Malcolm X Study Questions

1. What let Malcolm to improve his vocabulary? That is, what were the intial problems he had with reading, and how did these lead to his desire to build his vocabulary?

2. What steps did he take to build his vocabulary?

3. What were his emotional responses after he copied the first page of the dictionary?

4. How did reading affect his outlook on life?

5. Malcolm X starts many of his paragraphs with the first-person "I." What effect does this have on the essay, and what does it suggest about the results of education?

6. How does the final statement in paragraph 11 sum up the value of a homemade, personally tailored education as opposed to the rigid learning methods often used in schools?

7. What transitions lead the reader from one step in Malcolm X's educational process to the next?

8. What phrases does he use to keep the writing conversational? Which phrases does he use to suggest he is educated? What does it suggest about the author's personality?