I don't think you're giving it long enough to be honest. It takes some people quite sometime to find any sort of dream sign, and they aren't always obvious either. As for realizing it's a dream and not being in control this is commonly known as one of the lower levels of lucidity. Each level being the amount of control you have. I believe that the lowest is the one you described. I'm not sure how you can raise it without control of your actions, except for maybe telling yourself that it's a dream, and that you're in control?