During week four of this course, we learned many things about basic rhetorical strategies, and critical reading such as Division and Classification, Repetition and cause and effect analysis. By analyzing and understanding how a writer uses rhetoric in different situations, you can begin to use these strategies in your own life to communicate more effectively. After learning these strategies, it is easy to identify them in use in nearly every piece of writing we encounter. Such as, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” written by Martin Luther King Jr. on April 16, 1963.
In order for you to completely understand the letter, you must know why it was written. As stated in “Gospel of Freedom: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail
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He expressed that he was sorry that they did not share a concern for conditions that brought the demonstrations, as they had called his actions deplorable. He informs them that direct action was a necessity as a sentiment was growing in the black community that would erupt into violence at any moment. The way the black community had been treated was the cause of direct action and if nothing had been done violence would have prevailed. He continued by stating that the laws they violated were unjust as they were only trying to do what was right. He states that he wishes they would’ve commended the demonstrators for their courage and that one day the entire South would recognize them as heroes and would realize they were standing up for the American dream. Little did King know that 54 years later, the letter he wrote would be a great part of American …show more content…
Based on this week’s readings from the book rhetoric and composition/rhetorical analysis you can clearly see the use of this strategy in King’s letter. The book defines cause-and-effect analysis as analyzing why something happened and detailing the events leading up to what happened. At first, King gives the purpose of the analysis by stating that he is in jail. He continues to give reasons and explanations on the causes that led up to his jailing. He explains the effects that segregation and mistreatment had caused sentiment among the black race and was reaching a boiling point. He explains that if that emotion were not channeled in a nonviolent way there would be violence in the streets. He expresses in detail why direct action was not only wise but courageous. A good example of King using cause-and-effect would be when he states, ”in your statement you asserted that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But can this assertion be logically made? Isn't this like condemning the robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of
A letter from Birmingham Jail is a letter from Martin Luther King Jr. to the people who are the leaders of religion or people who perform religious services. This is his response to them who are against his actions. He indicate all his reasonings to this letter to explain, comment and justify his answers in response of why is he doing a nonviolent direct action.
Martin Luther King Jr., wrote the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” to enlighten the South that we are all created equal and should be treated as such. Though, King was making a broader statement not only for the south, the letter was directed at the clergymen. King uses three techniques to strengthen his argument against segregation, logic, biblical references, and extended vocabulary.
A Letter from Birmingham Jail was written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on scraps of paper in response to a "public statement of concern and caution from eight white religious leaders of the South" while incarcerated in Birmingham for participating "in nonviolent demonstrations against segregation." In response to the statement King makes a claim of "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. "
Martin Luther King writes this letter as a response. He was arrested for his “unwise and untimely” actions. Since he was stuck in jail he decided to write a long letter. The purpose for this letter was to defend his nonviolent actions and to show how segregation was wrong.
Martin Luther King Jr's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written during his 8 day sentence in jail in 1963. He chose to travel and protest in Birmingham due to the fact that it was widely known as one of the most segregated city in the U.S. The letter not only addresses the issues of unjustly being arrested for being an "extremist" of his approach to the protest, and of the incompetence of the church but its also an appeal for things to be seen from his point of view.
Martin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in response to his fellow white clergymen who criticized his actions that landed him in jail. He used Biblical examples to show that his nonviolent actions were necessary for African Americans to move forward in this country. This letter was mainly directed to those religious leaders who have the power to do something about segregation but don't. The purpose is to hopefully get the backup from powerful religious leaders and end segregation. He communicates this message very effectively to these men from his examples from Saint Paul and King Solomon, which is preached within the churches of these
Dr. Martin Luther King wrote a letter from Birmingham jail on April 16, 1963. The letter was written in response to his “fellow clergymen,” stating that Dr. King’s present activities was “unwise and untimely.” The peaceful protest in Birmingham was perceived as being extreme. The letter from Birmingham Jail was a letter of grievance to the white clergy, and their lack of support in the civil rights movement. Dr. King explained in his letter the difference between what is just and what is unjust and his reasons being in jail at Birmingham. He believed clergymen are men of genuine good will and that they deserve a response, so Martin Luther king wrote a letter from Birmingham Jail.
Luther writes in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” informs and states why he is in jail, and the purpose of what he is in the middle of. Martin Luther King jr addresses that when he enters the jail he is quickly criticized. He supports his claim by first answering the statements he was asked and starting with explaining what unjust and just laws was as he quotes, “An unjust law is a human, law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.” (King 1064) Then it informs about the segregation laws and what he thinks is right in his opinion like repeating segregation statements that state and
Martin Luther King Jr., the author of “Letter to Birmingham Jail,” that was written in 1963, uses many rhetorical strategies throughout his letter;. Additionallyconsequently, he uses these strategies to get his points across. For example,The rhetorical devices he employsuses are repetition, he uses ethos, and he uses rhetorical questions. During the time he gave his speech, was during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Furthermore, segregation was happening, and racial discrimination between blacks and whites is commonplace.were not treated equally. King uses d rhetorical strategies in order to emphasize what he was most passionate about; he was his passionate about - equality and nonviolent protestings, for he was a black himself. He usesd his letter in order to bring about make a change. Therefore, he needed to really get the listeners’ attention.
Rhetorical strategies are techniques writers use for a particular effect. In previous classes, you might have been introduced to them as “literary devices” – others will be completely new to you. When thinking of language choices that we make when writing or speaking, think of it like this -- everyone draws from a “toolbox” of rhetorical strategies as they express ideas and evoke responses in their readers. The more “tricks” of language that you know, the more effectively you can say what you want in the most effective way.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote the "Letter From Birmingham Jail" in order to discourse the tremendous issue in Birmingham and the U.S at the time. The "Letter From Birmingham Jail" discusses the great injustices happening toward the black community in Birmingham. Martin Luther King, Jr uses emotion, ethical, and logical appeals in order to justify his desire for racial justice and equality.
King uses logic, emotion and ethos throughout the letter, his use of emotion and logic brings his letter to life as if you're living it and his point of view. The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” written by Martin Luther King Jr, was written in a response towards the eight white clergymen. King is in Birmingham to break
In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, he responds to a letter entitled Statement by Alabama Clergymen. In King’s letter, he makes it clear that he does not usually answer letters of criticism, but because this one came from educated men he felt the need to clarify his purposes, actions, and goals of this civil rights campaign.
In his letter, King's purpose is to educate all of the racial inequality. He does this through many calm and collected tones that demonstrate who he really is. His letter provides specific examples of unjust laws and how they relate with moral values, which is directed towards the men who wrote to all blacks to stand against King. He carries himself in such a calm manner that most likely would outrage people that were against African Americans at the time. In his letter he also states at the beginning why he is locked up in a very shady way. He brings up how in any "non-violent" protest there are steps, which he then lists them. King knew exactly what he was doing before he got put into jail for doing such a harmless thing. His target on Birmingham was one that was planned in a non-violent way, as he brings up how it is the worse segregated place at the time, and also has a very horrible police brutality record. King uses "morals" in his letter as a guideline to non-violently fight back, and encourage people to do the right thing with God and the US Constitution for everyone in the United States.
Movies, songs and even paintings may seem like just entertaining; but have you ever thought that every text has an argument and there are several rhetorical strategies embedded into the plot, which make the movie’s argument effective? I am a huge fan of the movie “Notting Hill”. I decided to analyze rhetorical strategies in this movie so that I can understand this movie better.