Instructions
*Essay Quiz #2 is based on the reading below (the paragraph and the link). This reading is not
assessed on your Exams.
Letter from the Birmingham Jail
The Civil Rights Movement began in order to help African Americans gain equal rights in the United States.
Despite the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, enacted during Reconstruction, African Americans
experienced rampant abuse throughout the South. White Southerners hindered Blacks from participating
in the political system, economic system, and social system in the South. African Americans who sought
to challenge White dominance often experienced persecution that ranged from beatings and bombings to
violent lynchings. In spite of all of the negative consequences of challenging White authority, many African
Americans and their supporters continued to fight for racial equality. Different groups chose to take up the
fight for civil rights in a variety of ways. The NAACP utilized the legal system to win rights for African
Americans. Groups like CORE used non-violent direct action to fight against things like segregation. The
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) an organization composed mainly of religious figures
used a variety of methods to fight for rights. Often, members of the SCLC were arrested for protesting in
the South and sometimes the organization used women and children in order to gain public sympathy for
their cause. Not everyone who supported the movement agreed with these methods. In 1963, Martin
Luther King, Jr., one of the leaders of the SCLC, was arrested and religious officials in Birmingham, AL
responded by criticizing his methodology. In “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King, Jr.
responds to his critics about how his actions also support the movement for civil rights. Why you are
reading, think about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s methods and why some people may not agree with them.
Read the above paragraph and “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” for your Essay Quiz #2.
Answer the following questions in a well-formed essay of at least 500 words:
Consequences–Why are people demonstrating in Birmingham? What are some of the consequences they
may face as protesters? Why do you think they still chose to protest despite the harm it could do to them?
Understanding Ethical Choices–The author argued that it is okay to disobey laws that are morally wrong
because in reality when you disobey a morally bad law you are “expressing the highest respect for law”.
How does he apply that belief to his fight for the rights of African Americans in the United States? Could he
have done the same thing while also obeying the laws?
Intercultural Competence—What are some of the reasons why the author argues that African Americans
cannot “wait” any longer for justice? Do all African Americans agree with the author or is there dissent
among the community when it comes to pursuing justice? How do Southern Whites think about justice
differently for the African American community (do Southern Whites think the African American
community’s current situation warrants justice)? What cultural biases are preventing African Americans
and Southern Whites from agreeing on this topic?
Knowledge of Civic Responsibility and Engagement with Communities–If you faced a similar circumstance
to to the author, how would you react if the government issued a law that you felt was morally wrong or hurt
your community? (Think about the kinds of avenues (legal or illegal) you have available for recourse against
such a law and what things your community could do to fight against it.)
Decision-Making–What type of action (direct, indirect, non-violent, violent, patience, etc.) does the author
advocate to force people to give rights to African Americans and why? Do you think it is an effective
strategy? Why?
**Make sure to include an introduction and a conclusion to your essay.
**Please review plagiarism rules and definition outlined in the What is Plagiarism quiz and in the syllabus.
Due on May 2, 2025 11:00 PM
Available until May 15, 2025 11:59 PM. Access restricted after availability ends.
Hide Rubrics
Rubric Name: 1302-Essay Quiz #2 (Social and Personal Responsibility Rubric)-100 pts
Criteria
Capstone
20 points
Milestone (Junior
Level)
15 points
Milestone
(Sophomore
Level)
10 points
Benchmark
5 points
Consequences—Why
are people
demonstrating in
Birmingham? What are
some of the
consequences they
may face as
protesters? Why do you
think they still chose to
protest despite the
harm it could do to
them? …
Student identifies
consequences and
demonstrates a
sophisticated
understanding of the
scope, complexity and/or
magnitude of the
consequences.
Student identifies
consequences and
demonstrates a
moderate
understanding of the
scope, complexity
and/or magnitude of
the consequences.
Student identified
consequences of the
choices but
demonstrates a
limited understanding
of the scope,
complexity and/or
magnitude of the
consequences.
Student identified the obvious
consequence/consequences
of each choice.
Criteria
Capstone
20 points
Milestone (Junior
Level)
15 points
Milestone
(Sophomore
Level)
10 points
Benchmark
5 points
Understanding Ethical
Choices— The author
argued that it is okay to
disobey laws that are
morally wrong because
in reality when you
disobey a morally bad
law you are…
Student thoroughly
discusses at least two
sides of an ethical choice
to be made.
Student thoroughly
discusses one side and
partially describes
another side of an
ethical choice to be
made.
Student partially
explains two sides of
an ethical choice to
be made.
Student attempts to explain
only one side of an ethical
choice to be made.
Criteria
Capstone
20 points
Milestone (Junior
Level)
15 points
Milestone
(Sophomore
Level)
10 points
Benchmark
5 points
Intercultural
Competence—What
are some of the
reasons why the author
argues that African
Americans cannot
“wait” any longer for
justice? …
Discusses how one has
or should adjust one’s
actions to successfully
interact with someone
from another culture, is
able to compare and
contrast different
cultures, discusses
significant
characteristics about
other cultures, and
discusses how one’s own
culture has shaped one’s
identity and world view.
Is able to compare and
contrast different
cultures, discusses
significant
characteristics about
other cultures, and
discusses how one’s
own culture has
shaped one’s identity
and world view.
Discusses significant
characteristics about
other cultures and
discusses how one’s
own culture has
shaped one’s identity
and world view.
Discusses how one’s own
culture has shaped one’s
identity and world view.
Criteria
Capstone
20 points
Milestone (Junior
Level)
15 points
Milestone
(Sophomore
Level)
10 points
Benchmark
5 points
Knowledge of Civic
Responsibility and
Engagement with
Communities — If you
faced a similar
circumstance to the
author, how would you
react if the government
issued a law that you
felt was morally wrong
or hurt your
community? …
Includes an
understanding of the
purpose and/or benefits
of their engagement,
describes effective
participation in civic
engagement activities,
discusses actions one
should take as a citizen to
address the pertinent
issue within one’s
community, and
recognizes and discusses
one’s civic responsibility
to a specific community.
Describes effective
participation in civic
engagement activities,
discusses actions one
should take as a citizen
to address the
pertinent issue within
one’s community, and
recognizes and
discusses one’s civic
responsibility to a
specific community.
Discusses actions one
should take as a
citizen to address the
pertinent issue within
one’s community and
recognizes and
discusses one’s civic
responsibility to a
specific community.
Recognizes and discusses
one’s civic responsibility to a
specific community.
Criteria
Capstone
20 points
Milestone (Junior
Level)
15 points
Milestone
(Sophomore
Level)
10 points
Benchmark
5 points
Decision-Making-What
type of action (direct,
indirect, non-violent,
violent, patience, etc.)
does the author…
Student states a position
on the issue with more
detailed explanation
and/or reasons for the
position and addresses
objections to their
position.
Student states a
position on the issue
with more detailed
explanation and/or
reasons for the
position.
Student states a
position on the issue,
but only provides
limited explanation
and/or reasons for the
position.
Student states a position on
the issue without providing any
reasons for the position.
Total
Score of 1302-Essay Quiz #2 (Social and Personal Responsibility Rubric)-100 pts,
/ 100
