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Persuasive Techniques In Letter From Birmingham Jail

413 Words2 Pages

Wyatt Erovick
AP English
12-6-16
Letter From a Birmingham Jail Analysis Luther King Jr., in his letter, Letter From a Birmingham Jail, uses persuasive techniques to grab the reader’s attention and get them to agree with him. In King’s 13 and 14th paragraph of the letter, he uses a logical appeal to persuade the audience. In the beginning of paragraph 14, King states that “We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter.” By saying this King makes the audience see how long and hard it has been for the African …show more content…

A majority of the 13 and 14th paragraph contain a sorrowful emotion. King uses such heart wrenching examples such as when he talks about mothers and fathers getting lynched and brothers and sisters getting drowned. These examples are definitely the most persuasive technique in the 13 and 14th paragraph as you would imagine your father, mother, sister, and brother suffering these for absolutely no reason. King shows how bad it is for the children as he tell the audience about having to answer a six-year-old girl why they can go to “funtown” or answer to a five-year-old boy about why white people are so mean. He uses children because they are young and innocent and having to live such a rough life. Children also are new to the world and them having to grow up with it like it is normal is very pessimistic for the audience. Overall, King’s letter is very persuasive. His logical appeal does a good job making the reader understand why there should be no more segregation by explaining why there is no reason to segregate, especially after how long and rough it has been. His emotional appeal was the most persuasive as it really grabbed the reader’s attention and made a sorrowful

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