Informative Essay: King and Kennedy Speeches
Prompt: How did the selections in this section affect those who first heard them or read them?
Over 200,000 people were present to hear Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The words spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr., and then Robert Kennedy on King’s assassination, affected people in a positive way. The “I Have a Dream” speech was Kings way of trying to make a change. He wanted equality amongst the blacks and whites.
While incarcerated in Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr. responded to some clergymen who criticized him for illegally protesting segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Step 5: Explain Dr. King’s purpose in writing the letter, both explicitly and implicitly. Step 6:Give an example of a powerful quote from the letter. Insert a parenthetical citation. (King, #). Describe how society responded. Analyze why people responded that way.
Step 7: Give some context for the I Have a Dream speech. For example, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was released from Birmingham jail and four months later delivered the infamous I Have a Dream speech in Washington DC as part of the massive and historic March on Washington.” Step 8: During the speech, King called on people to _________________ when he said ________________________. Step 9: Describe how many people gave King their attention both in Washinton and on television or radio. Give a reason why so many people wanted to hear what he had to say. Step 10: Give an example of a powerful quote. Insert a parenthetical citation. (King, #). Analyze his words and explain how they affected those who heard or read them. Why did they respond that way?
Step 11: Transition by explaining how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and how and when Robert Kennedy shared the news. Give some context about that night. Step 12: Describe why people responded the way that they did. Step 13: Include a meaningful quote from Kennedy. Insert a parenthetical citation. (Kennedy, #). Explain why the quote is important and what it would have meant to those who heard him say this.
Step 14: Transition to your final paragraph by making a statement about the three speeches and how the people across the nation would have been affected and/or changed by these words. Step 15: Summarize or reiterate the importance of each quote you shared. Do not say the same thing you said before. Say something relevant and interesting. Step 16: Restate your answer to the prompt and make a statement about how the affect is the same or different now.
Step 17: Review the works cited and delete any text you did not use. Make sure the works cited page is on its own page and is there very last page of this essay.

Works Cited
“1963: The Year That Changed Everything.” Savvas Learning Company. Myperspectives 2022 Consumable Student Edition Volume 1 Grade 9. Savvas Learning Company, 2021, pp. 254-255.
Kennedy, Robert. “Remarks on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.” Savvas Learning Company. Myperspectives 2022 Consumable Student Edition Volume 1 Grade 9. Savvas Learning Company, 2021, pp. 295.
King, Martin Luther. “I Have a Dream.” Savvas Learning Company. Myperspectives 2022 Consumable Student Edition Volume 1 Grade 9. Savvas Learning Company, 2021, pp. 261-264.
King, Martin Luther. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Savvas Learning Company. Myperspectives 2022 Consumable Student Edition Volume 1 Grade 9. Savvas Learning Company, 2021, pp. 271-286.