Preview

Rhetorical Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1039 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rhetorical Analysis
Sharmil Whyatt
March 6, 2012
English
Rhetorical Analysis of Song Lyrics My song of choice is, Wale. “Bad”. Folarin. Maybach Music, 2012. Mixtape. This song since hitting the mixtape scene is being played all of the time and is being sung by people all over the world. A rhetorical analysis is when you break down a text and try to understand the deeper meaning that you think it might mean. This is helpful because it allows you to do two things, further understand the text and also make sure that you understand what you are learning about. I choose this song for a couple of reasons, one it was stuck in my head the day the assignment was announced, two I really do like the song and I think that people can relate to it, and finally a friend of mine said that this song defines me. I took this opportunity to get to better understand what Wale might be trying to say in this song. I think that this song as excellent example of logos, ethos, and pathos that many people can relate to. The word logos is used to appeal to the readers common sense, also their beliefs and values. I think that Wale is trying to say that if you believe in love then you should also be able to believe in fucking. The beginning hook of the song speaks for its self “Is it bad that I never made love, no I never did I, but I sure know how to fuck”( Tiara Thomas Hook). If you ask anyone they will tell you there is a complete difference between making love and fucking. When I asked my roommate about the two she defines making love and I quote “Something that is passionate and soft with nothing but love and care in each other’s eyes”. She defined fucking as “Two people who only care for each other in that moment, you only need them to please and then they can leave”. At the end of the day everybody is looking for love, he even says at the beginning of the song that “Monogamy or whatever you call it…ain 't for everybody” (Wale Intro) but if you’re not making love


Cited: Thomas , Kelson , Tiara Thomas , and Wale . "Wale – Bad Lyrics | Rap Genius." Discover the Meaning of Rap Lyrics | Rap Genius. N.p., 30 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. . MLA formatting by BibMe.org.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 1438 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    Today in America many people question whether or not college is truly worth the stress, time, and cost it throws on an individual. With these “burdens” comes alienation from the outside world with little fun and fulfilling experiences. Some people even say that many college students have zero creativity, and are proud of it. This idea of self-growth and freedom along with a diverting experience, while going through college, is something that Rick Perlstein himself has had the opportunity to do. Unfortunately, Perlstein experienced this in his days, and has come to realization that, “College as America used to understand it, is coming to an end” (Perlstein). With this article being published in the liberal magazine, New York Times, many people, mostly ones who have gone through college, completely disagreed with his opinion. One of those insulted people being Liz Addison. Addison’s claim argues that college is yes, much different, but in a positive way, especially in the community colleges. All together in her one sided- argument, she includes several rhetorical devices to persuade, inform, and emotionally prove her claim. These devices being ethos, and pathos, gives her a strong foundation and effective argument to the liberal audience she is writing her article to.…

    • 1438 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    Connecticut school shooting: survivor says gunman shouted 'let me in '. (2012, December 18). Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9752006/Connecticut-school-shooting-survivor-says-gunman-shouted-Let-me-in.html…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Who Is Tupac Amarac Shakur?
    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Who Is Tupac Amarac Shakur?

    Hip hop culture in general has nurtured a dualism within messages sent by lyrics. Nowhere was this duality more evident than the music of Tupac Shakur. As music reflected his reality and at times he’d reference women with derogatory terms, however he showed a level of responsibility with songs such as “Dear Mama” and “Brenda’s got a baby”. The lack of respect was noticed by many. Stress and the need to make a hit increased, he became a sex symbol along with a flock of “haters” trying to kill him. The flirtation with the materialistic trappings that the RAP game has to offer. “Forced laughter”(Shock-G), it was that Tupac was unhappy and this was speaks through his…

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rhetorical strategy
    • 284 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Rhetorical strategy

    I think that this relates to the rhetorical strategy Pathos because it talks about feeling and emotion and the wording really plays a big part how you take it and react to it.…

    • 284 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 328 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    Is driving an SUV the American way? According to the creator of this bumper sticker, it’s not. The purpose of this bumper sticker is to make a statement to Americans driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that driving these oversized vehicles is hurting the U.S.A by emitting large amounts of emissions into the ozone, polluting the air they breathe, and increasing the demand of oil from foreign countries. The illustrator of this sticker emphasizes his beliefs by using the American flag and using the word “Unpatriotic” meaning he believes it is unethical to the point it is unpatriotic to drive these vehicles and support the dependency on foreign countries’ oil.…

    • 328 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Banning Words From Hip-Hop And Rap Music
    • 154 Words
    • 1 Page

    Banning Words From Hip-Hop And Rap Music

    Nowadays, many racist and corrupt words are being used in hip-hop and rap music. Unfortunately, this genre of music is always played on the radio which is the main reason to why kids, in our time, know and use a lot of these inconvenient words. The only sensational conclusion people came up with to stop the use of such lyrics is the banning of corrupt terms from hip-hop and rap music and the prohibition of these inappropriate words is what John H. McWhorter discusses in “Banning Words from Hip-Hop and Rap Music Would Be Beneficial” (2008). McWhorter’s an African American man and the author of many books on languages and on race relations. His previous works show us that he has the capability of writing about the use of language-related topic.…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    In the late 1940’s through the late 1950’s McCarthyism was a wide spread epidemic here in America. The government had a very intense suspicion that there were influences of communism on our soil. Many were accused and prosecuted for “un-American activities” throughout the states. The FBI had no grounds or evidence to stand on when accusing these people. The Salem witch trials in The Crucible were very similar to these situations. Witten by Arthur Miller The Crucible was Miller’s way of protesting and speaking out against these trials while trying not to draw any attention to him. He uses many rhetorical devices to help better his message as it if brought forth to the reader. Irony, repetition, imagery, and metaphors are examples of some of the devices Miller uses to capture the reader and keep the story on track with the protest of McCarthyism.…

    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    Rhetorical analysis closely examines the text, author, audience and context one is interested in knowing more about. Their usually is a conflict in the information that one is trying to learn more about in order to make a decision or simply better understand the subject. A good faith attempt at a clean slated mind that suspends judgment of your own opinions, morale’s, and values is a requirement to gain a good analysis. You also, obviously, need a text with an author with the ability to determine what the context is about and who the audience is supposed to be. It is worthwhile to engage in this manner in order to gain properly from it. If you don’t, you’re not doing a rhetorical analysis and you won’t gain much in the way of better understanding. I consider the terms, processes, and information in this reading to be the framework that is necessary in order to be successful at a rhetorical analysis. Therefore not only being aware of these aspects but understanding them is seriously beneficial.…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 1203 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    Sand between my toes and enjoying some sun while gathered around with a group of friends is what I call, a definition of a great time. The ad Tampax Pearl from Seventeen magazines sells the product through the use of rhetorical fallacies logos, ethos, and pathos. There are six fallacies, and throughout the magazine they are represented by the text, the women in the white bikini, and the beach: false cause, hasty generalization, non sequitur, and appeal to ignorance, false authority, and bandwagon. In the background are the sounds of waves clashing against one another, the sun beginning to lower, and the scent of a bonfire. The game of limbo used as an entertainment to influence laughter, and competition spread to one another.…

    • 1203 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Mcwhorter
    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages

    John Mcwhorter

    The author’s final plea for the acceptance of rap as true poetry is to clear the misconception to all rap music revolves around stereotypically “gansta” lyrics, violence, and misogyny. The “gangsta” style is just one niche of music, “and less dominant than it once was. Rap, considered as a literature rather than it’s top selling hits, addresses a wide range of topics, even including science fiction.” (20) McWhorter mentions Jay Z, whose “magesterial volume of this lyrics” proves that rap can have an intelligent, meaningful message.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 835 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    In South Central, Los Angeles, there is a food epidemic taking place among the population. For miles and miles, the only easily attainable food source is fast food; causing the overconsumption of un-nutritious, greasy, and fattening food. This is the problem brought to the public’s attention by speaker Ron Finley in his Ted Talks speech, “A Guerilla Gardener in South Central L.A.” Finley explains how everywhere he looks in his native South Central, all he sees are fast food chains and Dialysis clinics opened due to the lack of nutritious food. Finley views the lack of a healthy food source as a serious problem, and brings up his point; there are miles of vacant lots throughout Los Angeles, all of which could be used for the cultivation of healthy fruits and vegetables to better the urban community’s diet and health.…

    • 835 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 580 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    I believe that the rhetorical strategy of narration is both seen differently in the article, “Unnatural Killers”, by John Grisham and the article, “The Case Against College Athletic Recruiting” by Ben Adler. Both appeal emotionally to the reader but one is a lot more logical in its approach then the other.…

    • 580 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis
    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis

    Sometimes life gets tough and gives us obstacles and challenges just to see how we overcome them. It only takes one mistake for someone’s life to be turned upside down. Watching people go through hardships and life challenges helps us get on the right path and succeed. The book The Other Wes Moore written by Wes Moore himself, is based on real life challenges that two boys ironically with the same name and hometown were faced with and how their decisions on overcoming them lead them to two completely different places. One living free and being able to experience things and the other living unfortunately behind bars. Wes Moore uses the rhetorical appeals ethos, logos, and pathos to engage the readers attention on how two boys with so many similarities can grow up and live two completely opposite lives.…

    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence
    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence

    Music Lyrics being NON-VIOLENT Rap music can be considered a style of art, and a way for the artists to express feelings through their words on paper. However, there are quite a few rap artists that get criticized for their lyrics. In my essay, I want to discuss why rappers use certain lyrics in their music and why people shouldn’t believe that it causes violence among the younger generations. People shouldn’t censor the music just because of violent, vulgar and abusive messages it promotes to the world. I believe in my own mind, that there is a reason for these types of lyrics that rap artists use and I will simply explain those reasons in this essay. Rap has been called one of the most important music forces to emerge in two decades. It’s pounding beats and staccato rhymes exploded on the streets of the urban America in the early 1980s and since have become the theme music and lyrical heart of the vibrant youth culture called hip-hop ( SIRS 1993). There are many different types of rap artist. There are some that talk about money, some talk about righteousness, and the list goes on and on. Every rap artist had their own way of expressing themselves. There are those that talk about sex, drugs, and violence who receive the negative attention( SIRS 1993). People, think this so- called gangster rap is a bad influence on children in the world and that it promotes violence and that it also is abusive to women. Delores Tucker, head of national congress of black women has been among those pressuring different record companies to stop distributing gangster rap music. There were other significant names that participated in this action. Names like Senate Majority leader Bob dole, and former education Secretary William J. Bennett(Surveys, pg. 1). There are some rap artists that have been openly criticized for their lyrics. Rappers like Lil Kim, Too Short, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and a member from “Too Live Crew,” named Luke Skywalker. These rap artists in the past have been…

    • 1708 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical analysis
    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical analysis

    Beverly Gross’s "Bitch" first appeared in the Salmagundi, a humanities and social sciences-based magazine in 1994. In this essay Gross mainly discussed about the meaning of the word “Bitch” changed across time. She analyzed the word in different perceptive, its offensive meaning, its contemptuous meaning and its literal meaning. As the meaning of the word “Bitch” is changing over time, it actually represents the women’s roles in the society is changing as well. Gross illustrates the word “Bitch” as a demeaning word, she claimed, “A word used by men who are threatened by women”. (Beverly Gross, P.628) It shows that men are willing to be the dominant of the society, and the word “bitch” is an ultimate weapon men have to humiliate women. Anecdotes, contrast and comparison are techniques Gross used to create a strong, powerful and persuasive essay.…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More