Paper details
For this Writer’s Notebook assignment you will analyze the rhetorical situation of the excerpt called
“Learning to Read” from The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Analyze the reading in order to answer the
following questions about the rhetorical situation:
1. Who is the audience and how do you know?
2. What is the tone of voice in the writing? Give an example of a phrase or word that represents the
author’s tone of voice.
3. What is the purpose of the writing and how do you know?
4. What are the reasons that Malcolm X is writing this piece. Point to a passage in the text that expresses
his reasons for writing and quote or paraphrase from it.
5. Finally, what conclusion does he come to at the end. Paraphrase his conclusion. In other words, write it
in your own words.