Notes on “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
_________________: in Greek loosely translates to “______________.” In effective argumentation, effective writers not only possess
good character but also argue in ways that reveal good character. The audience should see writers as people very much like
themselves (or the way they ideally would like to be). Therefore, writers must establish _____________ with the audience.
Persuasive writers must convince their audience that they have the audience’s best interests at heart. Controlling ______________,
which controls __________________, is one way to appeal to the audience. Skilled persuasive writers will avoid inflammatory
language and use language appropriate for the occasion. Writers who use inflammatory language will not persuade anyone
and may, in fact, ______________________ any readers not already other side.
Discuss with your classmates the way King uses the following techniques for developing an ethical appeal in paragraphs 2 & 3:
 Restates opposing view(s) accurately and _____________________
 Associates self with relevant _______________________
 Makes relevant __________________________
 Uses first-person plural pronouns to establish a relationship between writer and audience
 Uses reasonable language, avoiding an inflammatory tone
What is King’s purpose in using ethos? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________ : An emotional appeal. In Greek loosely translates to “_____________________.” Most people respond to
________________________________, but the writer must be careful to use this appeal wisely and fairly. The writer’s aim should not be
to manipulate the reader through emotions but to appeal to needs that all humans have in common:
 ____________________________ needs (life and health)
 ____________________________ needs (a person’s need for love and respect)
 ____________________________ needs (the need for freedom, for respect, for acceptance)
With great skill, King uses an abundance of rhetorical devices in paragraph 11 that have the potential to overwhelm the
audience emotionally.
Contrast (antithesis)
1. King employs antithesis in the second sentence. Outline the pairs of contrasts.
a. Places: _____________________________________________ and ____________________________________________________
b. Moves like __________________________________ (first place) and __________________________________________ (second place)
c. Gains ___________________________________________ (First place) and ______________________________________ (second place)
2. In a sentence, explain King’s rhetorical purpose in employing these antithetical places and ideas.
Metaphor
3. The antithesis in the second sentence contains two metaphors. Identify them and explain their effect in the sentence.
4.
The passage contains other metaphors in addition to the two already mentioned. Identify as many metaphors as
possible.
Anaphora
The fourth sentence not only contains over 300 words but also develops the most powerful emotional argument in the
paragraph. The force of the paragraph depends on King’s use of several rhetorical techniques, but the anaphora propels a
driving rhythm that is particularly effective.
5.
Identify the similar working repeated at the beginning of the clauses. Analyze the rhetorical effect of repeating this
phrase nine times.
Alliteration
Martin Luther King is a master at using sound devices to add emphasis and detail. For instance, beginning in line 3, king writes “but
we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee…” The repetition of the hard c sound accentuates the slow pace
of reforms to gain even the smallest right. Both “creep” and “cup of coffee” are humble things, contrasted with Asia and Africa, which
move like jets to gain something much grander than a cup of coffee – “political independence.” King uses the repetition of consonant
sounds to reinforce the idea of struggling for basic rights.
6.
Find more examples of alliteration in the passage. Write the sentence where the alliteration is found and then explain its
effect. (There are blanks on the back for you to fill in).
Notes on “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
a.
b.
c.
Alliteration _____________________________________________________
Effect _________________________________________________________
Alliteration _____________________________________________________
Effect _________________________________________________________
Alliteration _____________________________________________________
Effect _________________________________________________________
_________________: loosely translates to “_________________.” A logical appeal depends on _______________ and
__________________, appealing more to the audience’s ____________ than their emotions. Logical reasoning depends on the
following:
 Deductive reasoning
 Reliance on authority
 Research
 Tradition (precedent)
 Cause/effect
 Effective metaphors
Look at paragraphs 12 & 13. A concession is an expression of concern for the feelings of those who may disagree with the writer’s
position. Using concession is a good way to overcome the reader’s resistance to a controversial problem (for instance, breaking the
law). And concession shows the writer to be both a logical thinker (one who knows and understands what the other side believes) and
a concerned fair-minded person who realizes that every argument has two sides. Using a concession takes away the major weapon of
the opposition.
1.
Which sentences in King’s speech make up his concession?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
A concession is one part of another persuasive device called a counterargument. A counterargument has two parts:
 Concession
 Refutation (asserting that an opponent’s arguments are wrong and arguing against them)
2. Which sentences in King’s speech make up his counterargument?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Martin Luther King uses deductive reasoning in these paragraphs, in which a general conclusion leads to a specific conclusion.
Deductive reasoning is frequently stated in a three-part statement called a syllogism. Here is one example:
a. (general statement) The Declaration of Independence proclaims that all people have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness”
b. (particular example) Women are people.
c. (conclusion) Therefore, women should be allowed to vote.
King develops a syllogism in the paragraph 13. Write out the parts. You will have to change his wording somewhat. Piece together the
syllogism:
a. (general statement): Laws that degrade the human personality are unjust.
b. (particular example):
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
c. (conclusion): Therefore,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
King develops another syllogism, this one more implicitly, which justifies his breaking the law. Try writing out the three parts of this
syllogism. This time you are given the conclusion.
a. (general statement):
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
b. (particular example):
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
c. (conclusion): Therefore, King and his followers have a moral obligation to break the laws of segregation.