Essay Assignment #2.

Assignment #2:

Analysis of MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail

Due: Oct. 13, 2008
Length: 1,000-1,500 words

Assignment Goal and Purpose:

For this assignment you are to write a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail (pg. 910 of your text). The idea here is to dissect the letter, tell me what works, what doesn't work, and why. You may want to consider:

• A summary of his argument, his opponent's argument, and the editorial that prompted his letter (this immediately precedes the essay). (This should definitely be included.)
  
• The issue, the situation/historical context (what prompted him to write this letter), and his "thesis." (This also should definitely be included.)
• How does he establish goodwill and fairness between him and the reader?
• How does he respond to his opponent's views?
• Does he fairly present his opponent's views?
  
• What assumptions does he make? His opponents' assumptions?
• Is he convincing? Why or why not?
• Does he use ethos? Pathos? Logos? If so, how?
• Why does he refer to the Apostle Paul and Socrates?
• What is the function of King's last three paragraphs?
• Why does King use the words "openly" and "lovingly" when talking about breaking unjust laws?
• What is King's definition of "civil disobedience"?

Note: Do not hand me a list of answers to these questions. These are ideas to help you; you do not need to answer all of them. If you need a model, please refer to pg. 187 of your text for a student sample.

A successful paper will:

1.) Have well-supported and well-developed ideas.
2.) Be clear, focused, and unified.
3.) Use an engaging and appropriate style.
4.) Have a strong, clear thesis statement. This will guide the rest of your paper.
5.) Anticipate and respond to objections others will make to your argument.
6.) Progress from idea to idea in a logical manner.
7.) Have very few errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.



*Please email me or see me after class if you have questions or need advice.

Grammar Review 9/22/08.

This Grammar Review will be about run-ons. See this site for an explanation of what run-ons are and how to detect them. I think we touched on run-ons in class, but the above site will be a helpful refresher.


For homework, please construct ten run-ons. Five of them should use a comma splice, and five of them should be fused. After you're done each sentence, re-write it correctly.

Essay #1.

Assignment #1: Drug Legalization

Rough draft due: Sept. 29, 2008
Length: 1,000-1,300 words

Assignment Goal and Purpose:

For this assignment you are to write an essay that takes a stand. Let me repeat that. You are to write an essay that takes a stand. Do not write something half-hearted or wishy-washy. I don't care if your paper supports the legalization of drugs or prohibits it; however, your paper must make it clear why your stance should be adopted. Your goal is to show the reader why your thesis is the most reasonable option.

A successful paper will:

1.) Have well-supported and well-developed ideas.
2.) Be clear, focused, and unified.
3.) Successfully cite material from at least two essays in your book (p. 659-695). Use at least one essay for legalization and one essay against it.
4.) Use an engaging and appropriate style.
5.) Have a strong, clear thesis statement. This will guide the rest of your paper.
6.) Anticipate and respond to objections others will make to your argument.
7.) Progress from idea to idea in a logical manner.
8.) Have very few errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Essay Structure and Organization:

You are free to take risks in this area. My only requirement is that you do not use the five-paragraph formula. Also, your opening and closing paragraphs should function as such.


*Please email me or see me after class if you have questions or need advice.

Documentation.

If you need help with formatting, visit this site.

Grammar Review - 9/15/08.

Please identify the subject(s) and predicate(s) in each sentence below. If you need help, visit this site for subjects, and this site for verbs.

1. John sat on the bench.
2. Susan, my sister’s friend, came over for dinner.
3. Going to the store is what John likes to do.
4. The first person to arrive on time will be given a bonus.
5. At the bottom of the sea you will find great treasures.
6. Nobody doubts his integrity.
7. All that is gold does not glitter.
8. John took the car and Mary went to the store.
9. Six Denver-area friends piled into a Chevy Suburban to head out to a high school dance.
10. She had not been drinking, but she lost control of the sport utility vehicle.
11. It rolled over and crashed.
12. One passenger was left paralyzed.
13. Another, 15-year-old Jeremy Bottoms, lost his life.
14. Bottoms' father is convinced that his son lost his life, partly because the teen driver was
behind the wheel of an SUV.
15. More than 6,000 teenagers die every year in motor vehicle crashes.


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