Thursday, January 24, 2013

How do Malcolm X's, Franklin's and Rose's essays differ?


All three essays were educational narratives however, all three essays came from different angles. Malcolm X learned how to read in prison by reading and writing the dictionary. His motivation for learning how to read turned to passion with long days and nights of him reading in his cell, lost in his delight. "...months passed without my even thinking about being imprisoned. In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life" (Malcolm X - pg. 2). Malcolm's passion for reading transformed him into someone who wanted to make a difference in this world. Franklin was a man who loved to read, enough to a point where it influenced his interest and decisions on occupations. He mentioned that he could not remember a time when he could not read. From the time he was a child, he enjoyed reading. "...all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out on books" (Franklin - pg. 2). Growing up, his father had him try different ranges of occupations. At each occupation, Franklin had access to books which motivated him to try different jobs. Through this process, Franklin was motivated to become a good writer. "...I had been lucky enough to improve the method of the language, and this encouraged me to think I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable English writer" (Franklin - pg. 4). Mike Rose's essay described his time in vocational education and how the program affected himself and the people around him. In his experience, vocational education was "...a place for those who are just not making it, a dumping ground for the disaffected" (Rose - pg. 2). The teachers in the program lacked the inventiveness and creativity required to teach the students the basic skills necessary for life. As a result, the students lacked the motivation to learn. "I did what I had to do to get by, and I did it with half a mind" (Rose - pg. 2). Malcolm X's learning experience formed him into a man who enjoyed reading and in turn, became a man who stood up for what he believed in. Franklin's learning experience of wanting to become a good writer came from his love for reading. Rose's learning experience in vocational school opened his eyes to see the effects of a dysfunctional program to its students. These three narratives had similar topics surrounding education. However, each writer came from a different angle.

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