MLK’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” HW (bottom of p. 1208 to the End)
Answer the following questions AFTER reading the rest of Dr. King’s letter. Don’t be general with your
answers! Paraphrase specific ideas and evidence and/or quote-weave.
Questions marked “TDEC” require a TDEC response. Begin with a specific, well-thought-out answer (T),
support with textual evidence (D+E –the HOW), and explain (C – the WHY).
Remember, with your commentary, you are usually trying to explain how, through the D+E, the writer is
attempting to appeal to either ethos, logos, or pathos. However, instead of using those terms, explain exactly
what the impact is (for example, “establishes credibility” or “creates a connection with the audience” for
ethos; “makes the logical argument” for logos; “evokes a feeling of ____________” for pathos).
1. CLERGY ARGUMENT #5 – YOU ARE WILLINGLY BREAKING LAWS, WHICH IS WRONG
A) What is King’s basic argument in response to the clergymen’s accusation regarding his obeying and
disobeying laws? (lines 150-159) TDEC
B) Where does King, toward the beginning of this section, offer a concession? Explain how this
concession helps his ethos appeal.
C) In this section of the letter (lines 150-216), how does King build his ETHOS appeal? TDEC
D) How does King APPEAL TO LOGOS (LOGIC) in this section? (lines 190-216) TDEC
2. A) Explain why King sees the “white moderate” as a larger obstacle to equality than the “Citizen’s
Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner” (1211). TDEC
B) Read lines 228-230 carefully and put these sentences into your own words.
C) What argument does King make or refute with his simile about a boil? (Think about what’s being
compared to what in this analogy). (lines 238-244) TDEC
3. CLERGY ARGUMENT #6 – YOUR ACTIONS, THOUGH PEACEFUL, “PRECIPITATE” VIOLENCE
How does King counter this argument from the clergy? (Look at how he addresses their fallacy of faulty
causality.) TDEC
4. Lines 256-272 – What’s the primary assertion King makes in this paragraph?
5. CLERGY ARGUMENT #7 – YOU USE “EXTREME MEASURES”
How does King counter this argument from the clergy by flipping it? (lines 273-293) TDEC
6. A) Where and how does King’s tone shift—there are several possible answers—in the last section of his
letter (lines 294-328)?
TDECDEC – the first DEC should cover how and why the first tone is created; the second DEC
should cover the second tone. Be sure, in your E, to explain how the tone is created by tying it to
King’s use of diction, imagery, details, or language. And, in your C, explain what the likely effect of
this tone is on King’s audience.