Analyzing MLK speech and writing our own response to create a life blueprint

1. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
What’s Your Life’s Blueprint?
A research project
January 2016

2. Quickwrite: Who Was Dr. King?

3. What’s Your Life’s Blueprint?

4. Quotes
⬜ After we have read and discussed this speech,
please select one quote from the speech that
speaks to you. (posted in Google Classroom)
⬜ Copy the quote on this index card, and then
write what that quote means and why it is
important to you.

5. Quote Card Example
⬜ “And when you discover what you will be in your life,
set out to do it as if God Almighty called you at this
particular moment in history.”
Dr. King’s message is clear in this speech. You need to
work hard and choose wisely. You should be the best you
can be in whatever you choose to do. What I have chosen
is to work with young writers, to help them find a
powerful voice. That voice someday may influence others,
just like Dr. King’s words still do for us today.

6. Quote Share Protocol
⬜ Find a partner you have not spoken to this
morning and stand in front of each other with
a pencil and your note card.
⬜ Each person will share their quote and why
they selected it for 2 minutes and share what
they think about the other quote.
⬜ Then each person will write what they learned
from the discussion 1 minute.

7. Essay Response Outline
⬜ Write the quote to stand alone at the top of the page.
⬜ Answer these 3 questions:
⬜ 1. What do you think Dr. King meant when he said
these words?
⬜ 2. Why did you select this quote? Why did it stand out
to you?
⬜ 3. What does it mean to you today? Give an example
about how it applies to your own life.

8. Essay Response Poster
⬜ Write the quote to stand alone in the middle of
the page. Divide the paper into 4 sections
⬜ Answer these 3 questions: (one in each section)
⬜ 1. What do you think Dr. King meant when he said
these words?
⬜ 2. Why did you select this quote? Why did it stand
out to you?
⬜ 3. What does it mean to you today? Give an
example about how it applies to your own life.
⬜ 4. In the 4th section, create an illustration about

9. Dear Dr. King, here’s my blueprint.
⬜ After reading, discussing, and analyzing the essay, you
are ready to write your own blueprint. Remember, a
blueprint is a map, a chart you want to follow to
complete a project.
⬜ What is your blueprint? What is your goal in life right
now? What steps are you going to take to get to that
goal?
⬜ You will complete a graphic organizer then write your
letter.

10. Dr. King’s Legacy