Here's the description and reading assignments for your two novels--all except for the example, I think. I also attached the copy if that's easier.
Sticky Notes and Double Entry Journals: Becoming a Thoughtful Reader
We are going to read our next group assignment in a different way than we read either Three Cups or your choice reading book. The class will be reading two different titles, both of which deal with a character who’s Indian, is roughly your age, and is also dealing with how his cultural background can fit with the larger culture he is living in. Each of you will be expected to note important passages and use them to keep a double-entry reading journal.
•NOTE: some of you may read BOTH books--I’ll recommend it to a few of you. If that’s the case, I will tweak the reading journal assignment a little bit to encourage you to compare the two views of Native American life in the 20th/21st century.
Step one is to do the reading. Everyone is expected to read--if you need to go slower or faster than the rest of the class, that’s fine; however, you’ll need to talk to Mr. B or Ms L to work out a different schedule.
Step two is to mark significant passages with sticky notes. What, exactly, is a significant passage, you may ask? Read on!
Here are some ways to decide whether a passage is worth discussing AND to help avoid just telling the story over again. Take the time to at least consider a passage if
--it is especially true to (your) human experience;
--it reveals character;
--it creates a strong mood;
--it describes an important turning point (new idea; big change in character, etc) in the plot;
--it presents a key theme or idea in the work;
--it shows something important (good or bad) about the character’s tribal culture;
--it shows something important (good or bad) about the messages the character gets from his/her general culture about his/her tribal culture;
--it fills in important details in the setting;
--it “explains” the title;
--it shows especially effective or innovative writing technique: it’s especially funny, scary, touching, good, etc.
*You should flag at least four significant passages per reading assignment. You may do more if you desire, but you should not do fewer if you expect to pass the assignment. *
Step three: You will choose one of your significant passages for your double entry journal form. There should be one attached to the back of this sheet; we will try to provide them on line so that you can do these double entry journals on the computer or print them out and do them by hand. However, please remember that the goal of these entries is for you to show me what you have chosen and then to explain why you have chosen it. Easy peasy, right?
.FIRST READING ASSIGNMENT IS DUE FOR Monday. Be sure to 1. read, 2. flag your four significant passages, and 3. do your double entry journal!
Book/Reading ass’ts :
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Sherman Alexie: 230 pages
-24 -53 -76 -104
-129 -158 -177 -196 -230
Women of the Dawn, Bunny McBride: 133 pages (divide reading into 16 page chunks)
Portage 1 - Chapter 1: two entries
Portage 2 - Chapter 2: two entries
Portage 3 - Chapter 3: three entries
Portage 4 - Chapter 4: three entries
The Heart of a Chief, Joseph Bruchac: 153 pages
Read the following chapters each time we assign reading:
1. Preface, 1, 2 (p. 20)
2. ch. 3, The Little Guys
3. Ch. 4, “Talking,” Ch. 5, “The Chiefs” to p. 60
4. finish ch. 5 and read all of ch. 6, “Coming Back”
5. ch. 7, Taking Care
6. ch. 8, “The Talking Stick,” and ch. 9, “Giving”
7. ch. 10: “What kind?” and Ch. 11, “Adding Up”
8. Ch. 12 and 13
9. Ch. 14 and 15--done!
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