MLK “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
Rhetorical Analysis Project Requirements
As mentioned in Eubanks’ essay, many people are familiar with King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, but scholars, philosophers, historians, theologians, and students have extensively studied King, Jr.’s use of rhetoric in “A Letter from Birmingham Jail,” which was written only months before “Dream.”
We have now read Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “A Letter from Birmingham Jail” and analyzed the argument (purpose) of his entire letter. Now, in groups you will rhetorically analyze only a section of his letter and present your analysis to the class in a professional, high-quality PowerPoint presentation. This project is worth 100 points as a Summative Assessment.
The overall steps of this project include:
1. Select a group, read your focus question, and reread the corresponding paragraphs
2. As group, complete the MLK Rhetorical Analysis Chart
3. Input your analysis into a creative PowerPoint presentation
4. Rehearse your presentation
5. Present to the class
Below are specific guidelines for the individual parts with a suggested number of corresponding slides:
Rhetorical Analysis Triangle Diagram (pathos/ethos/logos and audience/speaker/subject of your designated paragraphs—1 slide only
o Argument/Purpose is provided for you in your focus question
Outline of the main points of his argument—minimum 1 slide per paragraph
o Minimum one main point per paragraph
2 Rhetorical Appeals (Ethos/Logos/Pathos)—minimum 1 slide per appeal
o Identification of appeals used to strengthen his argument (Ethos/Logos/Pathos)
o Textual example of appeal from MLK’s “Letter” (Actual quotation)
o Analysis of Effect of his rhetorical appeals (Why did he write the passage this way?)
2 Rhetorical Arrangement Strategies (Style Strategies)—minimum 1 slide per strategy
o Identification of strategy used to strengthen his argument (Style Strategies)
o Textual example of strategy from MLK’s “Letter” (Actual quotation)
o Analysis of Effect of his rhetorical strategy (Why did he write the passage this way?)
Personal Overall Evaluation of his Argument’s Effectiveness—minimum 1 slide
o Evaluate MLK’s argument in your designated section
o Defend your evaluation by mentioning the rhetorical situation (speaker-purpose-audience interaction)
Symbolic Representation to Express the Meaning of his Argument—minimum 1 slide
o Select or create any visual (image/audio/video) that symbolically represents your section’s argument
o Explain your symbolic representation with at least one specific example to the “Letter”
o NO CLIP ART!
PowerPoint Presentation Requirements:
o No less than 10 slides
o Slides are clear, visually pleasing, and all content may be seen from the rear of the room
o Presenters act like professional experts, contributing equally with evidence of rehearsal
o Vocal volume and eye contact is appropriate
o All PowerPoint slides are handed in before presenting/on due date
In order to succeed with this project, work efficiently at school and at home, and recognize that you are going to have to use your brain the whole time. There are no shortcuts with this one so give it your best!
