Introduction
Arguing a case before jurors, judges, or the public at large demands a creative use of language. Strong arguments fall short if their language does not affect the reason and conscience of the listeners. Lawyers and leaders effectively persuade when they speak eloquently. The clarity of their reasoning is dependent on the clarity of their language. The substance of an argument is important, but it is substantially heightened when it is expressed in eloquent language.
This unit will examine the language of political argument in a historic chapter in the Civil Rights Movement—the Birmingham Campaign. Specifically, we will examine Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," and Justice Stewart's opinion for the court and Chief Justice Warren's and Justice Brennan's dissenting opinions in the Supreme Court case Walker v. City of Birmingham which ruled against Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Examining the language in these four documents will teach students the importance of language. So often, when I counsel with students about their writing and question them about a particular sentence, they say something like, "You know what I mean." They do not appreciate the power of language and the power it gives them when they use it creatively.
Examining what Martin Luther King and Chief Justice Stewart, Justice Warren, and Justice Brennan do with language will enhance the students' appreciation of language and improve their writing. They will learn the different modes of expression, such as parallelism, consonance, metaphor, imagery, analogy, irony, and connotation. They will learn about the structure of an argument and become adept at dialectic. They will digest all of these techniques and utilize them in their writing.
Further, this unit will develop the students' cognitive capacity. Our discussion of the issues of the case will improve their understanding of politics and ethics. As they interpret, analyze, and synthesize, they will cultivate their intellect. When they present to the class, they will nurture their communication skills. As they write, they will cultivate their ability to organize, express their thoughts, and revise.
The context of Walker v. City of Birmingham is an important period in American history. Before reading these four texts, the students will learn about this period and come to understand the history that led to the turmoil of 1963 in Birmingham—Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights Movement, Brown v. Board of Education, and other important political and societal events.
The students will learn about civil disobedience and analyze and evaluate its effectiveness. This will lead to discussions about their personal lives. So often, our students' first reaction to an affront is to attack the perpetrator. As they study this period and these three pieces of writing, students will realize how effective nonviolent active opposition to injustice is, and be encouraged to use nonviolent resistance in their personal lives.
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