Alexander+F

Task 1 (3 February 2011)

Bob's dog went to the park.
 * IC
 * NP: Bob' dog
 * VP: went to the park

Bob's dog went to the park where Bob's male friends' dogs and Bob's female friends' cats played with their toys.
 * IC + IC
 * NP: Bob's dog
 * NP: Bob's friends' dogs
 * NP: Bob's other friends' cats
 * PP: with their toys
 * VP: went to the park
 * VP: played

Bob and his dog took a walk and found their friends' dogs' toys littered throughout their neighbors' yards, so Bob picked them up.
 * IC + DC + IC
 * NP: Bob and his dog
 * NP: Bob
 * PP: throughout their neighbor's yards
 * VP: took a walk
 * VP: found their friends' dogs' toys
 * VP: littered
 * VP: picked them up

Task 2 (4 February 2011)
 * Persuasive Strengths: Sentence fluency, I have improved my ability to make my arguments flow well. This was previously a weakness, and could probably still use improvement. Ideas, the grader praised my ability to hold the readers attention, and I am confident with the caliber of my arguments. Both these traits received a 4.5.
 * Persuasive Weaknesses: My organization needs to be less formulaic, I need to find a way to use a three part thesis with more creative organization. Other traits need general improvement.
 * Narrative Strengths: I achieved a higher Organization score on the narrative than the other essays, and effectively used Word Choice to advance my purpose.
 * Narrative Weaknesses: I am less satisfied Sentence fluency in this essay as tended to repeat sentence structures. I need to add more variation.
 * Expository Strengths: I gave clear information that supported my arguments well. My essay was of "appropriate length and complexity."
 * Expository Weaknesses: All traits need the same general improvements as those stated above.


 * AIMS Goals: I would like to be able to begin writing immediately, I have had problems coming up with ideas or arguments that made it difficult to finish the essays in a timely fashion. I would also like to improve my sentence variety and use less formulaic organizations.

Task 3 (16 February 2011)

1. Imagery uses descriptive phrase to allow the reader to form pictures of the content in their mind. 1a. "the darker brother", "I'll be at the table", "grow strong" 1b. The words invoke the image of an african american child, sitting at a table in a family setting, and that child growing up to be defiant and strong.

2. A metaphor compares two thing by saying one thing //is// the other. 2a. "I, too, am America" 2b. The metaphor shows that the African American population in America are just as much Americans as whites.

3. A symbol is an image that represents an idea. 3a. "I'll be at the table" 3b. Langston Hughes uses the symbol of the dinner table to display the ideas of unity and togetherness. The table is the place where the child is excluded, until he is able to overcome the hostility of others and join them. He becomes a true part of the family, which is no longer afraid to display that belonging and is, in fact, proud to display it.