An Effective Response: Putting Aside Obvious Causes

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 Analyze 
Use the basic features.

People analyzing causes sometimes consider an array of possibilities before focusing on one or two serious probabilities. They may concede that these other causes play some role, or they may simply dismiss them as trivial or irrelevant. “Some of the reasons,” King explicitly declares, “are simple and obvious” (par. 2).

ANALYZE & WRITE

Write a couple of paragraphs analyzing and evaluating how well King uses concession and refutation:

  1. Look closely at the causes King considers in the opening paragraphs to determine how he actually responds to them. For example, how does he support the assertion that some of them are “simple and obvious”? What other arguments, if any, does he use to refute them?
  2. Given his purpose and audience, why do you think King chooses to begin by presenting reasons he thinks are simple and obvious?

    Question