Exceed your Expectations of Corinda State High School

Assignment Task

Context

Literature can be divided into two distinct categories capital L high quality Literature, such as poetry, and ‘lower-case l’ literature, such as popular, contemporary song lyrics. High School English classrooms typically venerate and prioritise the teaching of the first of these over the second. This is not to say, though, that contemporary song lyrics do not resonate with their audiences or make use of many of the same literary features as poetry included in the Western Literary Canon. In fact, these two kinds of texts share far more in common than not.

Task

As students of literature and consumers of popular culture, today’s youth are in an ideal position to assert their views about the worth or quality of contemporary forms of poetry, such as song lyrics.

Select the works of a contemporary songwriter. Create and deliver a persuasive speech that positions your audience to accept your perspective on the literary and cultural value of the lyrics by your selected artist.

To complete this task

1. Take on the role of a student advisor to the English department at Corinda State High.

2. Select a contemporary songwriter. Research their social and cultural context, including their reasons for writing.

3. Analyse a selection of lyrics written by your chosen songwriter (such as Oh Jerusalem and Everything is Everything by Lauryn Hill, Marryuna and Cloud 9 by Baker Boy, or Q.U.E.E.N. and Americans by Janelle Monáe). 

4. Make a claim about whether the works of your chosen songwriter should or should not replace traditional Literature studied in English at Corinda State High.

5. Write a persuasive speech that argues your point of view, supported by analysis and evaluation of your chosen lyrics, as well as a range of rhetorical appeals and persuasive techniques.

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