Question

What is the authors purpose for including this sentence

Answer 1

The purpose of including the sentences in Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is to articulate his stance on the limitations of responding to all criticisms, to condemn the insincerity of critics' advice, and to establish his professional credentials within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Explanation:

In the excerpt where Dr. King states, "If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk...," the purpose is to articulate the impracticality of addressing every critique, highlighting the overwhelming nature of his responsibilities. This serves to underscore the challenges faced by activists like King and the need for prioritizing constructive efforts over endless responses to criticisms.

The sentence that discusses, "Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will," is included to convey King's frustration with well-intentioned individuals who fail to grasp the depth of the civil rights struggle. It condemns the insincere advice or lack of genuine comprehension from those who claim to be allies but lack a profound understanding of the struggles faced by the African American community.

Furthermore, the sentence where King introduces himself as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference aims to establish his professional credentials. This serves the purpose of presenting King as a leader with a legitimate role in the civil rights movement, providing context for his authority to speak on the issues he addresses in the letter. King strategically includes these sentences to articulate his challenges, condemn insincerity, and establish credibility, reinforcing the effectiveness of his persuasive appeal in the letter.

Question

What is the purpose of including the following sentences in Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail"?

Answer 2

The author's purpose for including this sentence is:

Option 1: *to undermine the significance of his critics’ letter

Option 2: *to condemn the insincerity of his critics’ advice

Option 3: *to establish his professional credentials

Step-by-step explanation:

This is an incomplete question that can be answered in three different ways depending on the sentence you are referring to. All of the options come from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Sentence 1

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. What is the author’s purpose for including this sentence?

to emphasize the productivity of his daily routine

*to undermine the significance of his critics’ letter

to establish the impressive credentials of his staff

to explain the nature of his profession

By using the if clause the author is stating the fact of answering to criticism as an unreal situation which undermines the importance he gives to what others think about his procedures.

Sentence 2

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. What is the author’s purpose for including this sentence?

*to condemn the insincerity of his critics’ advice

to contrast the motivations of people in power

to explain the need for mutual understanding

to criticize people who treat others cruelly

The author mentions in these lines that it is more hurtful than a person who can be considered a "good" person does not get or understand you than to be rejected by a person who sees everything as negative and incorrect. Since the second situation is expected to be and should not be taken seriously.

Sentence 3

Read the excerpt from “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. What is King’s purpose for including this sentence?

to emphasize his own Southern roots

to illustrate the depth of his religious faith

*to establish his professional credentials

to explain his ties to the city of Atlanta

These lines give a clear curricular description of the professional activities of the author about the political field in the nation at the current time.