Much of argumentative writing centers around rhetoric, the art of persuasion. Writers use certain rhetorical devices to engage and persuade their readers. Generally, we think of persuasion in terms of three rhetorical appeals. Aristotle first categorized these appeals based on logic (logos), ethics (ethos), and emotion (pathos). Most strong arguments have a balance of all three appeasl, although logos has proven to be more essential than the other two for a valid argument. In the same way these appeals aid writers in getting their points across, they can also be misused, stretching facts to agree with their argument. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King was arrested for participating in a march that did not have a valid city issued …show more content…
Dr. King also uses logic to address the clergymen’s claim that he has broken the law. Dr. King devotes eight paragraphs to build a logical reasoning that explains why he broke the law. He first admits that yes, he did break the law. He then goes on to postulate that there are just laws as well as unjust laws. All people have a legal and moral responsibility to obey just laws but an equally strong moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. To develop this argument, Dr. King then makes a distinction between just and unjust laws using three points. Just laws square with the law of God and are in harmony with moral law. An unjust law is out of harmony with moral law, is devised without universal consent, and then compels one group to obey another’s rules that they themselves are not obligated to follow. Dr. King then applies his reasoning to segregation laws and specifically the laws that prohibit his public demonstrations. Lastly, Dr. King cites historical incidents when unjust laws were broken to include early Christians, Socrates and the patriots of the Boston Tea Party. Pathos is from the Greek words “suffering” and “experience” and is for the most part an emotional appeal. As the name implies, emotional appeal targets the emotions and feelings of the audience to create a type of relationship with the author. Because humans are such emotional creatures, it is helpful for writers to employ this strategy in their rationalizations. It is an appeal
In paragraphs 12-14 King uses a combination of rhetorical strategies to argue the urgency for changing current segregation laws. Kings selective use of imagery, parallel structure, and metaphors helps bring out the emotions of the eight clergymen, making them feel sympathy and understand Martin Luther King Jr.s point of view.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is one of the most successful and most legendary speeches in United States history. Martin Luther King Jr. was a masterful speaker, who established a strong command of rhetorical strategies. By his eloquent use of ethos, logos, and pathos, as well as his command of presentation skills and rhetorical devices, King was able to persuade his generation that "the Negro is not free" (King 1). His speech became the rallying cry for civil rights and lives on as an everlasting masterpiece.
“But more basically,I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C.left their villages and carried their,”thus saint the lord” far beyond the boundaries of their home towns,and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world,so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town.like Paul,I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.”
Civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech while standing at the feet of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. His uplifting speech is one of the most admired during the civil rights era and arguably one of the best in American history. On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about the true American dream: equality. Although the video of his oral spectacle is powerful, the written document portrays exactly how brilliant Martin Luther King Jr. really was. Like an Architect who uses his stones to build strong palaces, Martin Luther King Jr. uses every word, every sentence, and every paragraph purposely to convey the necessity of a civil rights
Many authors use rhetorical devices and strategies to get their point across and try to convince the reader to believe in their perspective. It can also be used to get emotions from its readers, but that isn’t really the whole point of persuading someone. For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. uses an abundance of pathos in order to make the reader or clergymen feel sympathy towards the black people. Along with pathos, he uses logos and a bundle of hypophora. In order to obtain the goal of persuasion, Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter contains rhetorical devices.
On April 28, 1963 over 200,00 Americans gathered at the Washington monument to protest cruelty that was being spread among our country. On that day, one of the most famous speeches of all American history was delivered. From that speech, America experienced a change that has brought us to where we are today. In the famous, “I have a dream” speech proclaimed by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., many types of rhetoric was utilized to try and stop the racial inequality that was occurring within our country at the time.
In a letter by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader uses various rhetorical
A determinate of how effective a piece is can be recognized by how the piece affects the intended audience in the long run. In the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr, both authors use several different effective rhetorical methods to convey their messages to the audience. Edwards (one of the best speakers in his time) and King (one of the most influential Civil Rights activists) both use these methods in an effective way. King and Edwards both use different methods to convey their messages, but it is important to analyze what one is the most effective on the intended audience. You must analyze how Edwards uses direct addressing
I think Dr King had a better argument because he spoke for the community in an intelligent manner with a sense of equality at hand. I think he also is more appealing on an emotional level and used pathos more efficiently while calling out injustices and demanding change in a peaceful manner. His overall message really came across as if he was speaking for all the people in his community. When he talked about the police and how he simply couldn't agree with what they are doing, he still was respectful when stating his grievances. I think a level headed mindset is something people can gravitate towards too, especially in a time of racial tension. Dr.King also uses some rhetorical devices to convey the indisticed of segregation.
Dr. King gave a demonstration concerning this agonizing, perplexing question by recalling an event that occurred immediately after Christ’s transfiguration. Therefore, as Jesus was coming down from the mountain, He found a small boy that was in wild convulsions. Continuously the disciples had tried desperately to cure the unhappy child, but the harder they labored to heal him the more they realized their own inadequacies and the pathetic limitations of their power. But just before they were about to give up in despair; Jesus appeared on the scene. Then after the father of the child told Jesus of the failure of the disciples, Jesus “rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him, and the child was cured that same hour.”
In a letter by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader uses various rhetorical
In his letter, Martin Luther King Jr. responds to criticism provided by eight Birmingham Clergymen who disapproved of his presence in Birmingham and the demonstrations that were taking place. In his response, Martin Luther King Jr. discusses the connection between all humans regardless of race. He expresses that we are all part of a community and what affects one, affects all. Through the centuries, there has been discrimination towards every type of ethnicity and race. His voice is not only for African Americans but for anyone who is being discriminated against because of their race. As a young Hispanic female, I can relate this letter to injustices towards Hispanics and the stereotypes that exist. He states that it is an injustice how humans
In Martian Luther King Jr’s speech I have a dream; King used his words skillfully and intellectually to target his audience’s emotions. His words lifted up the spirits and hopes of those who stood in support of him. Imagine how different an impact his speech would have had if he approached it with the emotional appeal of pity or sympathy. It’s not likely many people would have been moved if he pulled the poor pitiful us card. Instead, King went at it guns a blazing determined to let everyone there know that they were not down for the count and their voice mattered. When King used the words, “…America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.” The crowd erupted with cheers. This is what they wanted to hear. This was the message that needed to be given all over the United States.
wrote a very well planned out speech for the specific occasion he was speaking at. He made his speech on August 28th 1963, a time where racism was ravaging especially in the south. However, being the man he was, he bravely stood up in front the nation’s capitol and spoke his mind. He had such eloquence when he wrote this because it flows so well.
The way he presented his arguments and opinions to capture the audience and to get them on his side top agree with what he said draws people in. this is rhetoric, a method that helped him persuade his audience to his side. What made Dr. King’s speech so persuasive was the fact that he was a preacher and was very good at getting the audience’s attention. “A time comes when silence is betrayal.”