1."Letter from Birmingham Jail"
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. is known for his tremendous speeches. However, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" quickly became a classic because of its rhetorical skill. And while this letter is not as challenging as Thoreau, it is long. Please read it early in the week. You also have all other assignments attached to it. Don't put it off.
2. The Rubrics
Complete a Rhetorical Analysis rubric and an Argumentation rubric.
3. The Essay
Write the essay on pg. 275, "Suggestions for Writing" #2. You may research and plan before you begin writing. However, once you sit down to write the essay set a timer and give yourself an hour. Please make sure you don't cheat on this exercise. It's incredibly important that you practice writing these quickly. Here is the prompt:
Choose a quote from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" where King expresses one of his strong opinions. Write an essay in which you defend, challenge, or qualify King's assertion. Support your argument with appropriate evidence from your reading, observation or experience.
4. The Research
- Complete an historical/allusion research assignment choosing one of King's allusions.
- Complete another historical research assignment. Choose your own topic from the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's. Go way beyond Rev. King or Rosa Parks. You might consider learning about the legal cases like Brown vs. Board of Education or legislation that changed laws or the entire context for "Letter from Birmingham Jail" or even all the events that happened in Birmingham or other leaders in the movement or how King differed from Malcolm X or some of the arguments put forth by people opposed who were against the movement. Some of you can use your AP History book for more ideas.