Question
King says, “You may well ask: 'Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't
negotiation a better path?' You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very
purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a
tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the
issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.”
Which rhetorical strategy does King employ with this statement?
negotiation a better path?' You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very
purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a
tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the
issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.”
Which rhetorical strategy does King employ with this statement?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In this statement, Martin Luther King Jr. employs the rhetorical strategy of **counterargument and refutation**. He acknowledges the opposing viewpoint by affirmatively addressing the question of why direct action is necessary instead of negotiation. By doing so, he anticipates and understands the concerns of his audience, which strengthens his credibility (ethos) and makes his argument more persuasive.
Additionally, King's use of **repetition** in phrases like "You may well ask" and "Isn't negotiation a better path?" emphasizes his engagement with the audience's thoughts and doubts. Furthermore, he uses **logical reasoning** (logos) to provide rationale for nonviolent direct action, explaining that it is a means to force a community to confront issues it has previously ignored. This combination of strategies effectively communicates the urgency and necessity of direct action in the struggle for civil rights.
Additionally, King's use of **repetition** in phrases like "You may well ask" and "Isn't negotiation a better path?" emphasizes his engagement with the audience's thoughts and doubts. Furthermore, he uses **logical reasoning** (logos) to provide rationale for nonviolent direct action, explaining that it is a means to force a community to confront issues it has previously ignored. This combination of strategies effectively communicates the urgency and necessity of direct action in the struggle for civil rights.