“Letter from a Birmingham Jail”—Martin Luther King
Rhetorical Analysis
Organization
What it is like:
How it is effective:
Audience
Who are the intended audiences:
How this choice is effective:
Syntax
Prominent syntactical moves:
How they are effective:
Tone
Various tones (shifts):
How they are effective:
Appeals
Ethos:
Logos:
Pathos:
How all three are effective:
Allusions
Various types:
How they are effective:
Metaphors/Imagery
Various types:
How they are effective:
So ultimately, we see that the complexity and
power of rhetoric comes from a command
over many different types of rhetorical
techniques. Now you must answer the
question:
How does King use rhetorical strategies to
persuade his audience that the need for civil
rights in Birmingham is now?
Please choose at least three techniques and
cite specific quotes to support your claims.