Which step is not listed as a strategy when defining words with a dictionary?

1)guess the word’s meaning.
2)pick the first listed definition as the correct definition.
3)look up the word in the dictionary.
4)check your definition against the meaning in the dictionary.

- "the answers are a and b.  

when cullen speaks of planting while others reap, and standing "abject and mute," he is speaking about the racial injustices present in american society. as these injustices have changed over time, the american identity  has also shifted. those changes are, in turn, reflected in american literature."

wheres the following authors?