Letter From Birmingham Jail

claim

An assertion, usually supported by evidence

What argument about racial segregation does King support in his letter?

it is moral evil that requires civil disobedience

moratorium

temporary suspension or agreed upon delay

Rhetoric

the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively

parallelism

the repetition of similar grammatical words to express the equal importance of ideas (ex. I am... I am... I am)

precipitate

to cause something to happen rapidly or unexpectedly

retaliate

to respond in kind to a harmful action

What was King's primary purpose for writing this letter?

to respond to criticism from a group of fellow clergymen

manifest

to show or reveal

Throughout paragraph 14, Dr. King mostly supports his argument for immediate action by —

using emotional appeal

Focus on Genre- Argument:

*makes claims to persuade an audience *includes evidence to support claims *contains personalized appeals to connect with the audience *uses rhetorical devices to strengthen the message *acknowledges and disproves opposing claims

Based on the selection, what can the reader infer about Dr. King's feelings toward the members of the clergy whom he addresses in his letter?

He is disappointed in their willingness to avoid supporting what is morally right.

Name the rhetorical device used: I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations. I am sure that none of you...

Parallelism

What purpose do paragraphs 21 and 22 serve?

They provide evidence to support a claim.

Shift

a change in mood or tone using but or however

counter claim

a claim made to rebut a previous claim.

logical fallacy

a statement based on an error in reasoning; a lie

Select two reasons King gives to prove he is not an "outside agitator"

- he was invited to Birmingham by local civil rights group - he knows that injustice anywhere affects the lives of everyone

Which two excerpts from the selection best support the answer to Part A?

--There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over. . . . I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. (paragraph 14) --Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be coworkers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.(paragraph 26)

Rhetorical Device

a technique writers or speakers use to enhance their arguments and communicate more effectively

Select two lines from the selection that are examples of concessions.

--You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. (paragraph 10) --You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. (paragraph 15)

Based on the rhetoric Dr. King uses in his letter, his intended audience are clergymen who are —

disapproving of his efforts

mores

established customs and conventions

Which two statements best express Dr. King's rebuttal to the opposing claim that his action in Birmingham is untimely?

-The new city administration will be as unresponsive as previous one -African Americans have waited in vain over 340 years for freedom.

A well-crafted argument must include:

-a clear CLAIM states the writer's position on the issue -relevant and appealing reasons and evidence to support -opposing claims are anticipated and effectively refuted - a concession acknowledges a valid opposing point - a convincing conclusion may include a call to action

What is the purpose of the allusions Dr. King makes in paragraphs 3 and 31?

3- where he gives a list of biblical illusion not only to pursued his Christian crowd but to address the issue that the laws they were breaking were morally right. 31- this injustice has been going on and has not just started; nothing new connects it by the past and moral law

Which statement best explains how Dr. King's introduction of the four steps of a nonviolent campaign in paragraph 6 serves his argument?

It justifies the need for nonviolent action.

A logical fallacy Dr. King addresses in his letter is that peaceful protests are bad because they lead to violence. What effect does addressing this logical fallacy have on the essay?

It makes the point that blaming protesters for the acts of others is illogical.

Which statement best explains the rhetorical device Dr. King uses in paragraph 45 and its effect?

The repeated use of parallelism imparts Dr. King's mounting outrage.

provocation

an action intended to elicit an angered response

cognizant

conscious or aware

complacency

contented self-satisfaction

Antithesis

contrasting ideas with the use of parallelism

Appeals

ethos- establishes authority or credibility pathos- speaks to emotions logos- uses logic or reason

Select the method King uses to support the argument?

examples from the Bible and history that illustrate the fight for justice

Dr. King compares just and unjust laws in order to explain why African Americans —

have the right to break some laws