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Letters from a birmingham jail, Instructions - Coggle Diagram
Letters from a birmingham jail
Methods of appeal
Ethos
"custom" or "character" in Greek. As originally used by Aristotle, it referred to a man's character or personality, especially in its balance between passion and caution. Today ethos is used to refer to the practices or values that distinguish one person, organization, or society from others
King quickly appeals to his audience by acknowledging the fact he feels they are "men of genuine goodwill and their criticisms are sincerely set forth," (King, 1963).
Provides insight into his character to his methodology and thought process behind non-violent actionable methods through an analogy to Socrates and his efforts in opening peoples' minds to critical thought (~10:15)
Provides reasoning for his methods towards the same end the clergymen seek, negotiation towards equality
Pathos
appeal to emotion, means to persuade an audience by purposely evoking certain emotions to make them feel the way the author wants them to feel. Authors make deliberate word choices, use meaningful language, and use examples and stories that evoke emotion.
King relays examples of the events leading up to the rally; workshops and delays to rationalize his thought process and intentions of goodwill toward the community of Birmingham (~7:00)
Martin Luther King, Jr. reads his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
Appeals to allow and embrace negroes to march to avoid violent methods of social discord (~34:30) by referring to Jesus with the same terms as the clergymen have reffered to him
Narrates and describes the scene of the crucifixion and the differences between the three men even though they committed the same crime (~37:00)
Logos
rhetorical or persuasive appeal to the audience's logic and rationality. Examples of logos can be found in argumentative writing and persuasive arguments, in addition to literature and poetry
King uses factual evidence represented by the differences of what was promised and the little that has been completed specifically in Birmingham (~6:00)
Martin Luther King, Jr. reads his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
"Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals."
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
questions their logic for stating peaceful actions must be condemned due to the fact they will precipitate violence (~28:15)
Purpose
He is justifying his reasons for bringing his followers to Birmingham, AL to march for freedom
Why MLK Was Jailed in Birmingham
Equality for everyone
Answering public criticism from men whom he respected
Explaining they both he and the clergymen want the same ends, equality
Rhetorical situation
Martin Luther King the individual
willingly accepts breaking unjust laws; sees this as the highest respect for the law
states he would have aided and comforted Jews in Nazi Germany and/or Christians in communist countries
Sees himself as a leader of exposing tensions that are already there under the surface
Stands between complacent and hostile individuals
Audience
Clergymen
The Eight White Clergymen in Letter from Birmingham Jail
Complacent individuals
White moderates
Negroes long oppressed and have adjusted to segregation
Hostile individuals
Reputated christianity
Setting
Time
Waiting; how he defines the word as "never"
Quicksand
Appeals to the fact that there is no "good time"
Broken laws
Just
1954 supreme court decision declaring racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional
Unjust
Segragation is a sin
democratic? legislature of Alabama
Instructions
Strategy of development
how will you use this in project
why is it effective
what strategy is used to develop the letter
parameters
2-3 pages in length
at least 2 scholarly references
title and ref page apa 7th edition
paraphrase and quote
at least one direct quote properly cited
what was the purpose