Describe the relationship between the narrator and the rock wall. In your response, use details and examples from the story that support your description.

Annotation: The student describes the narrator's feelings about climbing the wall rather than the relationship between the narrator and the wall. The student focuses on the characteristics of the wall and how the narrator feels about himself as he climbs rather than the relationship between them. The story does show that the narrator gains confidence in the beginning of the story but it becomes harder to climb as the story continues, however the student does not describe any relationship between the narrator and the wall.

Annotation: The student describes the relationship between the narrator and the wall as "enemies." The student supports this idea by stating that the narrator is determined to climb the wall and is not willing "to give up" as he imagines the wall wants him to. The student references the story..."He stumbled and couldn't reach the ledges..." to show difficulties the narrator experiences with the wall. This response could be improved by additional details from the story that show how the narrator and the wall are enemies.

Annotation: The student describes the narrator's relationship with the wall as "competitive." To support this idea the student provides an example that the narrator "wants to beat the cliff wall by climbing it, and the wall wants to "beat the narrator by not letting him climb it." The student continues to describe this relationship by stating that they are "going against each other," as if the wall has human characteristics. To improve this response the student could have added more details from the story as evidence of the competitive relationship.