I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Purpose, Argument, & Rhetoric Analysis

AUTHORS PURPOSE DIRECTIONS: Watch the YouTube video regarding authors
purpose. As you watch the video, complete the notes. Then, answer the questions
regarding the purpose of Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have a Dream speech.
Determine authors purpose in MLKs speech and give explanation by answering
additional questions
What is authors purpose?

Definition: The authors purpose refers to the impact he wants to leave on the
viewer or reader, also this depends a lot in the context of the situation, what the
author is trying to achieve by you reading or viewing his work.

P stands for: Persuasion, the author trying to convince you to change your
perspective on a certain topic
o Did the author try to change my opinion?
o Did the author try to convince me of something?

I stands for: Informational, the author is trying to inform you, to teach you
something new unknown to your knowledge.
o Did the author give me facts?
o Did the author try to teach me something?

E stands for: Entertainment, when the author is trying to amuse you.

o Did the author try to make me laugh?
o Did the author try to tell me a story?

What was Martin Luther King, Jr.s purpose in his I Have a Dream speech?
Explain your answer by answering the questions from the notes (for example, if you think
his purpose was to entertain, explain how the author made you laugh and what stories
the author told).
P: The purpose behind Martin Luther Kings speech was to persuade his audience.
E: An example in the speech is when he says, . in paragraph
A: How does that quote show he is persuading this audience?
Why would this quote be important to his audience?
E: An example in the speech is when he says, . in paragraph
A: How does that quote show he is persuading this audience?
Why would this quote be important to his audience?
The purpose behind Martin Luther Kings speech was to persuade his audience
into believing that through freedom and equality they will have a better future.. You can
find a clear example in his speech when he says, With this faith, we will be able to
transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood,
in paragraph 19, page 5. This quote shows he is persuading his audience because he is
glorifying this future in which there will be a symphony of brotherhood, he also
mentions how at the moment they are living in jangling discords of our nation, by this

he is making reference to the fact that people in that time were severely segregated
mostly by economical and racial factors, so by pointing out the difference and change he
is saying how much better the future would be with freedom and equality. This quote is
important to the audience because freedom and uncomforty being such a sensible topic
kick in when he promises this bright future the people listen, people want this better
future in which there will be a symphony of brotherhood. Another example in the speech
is when he says, And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march
ahead, in paragraph 10, page 3. This quote shows he is persuading the audience not to
give up on the cause, to fight until the very end for their rights, he does this by
emphasizing on the word we, meaning that everyone including himself will, march
ahead, by the word marching he means that they will go forward and fight through
whatever it takes to achieve and reach their goal, freedom and equality. This quote is
important to the audience because a good portion of the people he is addressing feel
vulnerable towards the government or even the law itself, so by knowing that they are
together, that they have a strong and powerful leader like Martin Luther King Jr. by their
side this strengthens their confidence. He also reassures that no matter what they will
get somewhere because if there is no turning back and they will always march ahead, he
is reassuring that there will be a positive outcome or at least that they will fight for one.
AUTHORS ARGUMENT: Watch the YouTube video regarding arguments, claims,
counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. As you watch the video, complete the notes. Then,
complete the chart below regarding your section of Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have a Dream
speech.
What are the parts on an argument?

Claims
o
o
o
o

Definition: the claim is when you state what you want to prove.
Characteristics: The claim is based in what you know and your research
Example from video: This girl tells her mother that she needs a new cellphone.
Personal example: I want to go to the Galapagos trip the school is planning for
8th grade.
Counterclaims
o Definition: The other side to an argument a different perspective to a certain
matter.
o Characteristics: It has to be well crafted not just a statement it should be provable
and supportable with evidence and research too.
o Example from video: The mother told her daughter that she did not need a new
cell phone.
o Personal example: The trip is very inconvenient time wise.
Reasons
o Definition: they back up your claim making it more reasonable and believable
o Characteristics: They tell why, tell the importance, makes people care
o Example from video: The girl says that her phone has no internet access.
o Personal example: The trip will be an educational trip therefore I would learn a lot
of this knowledge filled islands, also we can make a seven day trip to Machu
Picchu instead of a nine-day trip, there really arent that many things we can do i
only two days.
Evidence
o Definition: The evidence plays the role of supporting the reasons making them
believable and trustworthy.
o Characteristics: Facts, research, and experience

o
o

Example from video: The girls says that by having internet access she could be
in honor rol like her friend.
Personal example: The average trip in Machu Picchu is done in five days, the
longest one also a lot of important dict od of important discoveries were made in
the Galapagos islands , discoveries that changed the ways we look at the world
therefore Id be learning about theories that have shaped the world.

CLAIM: What
claims does MLK
provide?

REASONS: What
reasons does MLK give?

EVIDENCE: What
evidence does
MLK use to
support his
reason?

EVALUATE: Do the
claims, reasons, and
evidence match? Why or
why not?

Quote from
speech: I still
have a dream

Quote from speech: I

have a dream that one
day this nation will rise up
and live out the true
meaning of its creed

Quote from
speech: We hold
these truths to be
self-evident, that
all men are created
equal.

The claims, reasons,

and evidence do match
because throughout the
section hes referring to
his dream and using the
Declaration of
Independence (ethos) to
validate his dream.

Your Words:
Throughout this
section MLK will
prove his dream
to us

Quote from
speech:
I must say to my
people, who
stand on the
warm threshold
which leads into
the palace of
justice.
Your Words:
Here he is
reassuring the
fact that being
where they are
following their
goals will get
them justice and
equality.

Your Words: MLK is

using the principles of the
Declaration of
Independence (creed) to
support his claim.

Your Words: MLK

uses the opening
lines in the
Declaration of
Independence that
states that
everyone in the US
is equal.

Quote from speech:

In the process of gaining
our rightful place, we
must not be guilty of
wrongful deeds.

Quote from
speech:
...their freedom is
inextricably bound
to our freedom.

Your Words:
He is stating that in order
to achieve equality and
freedom they should not
commit any crime or
behave badly, this goal
should be achieved in the
proper manner.

Your Words:
There is no way
that white people
are free if not
everyone is free, if
there is no
segregation.

The claims, reasons,

and evidence do match
because in all three
quotes you can see
traces of how he is
reassuring that they will
have equality and
freedom, it will happen
with a certain process,
but all throughout he is
pretty reassuring.

Quote from
speech:
We cannot turn
back.
Your Words:
It is pretty
straight forward
they cant turn
back after getting
so far, not even
because of this,
but because
freedom and
equality is
crucial.

Quote from
speech:
Again and
again, we must
rise to the
majestic heights
of meeting
physical force
with soul force.
Your Words:
Here he is
stating that by
being strong
willed they will
achieve their
goals and that
they will do this
by the right
means.

Quote from speech:

We must forever
conduct our struggle on
the high plane of dignity
and discipline.

Quote from
speech:
In the process of
gaining our rightful
place...

Your Words:
Here he is backing up his
argument that they cant
turn back by stating that
their way of protest is
peaceful and mature,
meaning that they are
doing everything by the
book, rightfully to gain
what they want, the are
not turning back, they are
marching forward.

Your Words:
Here is making it
clear that freedom
and equality will
happen there is
turning back.

Quote from speech:

In the process of gaining
our rightful place, we
must not be guilty of
wrongful deeds.

Quote from
speech:
.... their freedom
is inextricably
bound to our
freedom.

Your Words:
He is stating that in order
to achieve equality and
freedom they should not
commit any crime or
behave badly, this goal
should be achieved in the
proper manner.

Your Words:
Here he is stating
a fact, something
that will happen.

Here once again you

can see how MLK is
trying to reassure his
listeners and followers
that they are on track
and that by doing what
they're doing and being
honest and non-violent
they will achieve their
ultimate goal, equality
and freedom.

The claims, reasons,

and evidence do match
because once again he
is stating that they will
achieve their goal, by
doing it rightfully, but
mostly making emphasis
in the fact that it will
happen.

Does MLK provide any counterclaims in your section? If so, quote them here.
PEA GRAPHIC ORGANIZER: What strategies in the speech I Have a Dream by
Martin Luther King, Jr. target the audience? How did Martin Luther King, Jr. use those
strategies effectively? Why were those strategies effective for that particular audience?
Complete the following PEA structured graphic organizer to answer these questions.
POINT: In the speech, I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr., he uses the rhetorical
strategies of repetition and pathos in order to target his passionate and sensible audience.

EVIDENCE OF 1ST RHETORICAL

STRATEGY: What specific line shows
the first rhetorical strategy that you
identified in your POINT? Quote it
below. Dont forget to provide
CONTEXT for the quote.

EVIDENCE OF 2ND RHETORICAL STRATEGY:

What specific line shows the second rhetorical
strategy that you identified in your POINT? Quote it
below. Dont forget to provide CONTEXT for the
quote.

In the very last few sentences of the

third portion of MLK speech youll find
him saying, We cannot walk alone.And
as we walk, we must make the pledge
that we shall always march ahead. We
cannot turn back.

In the second to last paragraph in the third portion

of the MLK speech he states,... for many of our
white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here
today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied
up with our destiny. And they have come to realize
that their freedom is inextricably bound to our
freedom.

ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE OF 1ST

RHETORICAL STRATEGY: HOW does your
evidence show the rhetorical strategy you
identified? WHY was that strategy effective
for the audience you identified?

ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE OF 2ND

RHETORICAL STRATEGY: HOW does your
evidence show the rhetorical strategy you
identified? WHY was that strategy effective
for the audience you identified?

This piece of evidence proves that he used

the strategy of repetition to appeal to his
audience because here and in other portions
of the text you can see how he repeatedly
says we leading people to think that they
are not alone in the cause, that they will all,
together get what they want, he is evoking
unity. This is very effective on the audience
because by evoking unity from the people he
at the same time is giving them confidence
towards themselves and towards the cause
he is leading itself.

This piece of evidence clearly shows the use

of pathos, the appeal to emotions. You can
see it when he talks about how all of their
futures are inextricably bound, here by
evoking brotherhood he is making people see
each other differently, in a way they had not
perceived before. Whether good or bad, by
saying this he would certainly get some
feeling towards the people, and what it would
feel like in that future utopia in which there
would be freedom and equality for every
American.