Malcom X
Learning to Read
1) 1-18; 19-38; 39-45
2) I chose to divide the essay into these sections because of the essay’s topics. Paragraphs 1-18 focuses on Malcolm X learning words while in prison so that he’ll be able to understand books when he read them. Then, in paragraph 19, there’s a gap between the text signaling a new idea. Malcolm X begins to talk about Muhammad’s teachings and how the white men have plundered and abused black men throughout history. He goes on about this topic for most of the essay. After paragraph 38, there is another space between the text signaling a final idea. In these last few paragraphs, Malcolm X discusses how reading has affected him and made him more aware of black oppression in America.
3) The Foundation, The Realization, The Demonstration
4) It was because of my letters that I happened to stumble upon starting to acquire some kind of a homemade education.
5) In my opinion, the most important sentence of the essay is “I don’t think anybody ever got more out of going to prison than I did”.
6) The dictionary represents the furthering of the protagonists’ education. Malcolm X is known for being a civil rights leader and working to protect the black race. Without the first step of learning how to read and write at a higher level, he would not have been able to accomplish these tasks. Malcolm X studied and rewrote the dictionary while in prison to expand his vocabulary and improve his penmanship. This gave him a foundation for further success in the future. The title of this essay is Learning to Read, therefore the dictionary is the most important metaphor used.
1) 1-18; 19-38; 39-45
2) I chose to divide the essay into these sections because of the essay’s topics. Paragraphs 1-18 focuses on Malcolm X learning words while in prison so that he’ll be able to understand books when he read them. Then, in paragraph 19, there’s a gap between the text signaling a new idea. Malcolm X begins to talk about Muhammad’s teachings and how the white men have plundered and abused black men throughout history. He goes on about this topic for most of the essay. After paragraph 38, there is another space between the text signaling a final idea. In these last few paragraphs, Malcolm X discusses how reading has affected him and made him more aware of black oppression in America.
3) The Foundation, The Realization, The Demonstration
4) It was because of my letters that I happened to stumble upon starting to acquire some kind of a homemade education.
5) In my opinion, the most important sentence of the essay is “I don’t think anybody ever got more out of going to prison than I did”.
6) The dictionary represents the furthering of the protagonists’ education. Malcolm X is known for being a civil rights leader and working to protect the black race. Without the first step of learning how to read and write at a higher level, he would not have been able to accomplish these tasks. Malcolm X studied and rewrote the dictionary while in prison to expand his vocabulary and improve his penmanship. This gave him a foundation for further success in the future. The title of this essay is Learning to Read, therefore the dictionary is the most important metaphor used.