Giselle Torrescano

Period #3
March 21, 2019

Rhetorical Analysis Essay: King, Alvarez, Yousafzai

Persuasive writing and speaking advanced the progress towards social justice and
equality as it shows that people have a voice and many can change the ways for others and
their community. Responding to the hatred people have, advocating for the passion they would
want to give out towards the world. The purpose of “The Letter from Birmingham Jail” was in
response to the Clergyman and persuading to cat in protest, Martin Luther King Jr wanted to
advocate his race as they were being mistreated and conflicted with the problems they’ve faced.
The purpose of “ A Genetics of Justice by Julia Alvarez” is to stand up for herself and her
community, as they’ve experienced with a unlawful leader. The leader mistreated the people
and forced them to form his economy. The purpose of “UN Youth Assembly Speech by Malala
Yousafzai” was to advocate for women’s rights and for girls education, as in Pakistan women
had no rights over themselves and kids had no right to go to school.
Martin Luther King purpose of writing his letter was in response to the Clergyman and
persuading them to act in protest. He stated in his letter that he was advocating for his people,
fighting for the rights for himself and for his community. “In no sense do I advocate evading or
defying the law as the rabid segregationist would do” (pg 5), he does not support the fact that
their a different skin color but people segregate them towards other things.​ King portraits Logos
in this part of the text. King appeals to logos because he it logically makes sense of what he
sees between the whites and negros and how this can be against the law. He doesn't advocate
people for the mistreatment of colored skin. The last showing of Logos. "I have heard numerous
religious leaders of the South call upon their worshippers to comply with desegregation
decisions because it is the law". He shows that what the leaders are asking for desegregation
as this appeals to logic and reasoning, the people want this as he explains that its a need for
change. He proves himself that leaders support him and that they need segregation. This
advances his purpose as he provides factual evidence that can be used and also provides his
emotional invest that he has towards them.
Julia Alvarez purpose in writing her story was to stand up for herself and her community
suffering from the ruling of Trujillo. At the beginning of the text she talks about the mother's
obsession towards Trujillo and how it affected their lives, how she was scared of the dictatorship
but her parents lived through it. This is shown when she says " I would always ask her why she
and my father had returned to live in the country if they knew the dictatorship was so bad". This
event advances her purpose by showing us that Trujillo's dictatorship was bad, and can also
explain her experience that led to her wanting to write this novel about her childhood. Then,
Alvarez goes on to describe her mom during this time of her childhood showing that her mother
told her be silenced as she goes on an talks about how bad society is, at the time. This is shown
when she says, " given this mandate of silence, I was a real thorn in my mother's side". She
describes how she was controlled by her mom, even though she would always rebelled to her
about the events happening around her. This advances her purpose as she stands up for her
culture that is suffering the consequences.
Malala Yousafzai purpose in writing this this speech is to advocate for women's rights
and girls education. Having education for the children all over the world. She shows examples of
persuasion as she gives rhetoric answers towards the rights of girls and women in Pakistan. In
the beginning of the speech she shows appreciation towards the UN assembly, this quote
shows how humble she is working with these people. "I fully support UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon in his Global Education First Initiative... and the respectful president of the UN General
Assembly Vuk Jeremic". This shows ethos as she has full support of the UN, and how her
support can help her accomplish that goal of having education and women's rights. Another
example of rhetoric is by showing logos, " We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.
We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within
themselves and realize their full potential". This appeals to the rights they are trying to fight for,
and showing that they need the government to help them. As in that country hundreds are
wanting for rights and many activist are pursuing for freedom, education and equality. The last
example that shows rhetoric is, " They think God is a tiny, little conservative being who would
point guns at people's heads just for going to school". This shows pathos as it appeals to the
religion people have towards God, showing that children have the right to go to school like any
other children in the world. It shows how emotionally people are towards the children and their
future. All these examples give a feeling of rhetoric as it shows how important rights are needed
in Pakistan. This advances her purpose of advocating for her religion and for women and girls
rights, as she is an activist towards the things that are wrong.