Essay Four: Critical Review
Assignment
Read Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." In his “Letter from Birmingham
Jail,” is King's approach primarily emotional, logical, or ethical (could be one, two, or all three).
One of the main tasks in your fourth essay is to analyze how the author uses language to
accomplish his purpose. Quote the letter and support a clear thesis that contains your opinion and
supporting ideas.
Brief Letter Background
In April of 1963, a young, relatively unknown minister left his home and church in Atlanta,
Georgia to help his friends and colleagues protest nonviolently against segregation and
discrimination in Birmingham, Alabama. That minister, Martin Luther King, Jr., was arrested
and held in jail. While in jail, several priests, rabbis, and ministers published a letter in the
Birmingham newspaper, calling this young minister's actions unwise and poorly timed. Their
letter suggested that King and other civil rights leaders should just wait, that the life was bound
to get better for American blacks, if they just waited.
In response to that editorial, King wrote one of the greatest pieces of literature in English, his
"Letter from Birmingham Jail."
Requirements:
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Use double-spacing throughout essay.
Label and Title your essay and number your pages.
Format your pages accurately. Formatting and punctuation will affect your essay #4
grade.
Focus:
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developing your point of view,
formulating an effective thesis based on logical conclusions
using controlling ideas to focus and organize thesis ideas and paragraphs
writing unified and coherent paragraphs that link back to the thesis
making logical links/transitions between paragraphs
using accruate quotations from King’s letter to support your ideas
Points to consider
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What is the exact issue?
Who is the intended audience?
What can you infer are the author’s perceptions of his audience?
In what ways do these perceptions seem valid / invalid to you?
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In what way(s) does the essay cater to the needs of its audience? (consider quality, style,
and content)
In what way(s) could the essay be more directed toward its audience?
What needs improvement? How can the improvement(s) be achieved?
Steps in the Process:
1. Re-read the essay taking notes. Be as objective as you can. Take note of details that will
make your essay more interesting. You will forget details and impressions and have gaps
in your material when you come to write the essay if you are not thorough at this stage.
2. Reflect on what you read and thought. Brainstorm ideas with a friend/classmate; you can
use chat or email for this step.
3. Sort through your notes and organize your ideas and material into a form that provides a
logical guide for your essay. Be prepared to express your own point of view. Consider the
format appropriate to your purpose.
4. Formulate an effective thesis statement and decide on controlling ideas so that each
paragraph will have a specific opinion and audience.
5. Ensure that your evaluations and recommendations are sufficiently supported by
information and examples that illustrate why you have reached your opinion.
6. Read your essay carefully before submitting it.
7. Have another (or more than one person) read your essay.
8. Consider all feedback carefully before redrafting your work.
9. Redraft.
10. Edit with care, remembering that accurate format and punctuation affect your essay #4
grade.