Letter From Birmingham Jail

A few months after this letter was written in 1963, King delivered one of the most famous and compelling oratories in US history, his “I Have a Dream” speech. After watching an online video of the speech, compare King’s use of rhetorical devices between his speech and his letter. Does he use all three parts of the rhetorical devices triangle (pathos, ethos, and logos) in both texts? If so, how? Provide examples in your analysis; explain if one is used more than the others.

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt challenges students’ analytical skills in making connections with rhetorical devices. Students might review the terms pathos, ethos, and logos with brief notes or examples before beginning their discussion or written response.

• “I Have a Dream” speech video
• “I Have a Dream” speech transcript

Differentiation Suggestion: Depending on class members’ familiarity with rhetorical devices, this activity might serve instead to introduce definitions and examples of pathos, ethos, and logos; students might then work as a group to identify devices within both of King’s works. Students who would benefit from practice in public speaking skills might apply the rhetorical devices found in the speech to an oral presentation of a short selection from the “Letter from Birmingham Jail.