Protest Songs Through History

If music is the pulse of a generation, then the times our hearts have been racing are captured in protest songs. We can learn so much not only about the events that inspired these emotional, passionate displays but also about how music offers a platform for people who feel otherwise unheard.

This class is an exploration of several of those songs through a historical lens.

Along the way, we'll talk about how to research a cultural moment through a song and how to share that information with an audience in an engaging, meaningful way.

Explore Academic Writing

Dorian Lynskey has long been a music writer, and he takes his research skills through history in this book.

As we read selections from his text, we'll discuss his writing style and what kind of research went into creating a contextualized, informative approach.

Learn Critical Thinking and Research Skills

This class is designed to provide high schoolers with college-prep research skills. In addition to carefully reading and taking notes on several texts, learners will conduct research of their own with support to evaluate and select sources.

Communicating Ideas Clearly

After the research piece is completed, writers will use what they've learned to craft a chapter of their own exploring a protest song that has come out since Lynskey's 2011 book.

Class Details

Ages: 14-18

Class Size: 3-10 Learners

Time Commitment

Most learners can expect to spend 5-7 hours per week (including the live meeting) working on class materials.

(This class will meet or exceed 60 hours of coursework to count as 0.5 credits of high school ELA).

Live Sessions Meet Weekly

Class is weekly from August 25-December 14, 2025 with a fall break from October 6-19 and a Thanksgiving break November 24-30. There is no meeting on Wednesday, October 8; Wednesday, October 15 (Fall Break); or Wednesday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Break). There are 13 total live meetings.

We’ll meet via Zoom for a live discussion session each Wednesday at 11-11:45am Eastern/10-10:45am Central/9-9:45am Mountain/8-8:45am Pacific

If a learner cannot attend a session due to illness or a schedule conflict, they will still have access to all class materials and can check in with the instructor with any questions.

Assignments Open Each Week

In order to allow for learners and their families to have the flexibility they need, assignments open at the beginning of each week and are due at the end of that week. Learners can complete work at whatever time works best for them throughout the week.

Evaluation and Records

At the beginning of class, families will have the option to opt into numerical grading. All learners will receive a detailed class wrap-up report suitable for inclusion in a portfolio. All students receive detailed feedback (including video feedback) on major assignments.

Select a pricing plan and sign up

$435

Market Rate +25%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$385

Market Rate +10%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$350

Market Rate

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$280

Market Rate -20%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$175

Market Rate -50%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

Supplies

To participate successfully in class, learners will need the following:

Copies of the following books:
30 Revolutions per Minute by Dorian Lynskey (978-0-06-167015-2)

(Note: It is highly recommended that learners have their own copies of the physical book that they can annotate as they read. Learners who prefer audiobooks may want to have a combination of audio and print copies. Learners will need to cite specific lines and passages frequently.)

Microphone and camera for in-class participation
PDF Reader
Zoom (free account)
Learners will submit work through Google Drive (a Google (Gmail) account can be acquired for free)

Meet Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason

Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason is the founder of Dayla Learning. She has a PhD in rhetoric and composition, a passion for helping students find their writing voice, and two homeschooling children of her own.

Michelle has taught in a wide variety of settings including six years as a full-time college professor. She has been teaching virtual and in-person homeschool writing and humanities classes for more than five years.

Michelle believes in meeting students where they are and — as any of her previous students will tell you — believes deeply that there is no such thing as a bad rough draft!

Is this the right fit for your learner?

This is an advanced high school class. Learners will do best if they have the following skills:

Can write about 1500 words (6 pages) on a single topic confidently
Can integrate direct quotes and paraphrases smoothly into writing
Can locate and evaluate sources for credibility and relevance
Confidently reads texts at or above ~1100L on the Lexile rating

This class is a good fit for high schoolers who are confident in constructing essays over multiple drafts and have a solid writing process.

Finding the Right Challenge

Writers who have not had much experience writing academic essays would likely benefit from a High School Writing class before taking this one.

Skills Gained

We will practice in-depth research and critical thinking skills as well as constructing complex informative essays.

Students will gain the following skills:

Exploring advanced reading and note-taking strategies
Sustained attention to a single topic over multiple weeks
Finding and evaluating sources for relevance and creativity
Writing a complex informative text that explores multiple perspectives on the same topic
Crafting a synthesized, well-researched informative essay with historical consideration

Content Note

The chapters in this book discuss many disturbing, protest-worthy moments from history including lynching in the American South, racism in both America and Britain, death in war, the discrimination leading to the gay rights movement.

In addition, some of the songs (especially the modern-day protest songs learners might select) will include profanity.

I have a policy that slurs cannot be used aloud in class even in quoted material, but it is likely some other instances of profanity will come up in class.

I am committed to discussing all difficult material with compassion, care, and sensitivity.

Select a pricing plan and sign up

$435

Market Rate +25%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$385

Market Rate +10%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$350

Market Rate

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$280

Market Rate -20%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$175

Market Rate -50%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.