I Have a Dream

"I Have a Dream"

GOALS:
To read, comprehend, and analyze Martin Luther King, Jr's speech, “I Have a Dream"
To identify the author's purpose

Build Skills

I Have a Dream 

Practice these skills with either “I Have a Dream” 

Literary Analysis

A persuasive speech is a speech that tries to convince listeners to think or act in a certain way. Persuasive speeches may appeal to reason or emotion or both. In order to engage the audience, speakers often include rhetorical devices, patterns of words and ideas that create emphasis and stir emotion in the audience. Common rhetorical devices include the following:

• Parallelism: repeating a grammatical structure or an arrangement of words to create a sense of rhythm and momentum
• Restatement: expressing the same idea in different words to clarify and stress key points
• Repetition: expressing different ideas using the same words or images in order to reinforce concepts and unify the speech
• Analogy: drawing a comparison that shows a similarity between unlike things

Reading Skill

Persuasive techniques are devices used to influence the audience in favor of the author’s argument. In addition to presenting evidence in a persuasive speech, a speaker may also use emotionally charged language and rhetorical devices, such as those listed above.

To analyze and evaluate persuasive techniques, read aloud to hear the effect. Notice the emotional impact of certain words and the rhythm and momentum created by specific word patterns. Consider both the purpose and effect of these persuasive techniques. Use a chart like the one shown to organize your analysis.

Vocabulary Builder

I HAVE A DREAM

• hallowed adj. sacred The battlefield is considered by many to be hallowed ground. 
• degenerate v. grow worse Don’t let this discussiondegenerate into a shouting match. 
• creed n. statement of belief The creed of brotherhood is preached by many who do not practice it.

Background

The Civil Rights Movement The U.S. Constitution guarantees certain rights to all Americans. The struggle of African Americans to have their rights recognized is known as the civil rights movement. Marked by demonstrations and legal challenges, this movement began in the 1950s and was led by figures like Martin Luther King, Jr.

Intro to the author:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

(1929–1968)

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the most charismatic leader of the civil rights movement. During the 1950's and 1960's, King organized nonviolent protests to bring about equal rights for all Americans.

A Voice for the Oppressed King first came to national attention in 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama, when he organized a 382-day boycott of the city's segregated buses by African Americans. He went on to lead other protests and to speak out eloquently against poverty and social injustice. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968. His birthday, January 15, has since become a national holiday.

Fast Facts

• At thirty-five, King became the youngest man and only the third black man to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
• The song “Pride (in the Name of Love)” by the famous rock band U2 is a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

I. In remembrance of Martin Luther King Day, we are going to listen to a short excerpt from his famous "I Have a Dream" Speech

Years after his death Martin Luther King, Jr, continues to touch the lives of millions of people throughout the world.  Politicians, writers, musicians--people from all walks of life--continue to promote King's message of equality and harmony.  The following song by the popular Irish rock band U2 was written as a tribute to King and his message.

Students will read background info and listen to CD

II.Background:

• This is a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. An exhibit dedicated to the civil rights leader was on display at the Chicago Peace Museum in 1983 when the band visited.
• Bono is speaking about those throughout history who have died because they preached of the equality of all men and practiced nonviolence as the only way to achieve their goal of having this equality universally recognized.
  
  MLK is the primary example of nonviolent resistance as the only way to bring about changes in civil rights.
  
  The song is about singular "people" that lived their life with pride. Not in a boastful way, but with the pride a person has when their thoughts and actions are motivated by their understanding and full awareness of the dignity and sanctity of ALL human life.
• King was killed on a Memphis motel balcony on April 4, 1968. Bono sings "early morning, April 4," but King was actually killed in the evening. Bono has acknowledged the mistake and sometimes sings it as "early evening, April 4."

  U2 "Pride"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZY2HSQXk5o

Pride (In The Name Of Love)
U2
One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed up on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
Early morning, April four
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

III.  Writing Assignment:

Connecting to the Literature

Reading/Writing Connection In I Have a Dream, Martin Luther King, Jr., challenges Americans to live up to national ideals of equality and justice. Write a short paragraph in which you describe some other ideals that you consider to be characteristically American. Use at least three of these words: embody, comprise, define, invoke.

IV.
Use a 5 paragraph essay format
1. How does the song's message relate to (pay tribute to) King's message in "I Have a Dream"?
2. What similar emotions do both evoke?  Explain (Indicate the emotions, explain and use examples/ lines from each and explain)
3. What messages do the speech and song convey? compare and contrast each selection. Support your answer

Meet The Author

Standards:

CC.1.2.9-10.A: Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

CC.1.2.9-10.B: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences and conclusions based on an author’s explicit assumptions and beliefs about a subject.

5 Paragraph Essay Outline

5 Paragraph essay outline

Title: ____________________

I. Introduction
A. Introductory statement
B. Thesis statement: ____________________
C. Blueprints:
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
Transition:
Body
D. First Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): ____________________
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
Transition:
E. Second Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): ____________________
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
Transition:
F. Third Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): ____________________
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
Transition
II. Conclusion
A. Closing statement
B. Restate thesis: ____________________