Russell Baker’s “No Gumption” and the excerpt from Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings are memoirs about life in a particular time and place. In a different setting, the events of the plot might have been very different. Choose either of these memoirs. Explain how the setting of the events the author recalls is important to his or her experience. Cite specific events of the memoir you choose in your answer.

Constructing an argument: in modern american society, the legalization of marijuana continues to be controversial and hotly debated. some people find it contradictory that certain "drugs"—such as tobacco and alcohol—are legalized even though they pose proven health risks, while marijuana, which has many medicinal applications, continues to be illegal by the federal government. what reasons do you think the federal government gives for outlawing marijuana, and do the reasons support the conclusion?