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Critical Response Essay Final - I Have a Dream

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Critical Response Essay Final - I Have a Dream
‘I have a Dream’ – Critical Response Essay
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How does ‘I have a Dream’ By Martin Luther King conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a persuasive speech, and for what purpose?
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I have chosen the question “How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a particular genre, and for what purpose?” I have decided to analyse Martin Luther King’s classic Civil Rights Movement speech “I have a Dream” and how the structure of the speech creates a persuasive aspect for the audience. This task refers back to Part 1 of the English Language and Literature Course.
The essay will address these key points: 1. Repetition at the beginning of the sentence, emphasizing its importance (The Use of Anaphora) 2. Use of Specific Examples related to the audience to support arguments and relate to them on a personal level. 3. Use of Imagery (metaphors, comparisons, and contrast) to evoke imagination, keeping audience focused on the speech. 4. -------------------------------------------------
Way of Speech (How King delivered the speech with pauses and emphasis)
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Martin Luther King, known for his prominent leadership in the African American Civil Rights Movement, delivered a deeply persuading speech which touched many of the audience members and generations to come. ‘I have a Dream’ is often categorized as the model speech for persuasive speeches. King used numerous persuasive techniques to reach out to his audience and voice his opinions towards the Civil Rights Movement at the time. He successfully crafted this speech using repetition, specific examples in relations to the audience and imagery to engage their attention. Along with the delivery of this speech, the pauses, and the emphasis of voice on certain parts, the speech could not conform to the conventions of a persuasive speech any

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