Quarter 1: Identity

Essential Questions:

• • What do we learn from these texts about about the nature of identity?

  • What are the characteristics of an effective expository essay?

• Does Alexie support or resist stereotypes about Native Americans?

Anchor Text:

The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian

• Little Things Are Big (Jesus Colon)

• Indian Education (Sherman Alexie)

• Translated from The American (Sherman Alexie)

• Article on Indian mascots & Indian Boarding Schools (research articles)

• “Do All Indians Live In Teepees?” (Smithsonian)

• Smoke Signals (Film)

• Click here for a link to download a podcast of Sherman Alexie talking about his novel!!!

• House On Mango Street (selected passages)

• Days of Rondo (selected passages)

Key Assignments and Assessments:

• Expository/Informational Writing Common Benchmark Assessment

• “The Winter Count” Expository Essay

• Shared Inquiry Discussions

• Reardan Mascot Role Play

• MCA II Grad state writing test practice

WriteLike Activities:

• • Draw an image of yourself in two worlds—(for example, at home and at school). Write about influences on your identity in both worlds.

  • Write about a time that you actively resisted influence.

• Neighborhood Map

  • Work with model essay (Write Source pages 144-199)

Interpretative Questions (WriteAbout):

Little Things Are Big:

• Why is "I hesitated" in larger print?

Absolutely True Diary, pages, 1-31

• Why does Junior/Arnold make fun of himself so much?

• What does Junior/Arnold mean when he says "I am really just a poor-ass reservation kid living with his poor-ass family on the poor-ass Spokane Indian Reservation?" (6) Why does he say this?

• What does Junior/Arnold mean when he says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats" (6).

• Who is the intended audience? Who is Arnold telling his story to?

Absolutely True Diary, pages 32-76

• What does Mr. P. mean by "we were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child?" (35)

• Mr. P says, "You are going to find more and more hope the farther you walk away from this sad, sad reservation?" (43) Do you agree with Mr. P? (evaluative)

Absolutely True Diary, pages 77-117

• As readers, should we refer to Arnold/Junior as Arnold or Junior? Why? Which is more appropriate?

Absolutely True Diary, pages 118-158

• To what extent does Junior/Arnold assimilate into the culture at Reardon? Does Junior/Arnold need to assimilate to succeed?

• When does Junior/Arnold follow the crowd? Why? When does he go his own way? Why? Which does he do more often?

Absolutely True Diary, pages 159-230

• What was the purpose of Ted's appearance at Grandmother Spirit's funeral?

• What is the significance of the last line, "we didn't keep score?" Are Arnold/Junior and Rowdy friends? When do you keep score? (evaluative)

• Did Arnold need to leave the rez? Did he have to go to Reardan?

Analysis: How does Junior's use of humor affect readers?

• More questions here/With activity