4. Response Paper #3:Finding Common Ground in “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
DUE DATE: Tuesday, June 02, 2020
Write a response paper based on an assigned reading and writing prompt. Your response paper must be 500 words and in MLA format (see attached link MLA formatting and documentation guidelines: https://daytonastate.edu/cwc/
Assigned Prompt:
Read “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr.: MartinLutherKingJr_Letter Birmingham.pdf
In “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” Dr. King used the Rogerian method when he expressed understanding for his audience by reaching out to them saying “men of genuine good will and your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I would like to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms”. In his letter, King acknowledged their views, while disagreeing with their statements point by point. King spends nearly half of his letter addressing counterarguments before he launches into his main argument to the clergyman. In doing so, King sort to establish common ground throughout his letter. Write a response analyzing this argument. What are his major claims, his assumptions, the types of evidence he uses to establish common ground in his letter? Cite evidence from King’s text to support your claims.
Answer preview
To find common ground is to direct an argument towards a mutual agreement. The common ground tends to end the conflict because it seeks to analyze each party’s views to arrive at a common understanding. To establish a common ground, one can use the Rogerian argument strategy, which helps the arguing parties to identify common ground. An excellent example of Rogerian argument is found in the letter titled Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. The letter explains how King responded to the criticism of the opposing white community and his message to fellow clergymen. It was after he was arrested because of leading human rights demonstrations…
Total: 556 Words