I built this lesson because of my students.
They came into class singing "Jolene" — but not the one I grew up with. Beyoncé's. Same name, same rival, two completely different arguments. Dolly begs. Beyoncé warns. Once my AP Lang kids heard it that way, they couldn't unhear it, and neither could I.
We lost Dolly this week. In her honor, I expanded that one lesson into a full five-day comparative rhetorical analysis unit — two songs, one rhetorical situation, and a whole lot of teenagers discovering that tone is an argument.
She wrote it in one night, over fifty years ago. It's still teaching.🩷
🔗 Link in bio — Jolene vs. Jolene, Grades 11–12.
Teaching this lesson comparing Dolly Parton's and Beyoncé's 'Jolene' has been a rewarding experience that highlights how timeless themes can be reinterpreted. When students first heard Beyoncé’s version, they immediately noticed how it shifts from Dolly’s pleading tone to a more assertive warning, reflecting different rhetorical purposes. This opened up rich classroom discussions on how tone shapes the argument and influences audience response, a vital skill in rhetorical analysis. I structured the unit around the S.P.A.C.E.C.A.T. framework, which helped students organize their observations across Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, Choices, Appeals, and Tone. This detailed approach encouraged them to dive deep into the lyrics and understand how each artist crafts their message uniquely despite addressing the same rivalry. One surprising outcome was how students connected emotionally to the texts, appreciating Dolly’s vulnerability and Beyoncé’s empowerment as complementary rather than competing perspectives. This connection boosted engagement and motivated them to apply these analytic skills to other texts. The lesson plans and handouts, including guided practice and essay prompts modeled after AP exam rubrics, provided scaffolding that supported diverse learner levels. Print and editable materials made it easy to tailor instruction and foster critical thinking across multiple days. Teaching this unit in memory of Dolly Parton added a meaningful dimension, reminding us how influential her artistry remains decades later. It also demonstrated how comparing texts from different eras can enrich students’ understanding of rhetoric and cultural shifts. Overall, this lesson exemplifies how a single song can inspire a comprehensive analysis unit, enhancing students’ analytical writing skills and appreciation for rhetorical nuance. I would highly recommend it for educators seeking to engage upper-level English students with relevant, impactful content.