Jeilyn Sosa

3/21/19

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

By using Ethos, Pathos, and Logos it helps advance the progress towards social
justice and equality. In the letter of “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” MLK’s purpose is to
respond to his clergymen and persuade them to allow him to act/protest. In the story of
“A Genetics of Justice” the purpose is to convince her audience to speak up for justice.
In Malala’s speech her purpose is to advocate for women’s rights, girl’s education, and
free education all over the world for every child. In all the texts they use Ethos, Pathos,
and logos to advance their purpose. MLK’s letter from Birmingham Jail uses Ethos,
Pathos, and Logos more efficiently, it impacted the world to this day.

The story of “A Genetics of Justice” the author's purpose is to convince her

audience to speak up for justice. Her family had troubled speaking up. They were
scared about the consequences that they would have to face if they spoke up about
their rights. In the story it says “The parade went on for hours in the hot sun until my
mother was sure she was going faint. Her feet swollen and hurting...her white dress was
damp with sweat”. (page 3) This event helps advance her purpose by her explaining
how her mother suffered in that march. Alvarez uses pathos and by using the readers
emotion it helps them see what Alvarez mother went through to get justice. Another
example is “Long after we fled, my parents were still living in the dictatorship inside their
own heads were afraid of awful consequences if they spoke out or disagree”. (page 4)
This helps advance her purpose by how even though they fled, it still stayed with them.
They had to be silent so they wouldn’t put too much attention to themselves. By using
the readers emotion shows it shows how Alvares tried leaving her country so she
wouldn’t have to deal with the dictatorship, but they still lived in fear. The authors use of
rhetoric is not that successful because yeah Alvares published a book on it there was
not much of an outcome to it besides that they don’t live in fear anymore.

Malala’s purpose was to advocate for women’s rights, girl’s education and free
education all over the world for every child. Malala has gone through trauma herself.
She was shot twice on the left side of her face and could’ve caused her, her life for
speaking up on women’s rights. In the speech it says “we are really tired of these wars.
Women and children are suffering in many ways in many parts of the world (10). This
shows how Malala see’s the suffering that everyone all over the world is going through.
She appeals to their emotion by showing them that she understands how people are
fighting wars and that they had enough. Another example is showing everyone her
solution. “One child, one teacher one book and one pen can change the world
education is the only solution education first thank you” (6). Malala knows what the
Talab is afraid of and how that won’t let them be silenced. By Malala using pathos she
gets everyone's attention so by her showing people what her plan is let’s people know
what she’s doing everything to achieve that goal.

MLK’s purpose is to respond to his clergymen and persuade them to allow him to
act/protest. MLK is throwing in jail by protesting his rights. He is trying to get equal rights
for colored people. He wants to show his clergymen that they shouldn’t silence
themselves no more. That it’s time to act in a nonviolent way. “throughout the state of
Alabama all types of conniving methods are used to prevent negros from becoming
registered voters” (page 5). Doing this he states how people are racist and how unfair
things are for them. King shows his clergymen facts. By using logos he’s showing them
how things really are for them.Another example is “Just as the 8th century prophets..I
too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom” (page 4). King is trying to persuade
them by using their sense of religion. The points out figures from the bible and how the
bible compels them to act therefore they should act out. MLK was successful in this
because if we compare how life was like before from today a lot has changed. It made
an impact MLK made a impact to our everyday lives he spoke up for the colored people
and there is no segregation. There might still be a little of discrimination but besides that
he changes the laws for colored people.

MLK’s letter is the best example of rhetoric use. He persuaded his clergymen to
act and speak up for themselves. He has made the most impact so far in history. They
are all successful because they all talk about rights. They all talk about how certain
things need to change. Alvarez sticks up for her family, Malala sticks up for children all
over the world and how they deserve education. Then MLK talks about equality about
how colored people are the same as any human being. That impacted colored people’s
lives in a good way.