Explanatory Writing Prompt

• After reading Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” examine the development of King’s argument. Specifically, analyze and explain how he uses rhetorical devices (tone, diction, ethos, pathos, logos, fallacious reasoning, etc. . .) to shape and build his argument for his intended audience. Cite evidence from the text to support your analysis.

Be Sure To:• Introduce your topic clearly and

include a coherent thesis statement.• Include relevant facts, definitions,

concrete details, quotes, or other information so your writing is thoroughly developed.

• Use appropriate transitions.• Use precise language and vocabulary

in your analysis.• Establish and maintain a formal style.• Provide a concluding section that

follows from and supports your explanation.

• Use proper grammar and conventions of writing.

Explanatory Writing Thesis

• After reading Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” examine the development of King’s argument. Specifically, analyze and explain how he uses rhetorical devices (tone, diction, ethos, pathos, logos, fallacious reasoning, etc. . .) to shape and build his argument for his intended audience. Cite evidence from the text to support your analysis.

• How can we structure our thesis statement to answer the question?

• Restate the prompt: In Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he uses rhetorical devices to shape and build (What is his argument?)for (who’s the attended audience?)

Explanatory Writing Attention Grabber

• After reading Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” examine the development of King’s argument. Specifically, analyze and explain how he uses rhetorical devices (tone, diction, ethos, pathos, logos, fallacious reasoning, etc. . .) to shape and build his argument for his intended audience. Cite evidence from the text to support your analysis.

• How to create a strong attention grabber? • Begin with a broad, general statement that you narrow down to your thesis

statement. Keep in mind that the thesis provides the main idea for the entire composition;

• Use a question Just keep in mind at all times that the questions you raise do more than merely set a tone for your paper, those questions sooner or later must be answered;

• Use quotations. The best quotes are those drawn from popular culture, from the social literature the general public (i.e., your targeted audience

• Use an anecdote. All audiences enjoy a story, particularly those with human interest. In this instance, you are putting a face (or faces) to your composition by drawing upon an incident containing a moral center, one that you can then use in leading your audience to the thesis statement.

• State the importance of the topic. You do this by presenting statistical data, facts, figures that underscore the issues about to be discussed. The data must be pertinent, validated and presented in an objective manner free of any editorializing – the facts speak for themselves;

• Use the opposite of what you plan to write about. This is done for dramatic effect, as in “What if the world were like this instead of what the world, or situation about to be discussed, truly is?” Readers are often fascinated, intrigued by this type of approach; And lastly,

• Use a combination of the strategies. This is best done by using two of the six gambits. Your more skilled writers frequently make use of this, the seventh and final opening gambit.