In his letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. employs various strategies to build a sense of trust and respect between himself and the clergymen he is responding to. By utilizing a Rogerian argument style, King attempts to establish common ground with the clergymen and emphasize shared values and beliefs, ultimately aiming to convey his perspective and gain their understanding.
One of the strategies that Dr. King employs is the use of inclusive language and respectful tone. He addresses the clergymen as "Fellow Clergymen" right at the beginning of his letter, creating a sense of camaraderie and equality. By doing so, King acknowledges the shared identity as religious leaders, which sets a respectful and conciliatory tone for the rest of his argument. He further emphasizes this common ground by stating, "I am in Birmingham because injustice is here" and highlights their mutual commitment to opposing injustice.
Another strategy utilized by King is the appeal to biblical and moral principles that he believes the clergymen would agree with. Throughout the letter, he references religious figures and teachings such as Jesus and the Apostle Paul, as well as moral values such as justice and equality. By linking his cause to religious and moral foundations, Dr. King attempts to establish a shared moral framework that he assumes the clergymen adhere to.
Furthermore, King emphasizes the nonviolent nature of the civil rights movement, addressing the concerns raised by the clergymen regarding the demonstrations. He highlights the similarities between their beliefs in "peaceful direct action" and his own approach, drawing parallel lines in their goals and methods. Through this strategy, he attempts to dispel the notion that he is an outside agitator and instead presents himself as someone who shares their commitment to peaceful protest.
Additionally, Dr. King addresses the clergymen's accusation that he is causing tension in the community. He argues that the absence of tension does not necessarily equate to peace and justice, asserting that tension is necessary for a society to confront and address its problems. By framing tension as a natural and necessary part of social progress, King aims to challenge the clergymen's perspective and encourage them to reconsider their position.
In his letter, King also acknowledges the clergymen's concerns about the timing of the demonstrations. Although he disagrees with their view that the demonstrations should be postponed, he seeks to establish common ground by recognizing their shared desire for a peaceful and orderly society. He suggests that it is the urgent and pressing nature of the civil rights movement that necessitates immediate action, even if it disrupts the status quo. This strategy aims to portray his cause as an inevitable and urgent struggle for justice, rather than a rash or hasty endeavor.
In conclusion, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. effectively employs a range of strategies to build trust and respect between himself and the clergymen in his letter from Birmingham Jail. By utilizing inclusive language, appealing to shared religious and moral principles, emphasizing nonviolent methods, and addressing concerns raised by the clergymen, King attempts to establish common ground and foster understanding. Through these strategies, he seeks to convince the clergymen of the righteousness of his cause and the necessity of immediate action for social justice.
Do not plagiarize. Do not submit an Artificially Intelligent generated essay. This is a Turnitin assignment.
Focusing mainly on the first two pages of this letter/essay, write an essay that explains the strategies Dr. King uses to try to build a sense of trust and respect between himself and the clergymen (He tries to establish common ground in the Rogerian Argument style). Of course, you may want to use examples of his common ground strategies found in other parts of the letter, not just the first two pages. Also, you may include parts of the clergymen's letter as well when you refer to their letter.
Strategy means an approach, method, or action. His strategy is seen in the words that he used. What words did he use? How did he try to establish common ground by identifying points of agreement between the audience and himself? What did he think they could agree on?
Common ground means that we (the writer and his/her audience) have something in common or we have something that we can agree on. Think about this: Why would he want to establish common ground with the white clergymen who attacked him in their letter to which he is responding? They criticized the civil rights demonstrations and called King an outside agitator. Their letter was published in the local newspaper. When someone showed it to Dr. King, he decided to write a response. The object of a Rogerian-style argument is to convince the opposing audience that your position and point of view are right. What strategies does King use to try to get these white clergymen to understand his point of view?
Did King identify the ideas and beliefs that he and the clergymen share or have in common? How is he responding to their attack? Your answers should help you identify what strategies he uses.
You are to approach this assignment in your own way as long as your central point is clearly defined and supported.
Since this is a rhetorical composition, we must look at his words to identify his strategies. The paper must include quotes from the letter as examples of the strategies that you notice. 50 pts. The primary sources are the two letters: the Statement by Alabama Clergymen and the Letter from Birmingham Jail. You may use other sources to support your points, but that is not necessary. All resources must be documented properly.
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