of the
argument.
Write an essay to present an argument that either supports or opposes the decision to award a singer-songwriter the Nobel Prize in
Literature. Your argument should include a clear claim, logical reasons, and evidence that is relevant and sufficient.

“'Dylan was a revolutionary,' Bruce Springsteen said in his 1988 speech inducting Dylan into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" (DeLuca 2). The controversial topic of whether Bob Dylan deserved the Nobel Prize awarded to him for Literature in 2016 has been debated for many years, for various reasons. One of the most prominent reasons why a majority of the people believe Mr. Dylan does not deserve the prize is because his "writing is inseparable from his music" (North 3). The fact that a majority of people believe Bob Dylan does not deserve a prize for that reason is very petty, as his lyrics can be read with or without the beating drums and riffing guitars, and the same emotion is emitted from Mr. Dylan's lyrics.

The reason why Bob Dylan was given his Nobel Prize for literature is that he earned it through his beautiful lyrics. One point brought up by the people who believe Mr. Dylan should not have been awarded the literature prize is: "But there are many ways they could have accomplished this while still honoring a writer. They could have chosen a writer who has made significant innovations in the form, like Jennifer Egan, Teju Cole, or Anne Carson. They could have selected a writer from the developing world, which remains woefully underrepresented among Nobel laureates. They could have picked a writer who has built an audience primarily online, like Warsan Shire, who became the first Young Poet Laureate of London in 2014. Instead, the committee gave the prize to a man who is internationally famous in another field, one with plenty of honors of its own. Bob Dylan does not need a Nobel Prize in Literature, but literature needs a Nobel Prize. This year, it won’t get one" (North 7), which is saying that while Bob Dylan does not need a Nobel Prize, he was still given one. This piece of reasoning does not take the actual meaning of a Nobel Prize. The Nobel Prize is not for spreading fame to previously unknown writers and poets, but to award-successful writers a prize for their efforts in their lyricism.

The fact that a rock musician and lyricist won a Nobel Prize should be celebrated, not criticized, as this was "the first American winner since novelist Toni Morrison in 1993" (DeLuca 3). The Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to those who have made breakthroughs in literature, not to spread popularity to unknown writers. Bob Dylan is an amazing musician and lyricist who deserved the Nobel prize for literature he was awarded, and this fact should be accepted by everyone.

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