Letter from Birmingham Jail
Analysis: Letter from Birmingham Jail
S- To state the reason Martin Luther King Jr. is in Birmingham for attempting to change segregation as social justice and his use of civil disobedience as an instrument of freedom.
O- King was incarcerated for expressing his rights as a US citizen and now writes a letter to explain the injustice
A- The Alabama Clergymen and U.S. Citizens
P- To announce that without forceful direct action, equal rights and true civil rights may never be achieved
S- Martin Luther King Jr.
Tone: King kept a patient tone throughout this letter as well as an understanding of the views of the clergymen. He found common ground throughout the essay mentioning previous points they made and politely arguing with them as well as responding with a counter argument that may make.
6) What kind of ethos does MLK establish within this essay? MLK King conveys his message by appealing to ethos. King does this many times throughout the letter. King writes that he follows just laws yet he breaks unjust laws. He relates breaking unjust laws with what the early Christians did. "Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience...early Christians who were willing to face hungry lions...rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire." King attempts to elucidate that early Christians broke laws that they felt were unjust. Because he is writing to the clergy this appeals to them immensely. He adds that many people look at the early Christians' movement as just. King asserts the fact that he is a "minister of the gospel" and is knowledgeable of the subject of Christianity. This assertion makes King appeal to ethos because when he writes that he is a minister it does not need to be said that he knows a lot about religion; it is automatically assumed that he know a lot about religion, making him credible when he alludes to religious examples in support of his cause.
7) How does King appeal to his audience’s emotions? By
S- To state the reason Martin Luther King Jr. is in Birmingham for attempting to change segregation as social justice and his use of civil disobedience as an instrument of freedom.
O- King was incarcerated for expressing his rights as a US citizen and now writes a letter to explain the injustice
A- The Alabama Clergymen and U.S. Citizens
P- To announce that without forceful direct action, equal rights and true civil rights may never be achieved
S- Martin Luther King Jr.
Tone: King kept a patient tone throughout this letter as well as an understanding of the views of the clergymen. He found common ground throughout the essay mentioning previous points they made and politely arguing with them as well as responding with a counter argument that may make.
6) What kind of ethos does MLK establish within this essay? MLK King conveys his message by appealing to ethos. King does this many times throughout the letter. King writes that he follows just laws yet he breaks unjust laws. He relates breaking unjust laws with what the early Christians did. "Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience...early Christians who were willing to face hungry lions...rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire." King attempts to elucidate that early Christians broke laws that they felt were unjust. Because he is writing to the clergy this appeals to them immensely. He adds that many people look at the early Christians' movement as just. King asserts the fact that he is a "minister of the gospel" and is knowledgeable of the subject of Christianity. This assertion makes King appeal to ethos because when he writes that he is a minister it does not need to be said that he knows a lot about religion; it is automatically assumed that he know a lot about religion, making him credible when he alludes to religious examples in support of his cause.
7) How does King appeal to his audience’s emotions? By