...Rhetorical Analysis Paper Martin Luther King Jr.: I Have a Dream According to Aristotle, there are three ways for a speaker to persuade his audience: ethos, logos, and pathos ("American rhetoric: Aristotle's rhetoric - selected moments," n.d.). Aristotle noted that a speech should “engage both the rational and non-rational elements of the listener's soul” (Wardy, 1996, p. 63). The speaker must have credibility with their audience and appear fair, open-minded, honest, and knowledgeable (ethos). He/she must also have logical appeal with strong, valid arguments based on facts and, perhaps, with personal experience and observations (logos). And, finally, the speaker must emotionally appeal to the audience and create a personal connection to draw and hold their attention (pathos). Of the three, Aristotle believed that ideally arguments should be made with reason, or logic, alone (McKay & McKay, 2010). However, it is often a speaker’s emotional appeal that creates the personal connection, as well as captivates and motivates the audience … and few have done that better than the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. If you say the words “I have a dream”, Americans from age 18 to 80 immediately think of Martin Luther King Jr. They may not know the words achieved notoriety from a speech given at an equal rights march on Washington, DC in August 1963. They may not know that 250,000 blacks gathered at the National Mall to demand "jobs and freedom" (Hampson, 2013). Additionally, they...
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...“I Have a Dream” The 1960’s was a time of darkness for the black race, racial inequality, racism, and segregation was common throughout America.It was dark for the victims of racism until Martin Luther King Jr. showed up to fight for racial equality. During his fight for racial equality he made several significant speeches including his most famous one “I Have a Dream”. That speech was his final one but yet the most important speech of all. Even though Martin Luther’s speech was 54 years ago, his meaning still stands today as a “new age” for America. In his speech he uses rhetorical devices, ethos, pathos, and logos to help add meaning to his speech, and he also gives a patriotic tone to highlight the importance of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”...
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...University Rhetorical Analysis of Dr. Martin Luther Kings “I Have A Dream” (Revised) Introduction On August 28th 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave the “I Have a Dream” speech which was addressed to not only the 200,000 white and black Americans but people all around the world. The “I Have A Dream” speech has been considered one of the most greatest and powerful speeches in history. Why was it given? Simply to rectify that all me were created equal despite their race or color. In this Analysis I will be explaining some literary terms he used as strategies in his speech, and also explain how Dr. King used two rhetorical patterns to help him support his argument, those two patters are Ethos, & Pathos. Strategies Dr. King used many literary terms in the “I Have a Dream” speech such as Alliteration, which is the repetition of sounds. For example he says, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” The “c” in those three words of that sentence gives it a repetitive rhythm feel which will make that important part of the speech catch and memorable. Also from that same sentence he used Anaphora, which describes the most famous part of the speech, where in this case is “I Have a Dream”. Although he used it many times just buy naming this speech “I Have a Dream” it will make everything he say after...
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...civil rights movement activist Martin Luther King Jr gave a speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Not for the beautiful viewing but for the remembrance of the President who tried to end segregation. Dr. King spoke in front of hundreds of thousands of colored and white people from across the nation, informing them about the change against segregation. As a writer Dr. King knows how to grab his followers attention. Dr. King used allusions, pathos, parallel structure, alliteration, juxtaposition, and imagery to not only show the future when segregation ends but to grab people attention and open their ears to faith and change. Dr. King uses allusions to show credibility of past and how people...
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...Have you ever thought about how a writer carry out their purpose to an audience? Writers use rhetorical strategies for audiences to understand their purpose. Throughout history many writers have demonstrated this skill to send a message to their audiences. Writers such as Martin Luther King Jr, and Sojourner Truth use pathos and repetition to express their person to an audience. Martin Luther King Jr and Sojourner Truth use emotions to persuade their audience to support their cause. In Sojourner Truth’s speech entitled “Ain’t I A Woman” she expresses her misery when she talks about motherhood as a slave. Sojourner Truth says “ I borne thirteen children, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me!” (Truth). This reveals...
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...“I Have a Dream” is a public speech delivered by Martin Luther King, a prominent figure in American History, in which he calls for racial equality. Throughout his speech, Martin Luther King inspires and motivates his audience to create a social movement for the betterment of the standards of living for black people in America. The transcript deals with the themes of equality and freedom by using a variety of literary techniques. Social exclusion of the “Negro”, according to Martin Luther King, is holding back America from truly being “great”. He encourages those who are fighting for equality and freedom from the constraints of society to continue their struggle for the betterment of the entire black society. He seems to say that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, but it must be demanded by the oppressed. The theme of undying hope is also discussed as Martin Luther King encourages his viewers to be persistent in whatever they do. Direct addressal of the reader helps the orator to emotionally connect with the reader to have a greater impact on the audience. The speech begins with direct addressal of the reader to provide emotional connection and thereby enhance the motivational effect of the speech. The possessive pronoun “my” in the noun phrase “my friends” unites Martin Luther King with his audience and so has the ability to strengthen the impact of his inspirational speech. The theme of hope is discussed through repetition of adverbs. The adverb “still” in...
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...Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, “Darkness can’t drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate can’t drive out hate; only love can do that.” These lines stated by King are very crucial as it was said in a time period where these words were weighed heavily. King is known as a social activist who led the Civil Rights Movement during the mid-1950s. He has made many speeches throughout the Movement in which he is best known because of them. During the Civil Right Movement the main goal of it was to end racial inequality. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary inequality means, “an unfair situation in which some people have more rights or better opportunities than other people.” Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” is the most compelling...
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...Comparative/Contrast Journal The “I have a Dream” speech written and preached by Martin Luther King has a greater impact in effectively persuading their message to the audience than the speech written by Chief Dan George. While Martin Luther King uses Greek philosopher Aristotle’s three “proofs” or appeals; ethos, logos pathos throughout his speech, Chief Dan George only uses two out of the three proofs; ethos and pathos. Though both leaders hold the desire to send out a strong message to their audiences, the speech written and spoken by Martin Luther King contains all three proofs which results in having a greater impact on the people as they are more easily convinced by his vision. Ethos being Greek for “character” is used heavily in King’s...
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...Title | #2 Group AssignmentMartin Luther King Jr. - I Have A Dream | Due Date | Week 8 | Date Received | | DECLARATION | To be completed if this is an individual assignment: I declare that this assignment is my individual work. I have not worked collaboratively nor have I copied from any other student’s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgment is made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written for me by another person. | Student ID | Student Name | Student Signature | Student 1 | | | | To be completed if this is a group assignment: We declare that this is a group assignment and that no part of this submission has been copied from any other student's work or from any other source except where due acknowledgment is made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written for us by another person. | Student ID | Student Name | Student Signature | Student 1 | 4240138 | Danushka Nirmal De Silva | | Student 2 | 4235150 | Ngu Ing Sung | | Student 3 | 4237293 | Dashilla Ladaey | | Student 4 | 4237323 | Ahmad Akmal Afiq | | Student 5 | 100070566 | Lasse Svenning Jensen | | MARKER’S COMME Total Mark | | Marker’s Signature | | Date | | EXTENSION CERTIFICATE | This assignment has been given an extension by Unit Convenor | | Extended due date: | | Date Received | | Martin Luther King Jr. – I Have a Dream An analysis of a historically important leadership speech Words: (excl. front-page and...
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...“I have a Dream” On August 28, one of the most powerful speeches was given by Martin Luther King Jr.During the mid-20th Century, racism was a huge issue in the United States, which the most prominent was the racism of African-Americans. Although all blacks were supposed to be free, under a corrupt law system, blacks were victimized mercilessly. Therefore, blacks decided to try and change the system and multiple civil rights activists and groups appeared. Throughout the 1960s, King engaged in various civil rights boycotts and protests, helping to further the movement and gaining its eventual victory.Out of all of his civil rights-related efforts, he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. The speech was given in front of the Lincoln Memorial and is known by many as one of the most influential speeches on freedom and the equality of Americans, regardless of their race. 200,000 people gathered to hear Dr. King talk about the segregation and discrimination against African Americans in our nation at that time. In his speech He used pathos such as using the bible to get emotional reactions, with logos he gave real life situations as examples, and ethos he used what people thought and knew about Abraham Lincoln. This were just a few examples of what he said in his speech. King bought to the attention of the American people that our country was founded upon freedom and as a democracy we have the right to change laws and institute...
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... and Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech compare and contrast? Any half-sensible American should at least be able to tell you that they are all crucial pieces of America’s development as a nation, and that they all had different authors and intents. To compare and contrast them effectively, each piece’s purpose, the effect of the document/speech, and the author’s writing style must be analyzed. Each document was written under vastly differing circumstances. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was constructed by our Founding Fathers to combat the oppressive power of King George and separate ties with Britain. In 1863 the Gettysburg Address was given by President...
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...Literary Techniques of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech Literary Techniques of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech Introduction Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent civil rights leader, delivered a powerful speech at the historic March on Washington. The speech uses several literary techniques to engage the listener. In the speech, King especially likes to use repetition and metaphor to convey his ideas. These devices are the foundation of King?s unique and effective style. Repetition In I Have a Dream King uses repetition throughout. Repetition is a good tool to use to reinforce an important idea. In Dorothy Seyler?s Read, Reason, Write, she states: ?Some repetition of key words and phrases will occur in well-written and unified essays. Some writers, though, go beyond this technique of unified writing and use repetition to produce an effective cadence, like a drum beating in the background, keeping time with the speaker?s fist pounding the lectern for emphasis.? (58). King?s speech is a perfect representation of this. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons...
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...President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech address the theme of American democracy in many ways. Some similar ways, but others different. In both speeches they talk about how everyone needs to be equal, and treated fairly. Not everything in the two speeches are the same, but very similar. They both just want equality, and fairness between all. No matter what skin color, hair color, eyes. No matter what clothes you wear. We are all equal, and that's what everyone needs to know. That was the point of the two speeches. To give people hope, and motivation during hard times. I defiantly think that President Lincoln's speech was more to empower everyone, and make them feel less helpless. But,...
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...Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest leaders in the civil rights movement, if not the greatest. About a century after slavery was abolished there was still segregation for African Americans, and MLK was not going to stand for that. He did a lot of work to help get the segregation laws removed. One way he did this was by using his amazing talent of public speaking and using logos and pathos. There are many different ways he used logos and pathos. Dr. Martin Luther King did a great job of using pathos in his letter while in Birmingham jail and in his “I Have a Dream” speech. As he stated, “It was illegal to aid and comfort a jew in Hitler’s Germany. Even so I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers” (MLK, 278). He would have helped the jewish people even though he could’ve gotten in a lot of trouble, this shows how he felt that he could change horrible things, which would arouse emotions. “When you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr was the leader of civil rights in United States. He has spent most of his life fighting for the racial equality of African Americans. In August 28th, 1963, King gave one of his most influencing speeches entitled "I Have A Dream." The speaker of this sensational speech is the exquisite doctor Martin Luther King jr. he is giving a speech because of the racial inequality that occurs in the united states at the time.His audience was the united states of america and he was speaking of behalf of the african american population trying to stop racial segregation. In his famous speech Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. sets out to convince the united states of america to stop racial segregation and he effectively ethos and pathos to convince the people successfully. MLK...
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