...I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the 1969 autobiography about the early years of African-American writer and poet Maya Angelou. The first in a seven-volume series, it is a coming-of-age story that illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome racism and trauma. The book begins when three-year-old Maya and her older brother are sent to Stamps, Arkansas, to live with their grandmother and ends when Maya becomes a mother at the age of 16. In the course of Caged Bird, Maya transforms from a victim of racism with an inferiority complex into a self-possessed, dignified young woman capable of responding to prejudice. Angelou was challenged by her friend, author James Baldwin, and her editor, Robert Loomis, to write an autobiography that was also a piece of literature. Reviewers often categorize Caged Bird as autobiographical fiction because Angelou uses thematic development and other techniques common to fiction, but the prevailing critical view characterizes it as an autobiography, a genre she attempts to critique, change, and expand. The book covers topics common to autobiographies written by Black American women in the years following the civil rights movement: a celebration of Black motherhood; a critique of racism; the importance of family; and the quest for independence, personal dignity, and self-definition. Angelou uses her autobiography to explore subjects such as identity, rape, racism, and literacy. She also writes in new ways about...
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...Natural Effects on a Boy Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions has the entire life of its author’s experiences, virtues, and detailed imperfections. Rousseau’s Confessions is one of the first notable autobiographies and has influenced many forms of narratives. It inaugurated modern day autobiography and inspired a narrative technic used in many great novels. Rousseau wrote this autobiography in order to tell the world about himself and express the nature of man. He did not want to be known by how people thought of him, but rather be able to tell people exactly what happened in his life and let them be the judge. Rousseau begins Confessions by stating, “this is the only portrait of a man, painted exactly according to nature and in all of its truth, that exists and will probably ever exist” (57). He included embarrassing experiences and personal thoughts from throughout his life to show every possible virtue of his life. He portrays what every boy encounters from mischievous trickery to entering sexual adulthood. The events that change his life and himself become a consistent theme while he describes his childhood, sexual cravings, and natural thoughts of a boy’s life. One of the most common subjects in Rousseau autobiography is the story of his childhood and the nature of a boy. Rousseau’s mother passed away during his birth, which strained the relation between him and his father. When they tried to speak of her the conversation would end with tears because his father saw Rousseau’s...
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...HOW TO ANALYSE SOURCES ANALYSING OF SOURCES Historical criticism.-> Original document? How, when, and why did it come into being? Where does it come from? Who is the author or the cartoonist or the cameraman? 2 critical questions: Could the witness possibly have known the truth? Did the witness wish to tell the truth? EVALUATING OF SOURCES Authenticity? (are there factual errors in the source?) Reliability? (how long after the event was the source produced?) Bias/Prejudice? Subjectivity VS objectivity? Historians have an issue, the source is problematic (biased, emotions, etc) and the historian is a human writer. To guard oneself from being manipulated by bias sources, one must cross-reference. This means one must analyse a few sources and then synthesise their own conclusion. QUESTIONS WHICH ASK YOU TO COMPARE IN THE TEST OR EXAM Generally sources can have two characteristics with each other. They are either similar or they are contradictory/different with each other. One should consider the following aspects when answering these types of exam questions: What are the similarities(1) and the differences(2) between the sources? How do these sources complement each other(3)? Which of these sources provides a more accurate viewpoint on the topic(4)? QUESTIONS WHICH ASK YOU TO USE ALL THE SOURCES This is an eight mark question which comes prior to the essay. One is required to write approximately 10-15 lines;...
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...López de Córdoba, a Spanish noblewoman, wrote her Memorias, which may be the first autobiography in Castillian. Zāhir ud-Dīn Mohammad Bābur,who founded the Mughal dynasty of South Asia kept a journal Bāburnāma (Chagatai/Persian: بابر نامہ; literally: "Book of Babur" or "Letters of Babur") which was written between 1493 and 1529. One of the first great autobiographies of the Renaissance is that of the sculptor and goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1571), written between 1556 and 1558, and entitled by him simply Vita (Italian: Life). He declares at the start: "No matter what sort he is, everyone who has to his credit what are or really seem great achievements, if he cares for truth and goodness, ought to write the story of his own life in his own hand; but no one should venture on such a splendid undertaking before he is over forty."[2] These criteria for autobiography generally persisted until recent times, and most serious autobiographies of the next three hundred years conformed to them. Another autobiography of the period is De vita propria, by the Italian mathematician, physician and astrologer Gerolamo Cardano (1574). The earliest known autobiography in English is the early 15th-century Booke of Margery Kempe, describing among other things her pilgrimage to the Holy Land and visit to Rome. The book remained in manuscript and was not published until 1936. Notable English autobiographies of the 17th century include those of Lord Herbert of Cherbury (1643, published 1764)...
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...The page before Donald M. Murray’s “All Writing is Autobiography” warns readers that Murray’s opinion on writing is different from most other opinions. Prior to reading Murray’s article, I agreed with those opinions which included the rule: never use the word “I” in a formal paper. While writing this paper, I feel a strong urge to erase the words “I agreed” and rewrite the entire page in a more formal manner. Murray’s article changed my idea of the writing process by making me realize that every piece of writing is autobiographical whether or not an author is writing objectively through word choice, sentence structure, metaphors, and even punctuation. A reader can learn much about an author through his or her word choice. An author’s diction may seem more colloquial or more obscure and academic depending on his or her personality. Murray demonstrates how an author can use creativity by creating words when he uses the words “squenched and “companioned” in his poem “At 64, Talking Without Words.” Though these are not words one would find in a dictionary, they are understood by readers and aid in defining the author. Sentence structure is an important piece of writing. An author may utilize a run-on sentence or a one-worded sentence in order to create a point or emphasize one, however grammatically incorrect the sentence may be. Charlotte Brontë, for example, frequently uses run-one sentences in order to complete a thought without the interruption of a period. Authors may...
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...money within the region. The democratic victory was significant in an election that was defined by an overwhelming red republican wave as shown in Table 1. The money aspect of Florida’s 2nd, coupled with the image that each candidate aimed to display during their campaigning are two of the main concepts that will be discussed more in depth throughout the remainder of this study. As previously mentioned, North Florida, including Florida’s 2nd District is ultimately rural and has a constituency that is 71% Caucasian, stretching a whole thirteen counties. Although mainly republican, the district has voted more liberal in presidential elections, and leans significantly less republican as it contains its largest population center located at Tallahassee. The PVI expressed within this district is +6 in favor of the Republican Party. Candidate Profiles: Gwen Graham (D) Gwen Graham, the daughter of former Florida governor Bob Graham, ran as a Democrat with independent...
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...Surname Tutor Course Date Comparing Monuments Introduction A monument is a statue of famous or notable persons, building or a place that is made to keep alive the memory of people or events. Florida Capital building is a monument that has a rich history which began in 1824 with the creation of Tallahassee as the new capital city. The Integration Statue at Florida State University is celebrated for playing attribute to young men and women who contributed in making FSU rich in diversity. The Historical Capitol is located in Tallahassee in Florida capital city, at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway. And the Integration Statue at Florida State University is it located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state of Florida. The visual elements that are found in the Historical Capitol are the 22 floors and a height of 345 feet. While the Integration Statue at Florida State University is a three figured statue of people standing and is approximately nine feet tall. The Historical Capitol building has encouraged people to come because it contains a museum, which is always open to the public and has a great historical background. Nevertheless, the Statue at Florida State University encourages people from different background and country to join the university, because as elaborated it symbolizes social unity. Grandeur and permanence are coined when a material like a rock is used in a sculpture or building. This is because the rock is strong and elegant;...
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...Pledge Patrick Rutenber 2303 Timber Oaks Lane Tallahassee, FL 32304 October 19,2012 Mr. Robert Toggweiler Office of the President Alpha Kappa Psi, Beta Psi Chapter 316 West College Avenue Tallahassee, FL 32301 Dear Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi: I am a student at Florida State University pursuing two different Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance. Ideally, through the current process of pledging, I hope to be admitted into Alpha Kappa Psi a well-recognized professional fraternity. With the help of the brotherhood, I hope to become a young professional with the necessary skills to lead, not only myself, but also others towards a brighter tomorrow. Before attending Florida State University I held two different jobs, in addition to volunteering as a coach for little league soccer. Initially I worked for Cuttin Up Lawn and Tree Service for four years. During my time with the company, I was depended upon for thorough completion of tasks and to do these tasks the right way the first time. Much of my time, spent working, was not under supervision, and I had to have initiative and work ethic to do the work on my own. Also, I was an employee of Subway. From my experiences, I learned much of the customer service and communication skills I possess today. Through my time with the company, I learned to effectively interact with both customers and coworkers in a professional setting, and also what it takes to work as a team to accomplish certain goals...
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...attended a city commissioner meeting. It was held in Tallahassee city hall. Nearly 150 people from the general public were present. Furthermore, it was handicapped accessible. The officials include John Marks, Andrew Gillum, Nancy Miller, Mark Mustian, and Gil Ziffer. John Marks is the Mayor of the City of Tallahassee. He is Tallahassee's fifth African-American mayor to be elected, and won his proposal for a third term in the 2010 elections. He received his B.S. degree in 1969 from the Florida State University School of Business and his Juris Doctorate in 1972 from the Florida State University College of Law. Likewise, Commissioner Andrew D. Gillum, an African American is recognized statewide and nationally as an emerging leader. At the age of 23, Gillum became the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission in February 2003. Commissioner Nancy Miller grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has an M.S. in Biology from Northeast Louisiana University. Miller is a self-employed urban planning consultant who has been an independent business person all her life. She has made a long-term commitment to serving Tallahassee to be a wonderful place to live and work through. She believes that public service is the highest responsibility any citizen can take on in our democracy. This commitment led to her election in 2010 to the Tallahassee City Commission. Mark Mustian was born in Panama City...
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...ENC 1101 13 October 2014 Becoming the Seminole Athlete Coming to FSU as a student athlete is a life changing experience as you shift from being under your parents into being on your own and managing yourself. You get to start early as a baseball player so that you can become acclimated with class and morning workouts. You are taken on a weeklong athlete orientation called Summer Bridge a week before summer classes begin. You along with other freshman athletes get to become familiar with the campus and what is expected out of an athlete here at Florida State. During the week, you are grouped with people from other sports so that you can get to know other people besides your teammates. In your group you do small bonding exercises and team work activities. One activity was a campus scavenger hunt where you have to take pictures in front of certain buildings and this allows you to get familiar with your new school. Summer is an easier adjustment from high school to college compared to fall. During summer you are required to take only two classes and have only early morning workouts. Having the afternoon to yourself is a good feeling because there is not much free time in the fall being a student athlete. Being a baseball player, you live in Whitehall Apartments which is right off campus. Living in the apartments with three other teammates and right next door to four others, you get to bond easily with each other. Transitioning from having your laundry done for you and having...
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...In the book "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X ,and Alex Haley, the authors inform us about Malcolm's life. The authors structure and style Malcolm's life revolved around many things that caused Malcolm to do everything that he did. The structure was organized from his early to his adult life. The things that influenced Malcolm's life the most were his education,his family,and religion. Malcolm was considered to be an intelligent person, However many doubted him. In the book it says " It was surprising thing that I had never thought of it that way before, but I realized that what ever I wasn't, I was smarter than nearly all of white kids. But apparently I was still not intelligent enough, in their...
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...believed in success. However his life was not perfect. He knows that as well. Therefore, he works hard to improve himself in so many different ways. Although Benjamin Franklin life was not perfect, his autobiography is a compass that can direct many to the path of success. The youngest of a large family of thirteen, Benjamin Franklin had a hard time living his life to attend the success that he wanted. Everything in life matters to him. However, his biggest problem was when he could not get the education he wanted. He was a friend of books; he liked reading anecdotes from which he learned important principles that his ancestors left. According to the reading, his love for study pushed him to sell business. Many people today would not take such decision. However, Franklin knew what he was doing. He prioritized education over money because he believed that there are better riches in knowledge than in money. The results of his action were amazing. Those results cannot be bought with money. He made different discoveries that gained him reputation throughout Europe. Franklin did not keep all the successful principles for himself. Therefore, he made them word in other to pass them on from generation to generation. Many believe that Franklin did not know that his autobiography would be that popular all over the globe. He thought that he was writing to his son only. It seems many take this work a guide of success. For example, in Haiti, many people who do have almost nothing...
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...begins his Autobiography by stating the reasons for writing it. He wished to share his life story with his son and tell him anecdotes about his ancestors. Since Franklin had grown up in a poor family, he wished to share his rags to riches story with others as they may be inspired to do better. Franklin knew he could not relive his life and in fact would not have changed much of it had he been given the opportunity to live it over, but he wished to relive those memories from his early life through his manuscript. Another reason was that, through writing, he would not bore people as he would have by telling his stories in person. And finally, he wrote it for himself to satisfy his own ego and sense of self-worth. The story of how the Benjamin Franklin Autobiography became published is a story in itself. It was intended as a private collection and not supposed to be made public. However, based on the number of copies made before he died, it is hard to believe that he did not intend for it to be seen by all. As the story is read, different views can be ascertained. This would depend on various reasons but my thoughts are that it is also self-promoting in some ways. As Franklin offers stories of his early life, he is offering evidence that anyone can make it if they strive to improve upon what they have accomplished thus far. The story of his ancestry and early years is an intriguing glimpse into the inner workings of the family during this period. The Autobiography begins with...
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...Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, printer, scientist, statesman, wrote an Autobiography that poses a riddle never completely solved: How could such an incomplete, disjointed, inaccurate, mangled manuscript be so perennially popular? Translated into dozens of languages and reprinted in hundreds of editions, it continues to be one of the most successful books of all time, even though Franklin himself is sometimes viewed with suspicion by the haters of industry and frugality. An answer to the riddle of the Autobiography is partially hinted at by the ways in which it has been described, for if it has not been all things to all men, it has at least been remarkable to most men who have read it. Its most admired qualities have changed as fashions, philosophies, and needs have changed. But, significantly, the book continues to survive such changes From the first line, Franklin's Autobiography illustrates the complex character of the man who wrote it, not only through the facts it states but also through the attitudes it reveals. The productive tension in Franklin's nature between the lighthearted and the earnest is evident by the end of the first paragraph. While Franklin starts his account as a paternal (and presumably chatty) letter to his son, he soon begins the formal statement about his worthy purposes — the rationalizations for the work to follow — which one expects of highly serious eighteenth-century treatises. But after presenting three respectable reasons for writing, Franklin...
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...The Autobiography of Malcolm X was written by both Malcom X and journalist Alex Haley. Malcom X would tell Alex Haley his life story, Haley would write down Malcom's story in first person with Malcom editing and approving what was created. Malcolm Little was born May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the fourth of seven children having Louise Helen Little and Earl Little as parents. His father was the leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Malcom and his family later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin then Lansin Michigan due to threats made by the Black Legion who were a racist white group. In 1931, Malcom's father was killed in a streetcar accident, although his mother believes it was the Black Legion's doing. Malcom Little...
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