Study of excerpts or mini-speeches made by Rev. Martin Luther King - Succeed by Studying Great Speeches Also refer to I've seen the mountain top, I have a dream, Let freedom ring, rhetoric, oratory skills, format, vision, mission, politics, imagery, emotional appeal, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Excerpts from Martin Luther King's Speeches
by Ron Kurtus (12 February 2005)
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great orator is the tradition of many southern preachers and ministers. He had great use of his voice, along with poetic imagery in his speeches. This is the same delivery used in many "hell and brimstone" sermons that Southern Baptist ministers and other preachers have used.
His most famous speech was I Have a Dream, given on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. In that speech, he included three mini-speeches that he included numerous times in other speeches. They are: I've Seen the Mountain Top, I Have a Dream and Let Freedom Ring.
We have included audio clips of those mini-speeches, so you can hear how he delivered the material.
Questions you may have include:
- How can I use this material to improve my writing skills?
- How can I use these mini-speeches to improve my speaking skills?
- What is the historical significance of this material?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Learning from speech
Listen to the excerpts to note the clarity of communication, the pacing of his words, the varying of volume for effect, and the emotions expressed. Also note the audience reaction to his words.
Speech writing
Things to note when studying the excerpts are:
- The length of the sentences. Short phrases make for effective delivery.
- The use of imagery and emotional appeal
- The poetic use of words with similes and metaphors
Take notes on the mini-speeches to show where you felt the most impact was made.
Public speaking
Try to speak along with Rev. King, imitating his oratory methods. Although you may never want to speak in the same manner--nor would it be appropriate--you can get the feeling of how he was able to move his audiences. This will give you insight on how you can do the same.
Historical significance
Note the mission and goals of Rev. King in each of these mini-speeches. Do you think he was able to move people to action from these speech materials?
Martin Luther King, giving a speech
Excerpts
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.:
I've seen the mountain top
I have a dream
Let freedom ring
Summary
Use this material by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to improve your skills in speech writing, public speaking, or history.
Speak with gusto
Resources
The following are resources on this subject.
Websites
Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project - Stanford University
The King Center - Information about Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech - 1963 - Text and study
Books
Top-rated
books on Martin Luther King
Top-rated
books on Civil Rights Movement
Top-rated
books on Famous Speeches
Top-rated
books on Oratory and Rhetoric
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
1. Why did Dr. King use the same mini-speeches over and over?
2. Why did people in the audience shout things out during his speeches?
3. How did these mini-speeches inspire his audience?
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Great Speeches. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Excerpts from Martin Luther King's Speeches