Like the spirituals that carried messages of protest and inspiration to fight against injustice, some modern songs carry similar messages relevant to controversies in today’s world. You now have the chance to explore these messages and the rhetorical strategies used to advance the arguments. For this assignment, you will write an essay in which you analyze the specific style of a modern protest song of your choosing.

In order to write this analysis, complete the following steps:

Choose a modern protest song.
Print out the lyrics and annotate them, using the following questions as a guide:
What is the songwriter’s exigence? What appears to be the rhetorical situation? (This may require some research.)
How does the style of this protest song set it apart from other protest songs?
How does the songwriter choose descriptive words and words with particular connotations to create a tone appropriate for the situation or purpose?
How do the songwriter’s style and tone contribute to a complex, iconic, and/or changing perspective on the subject?
How does the performance of the song impact its style and effectiveness? Consider elements such as sound, rhythm, repetition, and beat.
Then, in a well-organized essay of at least 500 words, describe the overall style of your chosen protest song and analyze the rhetorical strategies used by the songwriter to craft the song so that it achieves a specific purpose.
Use the AP Language & Composition Rhetorical Analysis rubric to guide your work.