Unit 3 Letter from Birmingham Jail

Based on the rhetoric Dr. King uses in his letter, his intended audience are clergymen who are —

• confused by his efforts

• unfamiliar with his efforts

• disapproving of his efforts

• undecided about his efforts

Which statement best explains how Dr. King’s introduction of the four steps of a nonviolent campaign in paragraph 6 serves his argument?

• It justifies the need for nonviolent action.

•           It shows the power of nonviolent action against segregation.

• It suggests that nonviolent action can bring about negotiations.

•           It clarifies why nonviolent action is as effective as violence.

Read the sentence from paragraph 6.

There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community.

Based on context in this sentence and the paragraph, what is the meaning of gainsaying?

• Explaining

• Concealing

• Contradicting

• Resolving

Reread paragraphs 12–14. Which two statements best express Dr. King’s rebuttal to the opposing claim that his action in Birmingham is untimely?

•           The new city administration would be as unresponsive as previous ones.

•           The Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public schools in 1954.

• People must oppose unjust laws because they are used to oppress minorities.

• African Americans have waited in vain over 340 years for freedom.

•    There are four steps in organizing nonviolent campaigns.

Throughout paragraph 14, Dr. King mostly supports his argument for immediate action by —

• using logical appeal

• using emotional appeal

• establishing his authority

• establishing his credibility

Reread paragraphs 15–18. Dr. King compares just and unjust laws in order to explain why African Americans —

• have been afraid to protest laws

•       are resentful of the judicial system

•       have the right to break some laws

• are facing an unfair judicial system

Which two excerpts from the letter are the best examples of concessions?

• Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state’s segregation laws was democratically elected? (paragraph 18)

• How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. (paragraph 16)

• The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. (paragraph 11)

• You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. (paragraph 15)

• 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. (paragraph 10)

What purposes do paragraphs 21 and 22 serve?

• They provide evidence to support a claim.

• They develop an opposing claim.

• They add emotional appeal to a claim.

• They use parallelism to amplify a claim.

In paragraph 25, Dr. King addresses the logical fallacy that peaceful protests are bad because they lead to violence. How does addressing this logical fallacy support his argument?

• It proves the point that oppressors never grant protesters freedom voluntarily.

•   It reinforces the point that action can be effective even if it is nonviolent.

•   It supports the point that white moderates are blocking the flow of progress.

• It makes the point that blaming protesters for the acts of others is irrational.

Read the excerpt from paragraph 45.

I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together.

Which statement best explains the rhetorical device Dr. King uses in this excerpt and
its effect?

• The repeated use of parallelism imparts Dr. King’s mounting outrage.

• The logical use of appeals conveys Dr. King’s wish for better treatment.

• The forceful use of antithesis suggests Dr. King’s hope for societal change.

• The consistent use of overstatement emphasizes Dr. King’s observations.