Writing Prompt
What stylistic elements does King use to influence his readers? After reading and analyzing "Letter from Birmingham Jail," write an essay in which you answer the question and analyze structure and language in his text, providing three or more examples to illustrate and clarify your analysis. What conclusion can you draw about the power of this text? This is one of the elements I picked There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into an abyss of injustice where they experience the bleakness of corroding despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. King’s response to a letter published in the local paper known as "A Call For Unity". Local clergy criticized King and labeled him extremist in the published letter. King's response is a masterpiece in American rhetoric. He goes through a logical response to each point. His over all tone is polite. At the end he dramicly shifts tone and shifts from straight logic to appeal to the pathos of the situation. After building the logical case justifiying his actions, he is able to shift to an appeal to the clergyment to join him.
Write your Basic Thesis Statement in the space below. Martin Luther King shows this power through similes, rhetorical questions and imagery.
Go through the Thesis Statement Essentials Checklist. It is okay if you are not able to check off some of these characteristics.
_ Is your thesis statement one sentence? Yes my thesis sentence is one sentence.
_ Does it answer the question? Yes it answers the question
_ Does it use specific words? yes
_ Does it take a stand? Could someone have a different interpretation? I think it stands and yea someone can have a different interpretation.
_ Does it answer “Why does this matter?” or “So what?”
Based on the checklist above, revise your thesis statement so that it has all of the above qualities and include it here.