Paper instructions:
Paper 1: Analytical Essay
You will write a thorough analytical essay on Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail†and Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union.†Does the analytical essay have an argument? Yes, it does. You must show a clear line of reasoning as you analyze these two articles. You must go beyond the fact that there are differences and similarities between these two essays and have a point that you’re going to make about the differences and similarities. What can your paper teach me about these works that I might not have thought about otherwise? Challenge yourself. What about the similarities and differences fascinates you?
Here are some questions to consider:
1) What caused both of these men to write these works? What was their effect?
2) One man is a politician; the other is a pastor. How do the differences and/or similarities between these two professions affect their writing and its intended goal?
3) How do the different time periods affect the tone and goal of the writing?
4) How do these men use logos, ethos, and pathos to prove their point?
You needn’t consult any sources beyond “Letter From Birmingham Jail†and “A More Perfect Union.†All I am interested in is your ideas (though you must include a Works Cited page at the end).