The clip linked below preserves a moment from Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech, given on
August 23,
1963, during a massive freedom march on Washington D. C. The speech voices the hopes of the Civil
Rights
Movement when Americans organized to ensure that civil liberties were extended to all Americans,
not just to
whites. It invites us to imagine a day when freedom and equality are truly universal.
Link: http://www.teachertube.com/video/i-have-a-dream-speech-20916
Prepare
This unit assessment asks you to consider whether or not you believe King's dream has been
realized. The
following tips will help you shape your argument:
Focus around a thesis. Your answer does not have to be an absolute "yes" or "no"; for instance,
you might
think we have made progress in some areas but not in others. Expressing even a complex view in a
sentence
or two can help you focus your essay.
Organize logically by classifying/dividing your forms of supporting evidence. Organize your main
ideas in order
of importance. You might also begin each paragraph summarizing, in your own words, one part of
King's vision
of freedom and equality and then explain whether you think that part of the vision has been
realized.
Use specifics. Drawing on your own experiences, news reports, or interviews, support your main
ideas with
specific examples and illustrations.
Write
Listen to King's speech and write down his main ideas. Then, write a short essay of 300-400 words
arguing
whether you think King's vision has or has not been realized yet and why.
To further expand your essay, you might do some additional, informal research on issues like
racial profiling,
housing discrimination, or hate crimes. Issues like these (and others) continue to challenge our
ability to meet
King's vision of universal freedom and equality.
Sample Answer