IntroductionStudents will study Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and discuss the rhetorical influences on King’s speech, the oratorical devices that King used in delivering his speech and how a speech is similar to/different from other literary forms. Show
SubjectsEnglish, Social Studies, Government Estimated TimeOne 50-minute class period, plus extended activities Grade Level9-12 BackgroundDr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most memorable speech from his life as an activist, “I HAVE A DREAM,” was delivered on August 28, 1963, before more than 200,000 people in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The speech was part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It not only helped to galvanize the already growing civil rights movement across the country at the time, but also became one of the most influential and inspirational pieces of rhetoric in American history. Remarkably, midway through his delivery, King suspended his pre-scripted text and began to improvise; what resulted was the speech’s most recognizable section, the passage in which the words “I have a dream” are passionately repeated. Indeed, King’s background as a Baptist preacher in the South instilled in him a talent for improvisation as a speaker and the skill to frame the urgency of the moment. What is also apparent in “I Have Dream” is King’s deep commitment to scholarship (he earned a Ph.D. from Boston University). King was clearly well-versed in both American history and religious scripture, and he seamlessly weaves references to both into the fabric of his oration. Overall, “I Have a Dream” can be held up as a masterful creative work in itself; its dramatic structure coupled with its image-laden content render a remarkably moving piece of American literature that still strongly resonates today. Procedure
Extension Activity
By Doug DuBrin, French International School, Bethesda, Maryland What are the two general purposes of most classroom speeches How do they differ my work?What are two general purposes of most classroom speeches? How do they differ? Inform and to persuade. Inform- Goal is to communicate information clearly.
What is one difference between the specific purpose and the central idea?What is the difference between the specific purpose and the central idea? The specific purpose is written from the speaker's point of view—it's what he or she sets out to accomplish. The central idea is written from the listeners' point of view—it's the message they should go away with.
What is the difference between the specific purpose and the central idea of a speech what are four guidelines for an effective central idea?Central idea is a one sentence statement that SUMS UP or encapsulates the major IDEAS of a speech, sometimes called the thesis statement. The Specific Purpose is a single infinitive phrase that states precisely what a speaker hopes to accomplish in his or her speech; their GOAL.
What is the general purpose of a speech quizlet?The general purpose of a speech states its overall goal: to inform, to persuade or to entertain.
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