Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

21
Speech Writing Speech Writing I Have a Dream” I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King Martin Luther King

Transcript of Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Page 1: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Speech Writing Speech Writing

““I Have a Dream”I Have a Dream”

Martin Luther KingMartin Luther King

Page 2: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

I Have a Dream SpeechI Have a Dream Speech

Much of the greatness of this speech is Much of the greatness of this speech is tied to its historical context.tied to its historical context.

Five key lessons in speechwriting that Five key lessons in speechwriting that we can extract from Martin Luther we can extract from Martin Luther King’s most famous speech are:King’s most famous speech are:

Page 3: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

5 Lessons in Speechwriting5 Lessons in Speechwriting Emphasize phrases by repeating at the Emphasize phrases by repeating at the

beginning of sentencesbeginning of sentences

Repeat key “theme” words throughout your Repeat key “theme” words throughout your speechspeech

Utilize appropriate quotations or allusionsUtilize appropriate quotations or allusions

Use specific examples to “ground” your Use specific examples to “ground” your argumentsarguments

Use metaphors to highlight contrasting Use metaphors to highlight contrasting conceptsconcepts

Page 4: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

AnaphoraAnaphora

Anaphora (repeating words at the Anaphora (repeating words at the beginning of neighboring clauses) is beginning of neighboring clauses) is a commonly used rhetorical device. a commonly used rhetorical device. Repeating the words twice sets the Repeating the words twice sets the pattern, and further repetitions pattern, and further repetitions emphasize the pattern and increase emphasize the pattern and increase the rhetorical effect. the rhetorical effect.

Page 5: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

AnaphoraAnaphora

““I have a dreamI have a dream” is repeated in eight ” is repeated in eight successive sentences, and is one of the successive sentences, and is one of the most often cited examples of anaphora most often cited examples of anaphora in modern rhetoric. But this is just one in modern rhetoric. But this is just one of eight occurrences of anaphora in of eight occurrences of anaphora in this speech. By order of introduction, this speech. By order of introduction, here are the key phrases: here are the key phrases:

Find as many Anaphora’s as you can in King’s speech

Page 6: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

AnaphoraAnaphora ““One hundred years later…”One hundred years later…” [paragraph 3] [paragraph 3] ““Now is the time…”Now is the time…” [paragraph 6] [paragraph 6] ““We must…”We must…” [paragraph 8] [paragraph 8] ““We can never (cannot) be satisfied…”We can never (cannot) be satisfied…”

[paragraph 13][paragraph 13] ““Go back to…”Go back to…” [paragraph 14] [paragraph 14] ““I Have a Dream…”I Have a Dream…” [paragraphs 16 [paragraphs 16

through 24]through 24] ““With this faith, …”With this faith, …” [paragraph 26] [paragraph 26] ““Let freedom ring (from) …”Let freedom ring (from) …” [paragraphs [paragraphs

27 through 41]27 through 41]

Page 7: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

AnaphoraAnaphora

Read the previous repeated Read the previous repeated phrases in sequence.phrases in sequence. Even in the Even in the absence of the remainder of the absence of the remainder of the speech, these key phrases tell much speech, these key phrases tell much of of King’s storyKing’s story. .

Emphasis through repetition makes Emphasis through repetition makes these phrases more memorable, and, these phrases more memorable, and, by extension, make by extension, make King’s storyKing’s story more more memorable. memorable.

Page 8: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Repeat Key “Theme” Words Repeat Key “Theme” Words Throughout Your SpeechThroughout Your Speech

Repetition in forms like anaphora is Repetition in forms like anaphora is quite quite obviousobvious, but there are more , but there are more subtlesubtle ways to use repetition as well. ways to use repetition as well. One way is to repeat key “theme” One way is to repeat key “theme” words throughout the body of your words throughout the body of your speech. speech.

Page 9: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Repeat Key “Theme” Words Repeat Key “Theme” Words Throughout Your SpeechThroughout Your Speech

If you count the frequency of words If you count the frequency of words used in King’s “I Have a Dream”, used in King’s “I Have a Dream”, very interesting patterns emerge. very interesting patterns emerge.

The most commonly used noun is The most commonly used noun is freedomfreedom, which is used , which is used twenty twenty timestimes in the speech. This makes in the speech. This makes sense, since freedom is one of the sense, since freedom is one of the primary themesprimary themes of the speech. of the speech.

Page 10: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Other key themes? Consider Other key themes? Consider these commonly repeated these commonly repeated

words: words:

freedom (20 times)freedom (20 times) we (30 times), our (17 times), you (8 we (30 times), our (17 times), you (8

times)times) nation (10 times), America (5 times), nation (10 times), America (5 times),

American (4 times)American (4 times) justice (8 times) and injustice (3 times)justice (8 times) and injustice (3 times) dream (11 times)dream (11 times)

Page 11: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

““I Have a Dream” can be summarized I Have a Dream” can be summarized in the view below, which associates in the view below, which associates

the size of the word with its frequency.the size of the word with its frequency.

Page 12: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Utilize Appropriate Utilize Appropriate Quotations or AllusionsQuotations or Allusions

Evoking historic and literary references is a Evoking historic and literary references is a powerful speechwriting technique which powerful speechwriting technique which can be executed explicitly (a direct can be executed explicitly (a direct quotation) or implicitly (quotation) or implicitly (allusionallusion).).

An An allusionallusion is a figure of speech that makes is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by works of art, either directly or by implication. It is left to the reader or hearer implication. It is left to the reader or hearer to make the connection. to make the connection.

Page 13: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Utilize Appropriate Utilize Appropriate Quotations or AllusionsQuotations or Allusions

You can improve the credibility of your You can improve the credibility of your arguments by referring to the arguments by referring to the (appropriate) words of credible (appropriate) words of credible speakers/writers in your speech. speakers/writers in your speech. Consider the allusions used by Martin Consider the allusions used by Martin Luther King Jr.:Luther King Jr.:

Page 14: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Allusions from King’s Allusions from King’s SpeechSpeech

““Five score years ago…”Five score years ago…” [paragraph [paragraph 2] refers to Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg 2] refers to Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address speech which began “Address speech which began “Four score Four score and seven years ago…and seven years ago…” This allusion is ” This allusion is particularly poignant given that King was particularly poignant given that King was speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial.speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

““Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of HappinessHappiness”” [and the rest of paragraph [and the rest of paragraph 4] is a reference to the United States 4] is a reference to the United States Declaration of Independence.Declaration of Independence.

Page 15: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Numerous Biblical allusions Numerous Biblical allusions provide the moral basis for King’s provide the moral basis for King’s

arguments:arguments:““It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long

night of their captivity.night of their captivity.” [paragraph 2] alludes to ” [paragraph 2] alludes to Psalms 30:5 “Psalms 30:5 “For his anger is but for a moment; For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

““Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.hatred.” [paragraph 8] evokes Jeremiah 2:13 “” [paragraph 8] evokes Jeremiah 2:13 “for for my people have committed two evils: they have my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.”that can hold no water.”

Numerous more

Page 16: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Use specific examples to Use specific examples to “ground” your arguments“ground” your arguments

Your speech is greatly improved when Your speech is greatly improved when you provide specific examples which you provide specific examples which illustrate your logical (and perhaps illustrate your logical (and perhaps theoretical) arguments.theoretical) arguments.

One way that Martin Luther King Jr. One way that Martin Luther King Jr. accomplishes this is to make accomplishes this is to make numerous geographic references numerous geographic references throughout the speech:throughout the speech:

Page 17: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Geographic referencesGeographic references Mississippi, New York [paragraph 13]Mississippi, New York [paragraph 13] Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia,

Louisiana [14]Louisiana [14] Georgia [18]Georgia [18] Mississippi [19]Mississippi [19] Alabama [22]Alabama [22] New Hampshire [32], New York [33], New Hampshire [32], New York [33],

Pennsylvania [34], Colorado [35], California Pennsylvania [34], Colorado [35], California [36], Georgia [37], Tennessee [38], Mississippi [36], Georgia [37], Tennessee [38], Mississippi [39][39]

NoteNote that Mississippi is mentioned on four separate that Mississippi is mentioned on four separate occasions. This is not accidental; mentioning occasions. This is not accidental; mentioning Mississippi would evoke some of the strongest Mississippi would evoke some of the strongest emotions and images for his audience. emotions and images for his audience.

Page 18: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

King uses relatively generic geographic King uses relatively generic geographic references references

to make his message more inclusive:to make his message more inclusive: ““slums and ghettos of our northern slums and ghettos of our northern

cities”cities” [paragraph 14] [paragraph 14]

““the South”the South” [25] [25]

““From every mountainside”From every mountainside” [40] [40]

““from every village and every from every village and every hamlet”hamlet” [41] [41]

Page 19: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

Use Metaphors to Highlight Use Metaphors to Highlight Contrasting ConceptsContrasting Concepts

Metaphors allow you to associate your speech Metaphors allow you to associate your speech concepts with concrete images and concepts with concrete images and emotions.emotions.

To highlight the contrast between two abstract To highlight the contrast between two abstract concepts, consider associating them with concepts, consider associating them with contrasting concrete metaphors. contrasting concrete metaphors.

For example, to contrast segregation with For example, to contrast segregation with racial justice, King evokes the contrasting racial justice, King evokes the contrasting metaphors of dark and desolate valley (of metaphors of dark and desolate valley (of segregation) and sunlit path (of racial segregation) and sunlit path (of racial justice.)justice.)

Page 20: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

MetaphorsMetaphors ““joyous joyous daybreakdaybreak to end the to end the long nightlong night of their of their

captivity”captivity” [paragraph 2] [paragraph 2]

““the Negro lives on a the Negro lives on a lonely islandlonely island of poverty in the of poverty in the midst of a midst of a vast oceanvast ocean of material prosperity” of material prosperity” [3] [3]

““rise from the rise from the dark and desolate valleydark and desolate valley of of segregation to the segregation to the sunlit pathsunlit path of racial justice” of racial justice” [6][6]

““This This sweltering summersweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating invigorating autumnautumn of freedom and equality.” of freedom and equality.” [7][7]

““sweltering with the sweltering with the heatheat of oppression, will be of oppression, will be transformed into an transformed into an oasisoasis of freedom and justice.” of freedom and justice.” [19][19]

Page 21: Speech Writing “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King.

RhetoricRhetoric

RhetoricRhetoric is an art of using speech to is an art of using speech to inform, persuade, or motivate inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific particular audiences in specific situations. situations.

Examples of Examples of Rhetoric DevicesRhetoric Devices