English and Literature MLA

Writing about a Song

Choose your favorite song lyric, the song that you feel says something meaningful. Explicate the lyrics as traditional printed poetry. Then evaluate if and how the musical performance (audio/video) adds to the effect of the lyrics.

Song: Fleetwood Mac “Dreams”

Draft
At a minimum, the draft should be 2 pages in length. Ideally, the draft will have a complete introduction, including working thesis, body paragraph topic sentences with textual evidence identified, and a tentative conclusion.

Strategies
Find a reliable transcription of the lyrics preferably from the composers/performers.
Read first. Then listen like it’s the very first time you are hearing the song. Close your eyes.
Watch the video (YouTube, etc.). Take notes. How does it present the lyric and theme?
Review the Writing Assignment on Song Lyrics prompt on page 142 of your text

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