In your second essay, analyze the lyrics of a song you like very much. Discuss what the words alone provide and what they lack in re-creating the total power of the original song.

As you strategize on how to write about the chosen song lyrics, consider certain elements of the work such as its aesthetic beauty, organization and form, poetic techniques, and sonic value (how the song SOUNDS). The purpose of this essay is not to justify the song you have chosen as great poetry (though it may perhaps qualify); rather, it is to examine which parts of the song's power come solely from the words and which come from the music or performance.

Where to start? Transpose the song lyrics onto a separate sheet of paper to be handed in as part of your Essay 2 Packet. Read the lyrics without the music playing in the background. How do the words hold up on the page? Are the lyrics as moving without the music? Do they take on a new meaning bare from the context of the instrumentals? Notice the form. Are there stanzas? A refrain? A rhyme scheme? Now listen to the song, what does the music add? Does the sound of the music contribute to the meaning?

Your essay must possess a solid hook and thesis sentence. I will not look kindly on generalities, be specific (always) as you write in support of your main hook and thesis. Be sure to use good transitions between body paragraphs. Please quote (and correctly cite) multiple (at least four) passages from the song to support your hook and interpretation of the piece. Please demonstrate more than basic understanding of your chosen song. 

In your essay, you must exemplify a mastery of writing skills. As your professor, I do not want to stumble over poor syntax, spelling, and punctuation.

This essay is NOT to be about your own personal connection to the song. I do not want to hear about the good or bad times in your life of which this song reminds you. Pull away from yourself; write only about the song.

Some poetic and musical maneuvers to look for and remark upon within the essay:

• The structure of stanzas (is there a pattern? What does the lineation look like? Short lines? Long lines? Why?)
• Similes, metaphors, personification/anthropomorphism (and how these figures of speech illuminate meaning and intellectual texture within the poem)
• Look for mnemonic devices and sound effects: alliteration, consonance, assonance, rhyme scheme, true rhyme, slant rhyme, internal rhyme, end rhyme, masculine/feminine rhyme, anaphora, euphony, cacophony, repetition, onomatopoeia, and the music and rhythm of the lines. How do these devices add to the tone and mood of the lyrics?

A "solid hook and thesis sentence" will do the following things:

• Indicate the direction of your thoughts and ideas about your chosen poem
• Prepare the reader for your idea by making a straightforward, specific proclamation
• Provide a structure to be supported by the body paragraphs within the essayasic Parameters:

1. Essay 2: Song and Lyric Analysis must be 600 wordslong.
2. Typed, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font.
3. You may NOT quote from Wikipedia or Sparknotes or Rapgenius.
4. You must include a correctly formatted MLA style Works Cited page and employ in-text citation throughout your essay. Look on thePurdue Owl website (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)which provides further help in this area. Writing tutors are trained in this area as well.
5. If this essay is turned in late, you will lose a full letter grade each day after October 21.