Reading Response to Malcolm X —Jason

Part A

Part B

Paragraph 3

“I saw that the best thing I could do was to get hold of a dictionary-
-to study, to learn some words. I was lucky enough to reason also that I
should try to improve my penmanship. It was sad. I couldn’t even write
in a straight line. It was both ideas together that moved me to request a
dictionary along with some tablets and pencils from the Norfolk Prison
Colony school.”

“I saw that the best thing I could do was to get hold of a dictionary” This sentence expresses the realization that acquiring a dictionary is the most effective way to improve vocabulary. “to study, to learn some words” The speaker explains why he is using the dictionary: to study and learn new words. “I was lucky enough to reason also that I should try to improve my penmanship.” The speaker considers their ability to reason and suggests he must also work on improving their handwriting. “It was sad. I couldn’t even write in a straight line.” The speaker is unsatisfied with their current handwriting skills because he cannot write in a straight line. “It was both ideas together that moved me to request a dictionary along with some tablets and pencils from the Norfolk Prison Colony school.” The speaker requested a dictionary, tablets, and pencils from the Norfolk Prison Colony school in order to improve his vocabulary and handwriting.