Assignment: Comparing and Contrasting the Stories Expressed in Two Songs

Directions: simply choose two songs by any two of three "storyteller" musical artists I've listed below. Or, you are free to use one of the pairs of songs I've suggested below (all songs in my suggested pairings are found in media gallery). Then, write an opinionated informal analysis of what you see as connectivity between the songs, using similarities and differences as your points of discussion. This is not an analysis of the artists, but rather their songs! Use particular words or lines from the songs to make your point(s) and support what you say. DO NOT use outside sources of any kind, as this is not a research paper!

"Point-for-Point" Method, NOT "Block" Method of Comparison/Contrast

Your response must use the "point-for-point" method of compare and contrast, which basically means going back and forth frequently between the two subjects (songs) as you let your various "points" drive the discussion forward and saying what applies to both subjects regarding each point as you move through those points in a natural, organic way (i.e. don't obsess over counting equal numbers of words comments for each subject). A good response depends on a strong opinionated thesis in the introduction to create all of the interesting points you'll want to develop. The opposite model--and one that I personally think is ineffective at developing a strong, organically-developed analysis--is something called the "block" method, which basically just divides the entire response in half and only focuses on one subject of the pair at a time, using the same set of categories in the exact same order twice. In my opinion, it is highly prescriptive and non-organic; it reads as contrived and forced.

The three artists you are required to select from are: 1. Passenger, 2. Ben Howard, and 3. Roo Panes. I have several clips from these storyteller artists in the media gallery to use, but you are free to YouTube them for more options. In fact, you can also Google them to get all of the lyrics for their songs as well! Again, my only requirement is that you need to select ONE song from ONE artist to make your pairing.

Suggested Pairings:

Pairing # 1 â€“ (mix and match two songs)

Passenger: â€œBeautiful Birdsâ€ or â€œLet Her Goâ€

with

Ben Howard: â€œBlack Fliesâ€

OR

Pairing # 2 â€“ (mix and match two songs)

Passenger: â€œDavidâ€ or Roo Panes: â€œThoughts for Absent Friendsâ€

with

Passenger: â€œRiding to New Yorkâ€

OR

Pairing # 3 â€“ (mix and match two songs)

Passenger: â€œYoung as the Morning, Old as the Seaâ€ or Roo Panes: â€œGlory Daysâ€

With

Ben Howard: â€œOld Pineâ€

OR

Pairing # 4 (mix and match two songs) -

Passenger: â€œScare away the Darkâ€ or â€œFacebookâ€

With

Roo Panes: â€œOpen Roadâ€ or â€œLand of the Livingâ€

Assignment: Comparing and Contrasting the Stories Expressed in Two...