How to write a protest song

Meet writer and rapper Kate Tempest. She's got five simple steps for you to write a protest song about a human rights issues of today. Start by watching her top tip in the video above!
Please note that the Amnesty protest song competition closed for entries on 18 Feb 2013 - look out for winning entries coming soon to inspire your song writing!

First Step: Who are you?

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1. Download your character template (pdf)
2. Across the top of the page name the issue
3. In a speech bubble describe the right you should have
4. In the heart write three adjectives describing how you feel
5. Under your feet describe the situation you are in
6. In the bubble write what you wish for...

Download: Lesson plan (pdf) | Powerpoint (without films) | Get Power Of Our Voices pack

Next STEP: WHERE ARE YOU?

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1. Download a songwriting template

Template with prompts (pdf)
Template without prompts (pdf)

2. Fill in box one with a description of your situation...What do you see? Do you feel safe? What do you hear? Are you warm/cold?

Next Step: How do you feel?

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1. Choose your favourite adjective from the heart of your character (eg angry) and use it to create three similies:
My anger sounds/feels/tastes/etc like...

2. Locate it in your body:
My anger feels like a hammer pounding in my head....

Next Step: What do you want?

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1. How should things be?
You might find it helpful to write a few sentences starting with the same line:
- I want x. I want y. I want z...
- We need x. We need y. We need y...

Last Step: How to turn it into a pretty awesome song

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1. Start with your chorus (box 3 often works well for this)
2. Use boxes 1 and 2 for your verses
3. Read the words out loud to someone to get their response - ask them which lines they like best
4. You might want to re-write your song thinking about rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, power words, additional verses... keep working with it until you are happy that your song is saying what you want to say, and in the way you want to say it!