1. Think of at least 3 benefits of using speeches by famous
figures, in the classroom.
(i) Speeches by famous figures are normally very impactful, that people will
understand the messages. Inspiring speeches will definitely a good material to
motivate the students.
(ii) These speeches are informative and well structured. The
students can learn the history that took place when the speeches were written.
(iii) These speeches are usually written to bring a new
mindset to the people. It challenges the reader to have a deeper thought about
an issue. So the students are trained to think in a different perspective.
2. Go to www.youtube.com and find the audio-visual on the speech. In not less
than 50 words, state would the audio-visual be of any use in helping understand
the speech better? State your reasons.
In my opinion, audio visual is definitely the best tool to
be used to understand the speech better; this is because the students learn by
visual or by audio.
People process information
through both the right and left brain hemispheres. Most people, however, use
one side more than the other, which makes learning some subjects far easier
than others. Everyone also has a preferred learning style, depending on the
side of the brain and learning modality that is most developed. Modes or styles
of learning include kinesthetic (touching), audio (hearing) and visual
(seeing). It is important to be aware of learning styles since they greatly
influence learning success.
The students can see the
actual situation and feel the energy and power of Martin Luther King by
watching how him giving his speech to the Americans.
3. Who is Martin Luther King?
Martin Luther King was an American clergyman, activist, and
prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement.
Martin Luther
King, Jr. helped change America. He brought to the world's attention how
unfairly blacks were treated. He had the help of millions of Americans, but his
strong leadership and unprecedented power of speech gave people the faith and
courage to keep working peacefully even when others did not. This led to new
laws that ended the practice of keeping people of different backgrounds apart,
making life fairer for everyone.
4. Based on the questions below, analyse the features of the
given written speech:
a. What is the purpose of the speech?
The speech was an eloquent plea for a society based on
racial harmony. Nevertheless, while King's speech is best remembered for his
vision of racial equality, its true import lies in the fact that the renown
accorded the speech helped advance the multifaceted goals of the march, thus
helping to pave the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The speech had truly inspired
the American to stride for a revolution for freedom.
b. What is the tone of the speech?
Determined. Willing. Passionate. Hopeful.
c. What interesting major feature(s) can you see from the
speech? (i.e. Repetition of phrases, emphasis on certain things said etc)
The interesting major feature(s) which I can see from the speech are:-
i.) Repetition of phrases such as “I
have a dream”. This phrase was mentioned eight times throughout the speech.
Repetition of phrases such as “one hundred years later”. This
phrase was mentioned four times throughout the speech.
Repetition of phrases such as “now is the time”. This phrase was
mentioned three times in the speech.
Repetition of phrases such as “free at last!”. This phrase was
mentioned three times in the speech.
Repetition of phrases such as “be satisfied”. This phrase was
mentioned five times in the speech.
Repetition of the word, “negro”. This word was mentioned fifteen
times throughout the speech.
Repetition of the word, “free”. This word was mentioned twenty
four times throughout the speech.
Repetition of the word, “freedom”. This word was mentioned
nineteen times throughout the speech.
ii.) Emphasis on certain things said.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. states that after a hundred years later, the
blacks are still oppressed and marginalised by the whites by emphasizing on the
phrase, “one hundred years later”.
- Strong words like ‘manacles’ and ‘chains’ were used to
depict the sufferings of the blacks. Their ancestors were once slaves and they
were chained and manacled. These words have connotative meanings and are used
to show that the blacks were denied social justice and are tied to poverty.
- The phrase, “the bank of justice
is bankrupt” is quite sarcastic and funny.
- “Now is the time to open the doors
of opportunity to all of God's children.”
By making that statement, he wants the
blacks to be given equal treatment and equal opportunities as the whites.
- “In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty
of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by
drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”
By making that statement, he is telling all the blacks that the struggle
for equality must be done in a peaceful way without using any force as it could
spur racial tension.
- “Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have
come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of
persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s statement
above might suggest that many of the black audiences were just released from prisons
and lockups. Maybe many of them were released on bail. Meanwhile, the second
sentence shows that the many of the blacks were suffering from police brutality
where they were beaten up badly.
- “There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights,
"When will you be satisfied?" we can never be satisfied as long as
our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels
of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as
the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can
never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in
New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not
satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters
and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
By making the statement above, he is
saying that the blacks will never stop fighting for their rights until they are
granted equal rights as the whites.
- "We hold these truths to be
self-evident: that all men are created equal."
By making that statement, he means that
all human being are equal in god’s eyes and should be given equal treatment.
d. Any interesting facts that you can gather based on the background of the
speech?
From the background of the speech, I learned
that many black people were marginalized and were denied of social justice and
equal rights. Many of the blacks were jobless and they were suffering from
poverty at that time. They were fighting for their rights and they wanted it
urgently because they were tolerating this situation for more than a hundred
years. From it, I also learnt that many of the blacks were suffering from
police brutality where they were beaten up badly. They were thrown into lockups
and prisons. They felt that all human being are equal in god’s eyes and should
be given equal treatment. From the background of the speech, I also learnt that
the blacks will never stop fighting for their rights until they were granted
equal rights as the whites.
5. Suggest a while-reading activity that can be derived from this particular
speech.
Ask the students to find the most interesting part of the
speech that capture their attention and share their thoughts about it.
