Learning Target: I can identify King's arguments as well as the rhetorical elements and strategies he employs to achieve his purposes.

New Seating Arrangement and chart

Activity 1: Discuss the arguments and rhetorical elements and strategies in each paragraph.

Some things to think about...

Although you have not yet read the entire letter, what do you believe to be King's overall purpose(s)?

What part of the Public Statement is King responding to in each paragraph?


Appeals...
Ethos, Logos, Pathos and authorities
 -  Consider ethos from two perspectives... The Good Man Speaking Well (i.e., the credibility of the author) and the author's appeal to the ethics of the audience.

Authorities...Allusions to authoritative sources or persons (e.g., Bible, Constitution, Abraham Lincoln, etc.)

Which appeals are most prominent in each paragraph (ethos, logos, pathos)?

How does King's word choice reflect and further his purposes in each paragraph?

Where do you see King using figurative language? What is the purpose and the effect?

Where do you see distinctive sentence and phrasing patterns?  What are their effects? How do they help MLK achieve his purpose?

Closely related to authorities...allusions...but not all allusions are to authorities...many are to current events, public figures, etc.

For an appeal to an authority to be effective, it must work for the intended audiences. Why do his appeals work for his audience?

Explain each allusion as best as you can from prior knowledge, research (with phones), or context.

Which allusions were slightly confusing or simply foreign to you, an unintended audience?

Where do you see transitions from one section/purpose of the letter to another? 

1)Paragraphs 1-3; 
2) Paragraphs 4-6; 
3)Paragraphs 7-8; 
4)Paragraphs 9-11; 
5)paragraphs 12-13; 
6) Paragraphs 14-15

15 minutes of research and then present to the class for 4 mins each Activity 2: Begin reading and annotating paragraphs 16-30 for tomorrow.

Homework: Finish reading and annotating paragraphs 16-30 in MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail  

Annotate for King's arguments and points as well as the rhetorical strategies and elements he employs to achieve those strategies.

Monday: In-class rhetorical analysis essay for Letter from Birmingham Jail