1 .		According to the strict rules of English grammar, Bambara's story has innumerable, yet intentional, mistakes. While she breaks rules of grammar, her mode of speech is consistent and, as a result, we not only understand what she is saying but also learn a great deal more about the people in her story and their narrative world. Try this with your own writing — but be careful to be consistent with your choices.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
2 .		Write your own story about a rite of passage.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
3 .		In her story, Bambara grapples with the question of what it means for a black person to be an American. Consider whether this question has changed since Bambara published her story and address it in your own writing.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.