Writing Exercise on an Event from the MLK Symposium

Go to an event at the University scheduled as part of the 13th Annual University of Michigan Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium. Be sure that the event you choose has as its main form of expression spoken (or, less likely, written) language, rather than, say, painting or dance.

At the top of the page, list the name of the event; its date, time, and location; and the approximate number of people in attendance. Then write a brief (three or four sentence) summary of the event.

The bulk of the assignment should be a consideration of the kairotic nature of the event. Was timeliness of the topic and/or discussion made explicit or assumed? Did the rhetor(s) take the time to establish exigence? If so, how? Was it effective? Why? If not, would such an explicit establishment have been useful? Why or why not? Consider not just the theme of the symposium--a celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.--but also the nature of the audience at the event. Was the audience small? large? homogenous? diverse? How does that impact your thoughts about the kairotic nature of the event, including the event's exigence?

This exercise should be typed, bewteen one and two pages in length. It is due at the beginning of class on January 19.

As usual, feel free to email me if you have any questions.