Positive and Negative Effects of Living Between Two Worlds

Overview: In his semi-autobiographical work, The Absolutely True 
Diary of a Part-Time Indian, author Sherman Alexie explores what life
is like living between the two worlds of Reservation-bound Native
Americans and blissfully oblivious white students at a nearby school
that he attends. Our narrator, Arnold Spirit, Jr. never feels completely
“at home” in either world.

Many people live between two or more worlds in life, and
understanding what is required to move between worlds certainly
adds to understanding the complete picture of someone’s identity.

Question: In what ways is Arnold’s experience of living between two
worlds a positive experience (for him or for those around him)?

1.   CHOOSING AND WRITING QUOTES:  While you are skimming the novel, notice any lines that seem to illustrate how Arnold is effected by living between two worlds.  Choose a sentence or several sentences that effectively show the positive or negative effects; write the quote and the page number down.  

Use the sample below to show how to embed the quote in a sentence by starting with the context as an introductory phrase (the situation in which the line occurs).  Use present tense when discussing events in literature.  Make sure you have punctuated and cited the quote correctly.

2.   ANALYZING YOUR QUOTE:  After choosing the line and blending it carefully, explain the reasons for your choice in writing (several sentences). Why is the line you chose important?  What does it show about the effects of living in two worlds?  In other words, what is the author trying to convey to the reader in this quote?

Arnold begins his story by sharing with the reader his life on the Spokane Indian Reservation.  He describes the poverty he must endure and his dreams for the future.  He makes sure the reader understands his frustration by explaining that he is "really just a poor-ass reservation kid living with his poor-ass family on the poor-ass Spokane Indian Reservation" (7).

Arnold's life is limited on  the Reservation and he knows it.  The effects of Reservation life on Arnold are clearly shown as he has little confidence in himself.  The poverty is an epidemic as it effects not only Arnold and his family, but everyone on the Reservation.  

 

The Ending

Post ONE of your journal entries for PART FIVE of Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.  Be sure  you include a quotation from the novel in your response.  After you post, please respond to TWO classmates' responses.
Agree/Disagree
Extend/Elaborate
Speculate/Guess/Wonder
Answer a question

Life is a Constant Struggle

Junior’s friend Gordy says: “Well, life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community.” (132)

1. In what ways does Junior struggle to be an individual? In what ways does he struggle 

to be a part of a group?

2. Gordy and Junior talk about “weird” people in society. How does society decide 

what “weird” is? What makes a person “weird” or “normal”?

3. Junior says that “Some Indians think you become white if you try to make your life 

better, if you become successful” (131). Why do you think they feel this way? Why 

is being white associated with being successful? Is there any truth to this way of 

thinking? What is problematic about thinking this way?

Please respond to a classmate's post.
Agree/Disagree
Connect
Expand/Elaborate
Clarify
Question

Inquiry Session Block 3: 100-151

Inquiry Session: Pages 100-151

1.  Using the journals you completed for today on pages 100-151, post a DISCUSSION question concerning these pages. You may post a quote, but include a question to prompt thinking and discussion.

Use these higher order question stems to construct your questions:
How is ________ like ________ ?
How are ________ and ________ different?
Compare the ________ before and after
________ .
Based on your readings, what can you
conclude about ________ ?
What was the author's point of view?

Was ________ worth the costs? Explain your

answer.

Was the argument convincing? What makes

you think so?

Did ________ behave appropriately? Why?

What would you have done in this situation?

Why?

What was the underlying theme 

of...?

What were some of the motives 

behind...?

Can you see a possible solution to...? 

2.  Respond to 2 classmates' questions using evidence from the novel.

Indians and Hollywood

Indians and Hollywood

 Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJFi7SRH7Q&sns=em

       Then answer the following questions:

a)      How many films were made portraying Indians as blood thirsty savages?

b)      What does the actor Russell Means tell us about his childhood?

c)       What does professor Peter C. Rollins tell us about why and for whom movies are made?

d)      What is the movie “Tomahawk Trail”about? Is it historically correct? Explain.

e)      Explain the title: How Hollywood stereotyped the Native American. 

Inquiry Session: Pages 100-151

1.  Using the journals you completed for today on pages 100-151, post a DISCUSSION question concerning these pages. You may post a quote, but include a question to prompt thinking and discussion.

Use these higher order question stems to construct your questions:
How is ________ like ________ ?
How are ________ and ________ different?
Compare the ________ before and after
________ .
Based on your readings, what can you
conclude about ________ ?
What was the author's point of view?

Was ________ worth the costs? Explain your

answer.

Was the argument convincing? What makes

you think so?

Did ________ behave appropriately? Why?

What would you have done in this situation?

Why?

What was the underlying theme 

of...?

What were some of the motives 

behind...?

Can you see a possible solution to...? 

2.  Respond to 2 classmates' questions using evidence from the novel.

The Influence of Literature and Art

Listen and follow along to Sherman Alexie read the conversation between Junior and Gordy about books beginning on page 94:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwiQb8OQ6dY

 a) What does Gordy teach Junior about books and reading? (94-98) Name at least three things.
 b) Why does Gordy encourage Junior to keep drawing cartoons? (95)
 c) Based on this scene, how do literature and art help us to understand ourselves and the world around us?
d) How important is literature and art (music, drawing, painting, writing, etc...) in your life?

Answer the above questions in complete sentences using EVIDENCE from the novel.
Reply to 3 classmates' posts:
Expand/Elaborate
Question: Why questions/How questions
Agree: Be specific and explain
Connection

Preview your post BEFORE publishing, to make sure that the entry is ready for others to read it.
 (For example: Capital letters at the start of sentences, Capital letter "I" when referring to self, there/their/they're errors)