Welcome :D

Dear students,

below you can find exercises and a guideline for the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. 

All I have on the BOOK!!!

Hi,
follow the links to get to all the material I have on the book.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2MEYoT1iSevMHQtZWtOMXc5Rm8&usp=sharing

Here, you can find different presentations and guides to help you review all the themes.

GOOD LUCK!!!

WRITING A GOOD ESSAY

How to write an essay?

(http://www.englishpractice.com/topics/essay/)

The basic structure in paragraphs:

1.       Introduction: present the theme you are to write about (your possition). Here you try to »hook« the reader, maker him interested.

2.       Body 1    Here you give examples that support the idea you introduced in the  introduction,

3.       Body 2:   and explain them (why you think this is important and how this relates to the  

4.       Body 3    theme. Introduce examples in paragraphs so that each paragraph supports and gives evidenc to your initial idea.

a.       Words to use, introduce your ideas for each paragraph to make the text flow better: »First,/Firstly,«; »Second/Secondly,«: »Third,/Thirdly,«; …  »Furthermore,« … »Moreover…«, »on the other hand…«, »by contrast«, »in a similar way«, etc.

(for more examples on words of transiotion go to the following page:

http://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.html )

5.       Conclusion : In this part you should a summary of the body of your essay. Here you make the final assesment of your idea or theme presented in the introducion and give your opinion. It can be similar to your introduction but you should not copy it!

a.       Words to use in conclusion: »as can be seen«, »in the end«, »to sum up«…

PLANNING:

• Plan your essay! Always think and write down the points that support your idea.
• Decide which ideas you will introduce first. Those that prove your point best or you think are the strongest should be written first.
• Variety!!! Use different words with a similar meaning to enrich your text. Remember, vocabulary will be assessed, and variety brings more points.
• Do not be to concise (expresing a lot in just a few words)! Each paragraph should have at least four senteces.
• Include facts (from the book, the authors life). 

TASK:

Write an essay (min.150 words):

IDENTITY

One of the novel's themes is identity. Explain how life's struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community addresses this theme.

How does Junior deal with identity issue 

How do we define our identity?

Questions by chapter - think and answer

“The Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club”  pages 1-6

1. Why is Junior a member of ‘the Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club’?
2. Why does Junior draw cartoons? What do the first two cartoons depict?  What does this tell us about Junior?

 “Why Chicken Means So Much to Me” pages 7-13

1.      What does Junior identify as the worst thing about being poor? 

2.      Arnold says, “And hey, in a weird way, being hungry makes food taste better” (Alexie 8). What does this statement show us about Junior? 

3.      What happens to Oscar? What does this illustrate to the reader? 

4.     How is poverty a cycle for Junior’s family?

5.  Use five adjectives to describe Junior’s personality so far.

“Revenge Is My Middle Name” pages 15-24

1.      Describe Rowdy and Junior’s relationship. What do they do for each other?

2.      What is the Spokane Powwow? 

3      What does Rowdy do to the Andruss brothers? Why? What does this demonstrate about his friendship with Junior?

“Because Geometry Is Not a Country Somewhere Near France” pages 25-31

1.   Describe Mr. P. 

2.   Why is Junior so cynical about white teachers? 

3.    What angers Junior about his geometry book?

“Hope Against Hope” pages 32-43

1. Why does Junior throw his geometry book? What does it signify? 
2.  Why does Mr. P say the following? “Every white person on this rev should get smashed in the face. But, let me tell you this. All the Indians should get smashed in the face, too” (Alexie 40). 
3.  What is Mr. P’s advice to Junior? Why does he give him this advice

“Go Means Go” pages 44-47

1.       How do Junior’s parents react to his decision to change schools? What does this show about them?

“Rowdy Sings the Blues” pages 48-53

1.  How are sporting results used to compare the two schools?
2. Why is it significant that Rowdy performed well at most competitions? 
3. How does Rowdy react to Junior’s decision to move schools? Why does he react in this way?
4.  How does Rowdy disguise his pain?

“How to Fight Monsters” pages 54-66

1.       Why is Junior deemed to have betrayed his tribe? 
1.       Describe the cartoon on page 57. What does this symbolize about Junior’s insecurities? 
1.       How does the confusion over Junior’s names demonstrate his change in culture? 
1.       How do the students react to Junior at Reardan? 
1.       How could Junior have reacted to being called names? 
1.       How does the fight illustrate the differences in social codes? 
1.       ‘Maybe I was telling the world I was no longer a moving target.’ How is this a significant moment for Junior?

“Grandmother Gives Me Some Advice” pages 67-73

1. Junior says, “I realized how much of my self-worth, my sense of safety, was based on Rowdy’s fists” (Alexie 68).  How does Junior learn to stand up for himself
2. What is Junior’s grandmother’s advice

“Tears of a Clown” pages 74-76

1.      What does Junior’s story about Dawn illustrate to the reader?

Halloween” pages 77-81

1. How does Junior try to establish a connection with Penelope? 
2. How does trick or treating remind Junior of Rowdy?

”Slouching Toward Thanksgiving” pages 82-98

1. How does the author illustrate Junior’s loneliness? 
2. What is significant about Junior speaking up in class? 
3. How does Mr. Dodge reply and how does this make Junior feel?
4. Examine the cartoon of Junior’s journey to school on p. 88. Contrast this to how you normally get to school. 
5. What does Mary do? Why? 
6. How does Junior become friends with Gordy? What do they have in common?

“My Sister Sends Me an E-mail” pages 99-100

 1.      Summarize Mary’s email in three bullet points.

“Thanksgiving” pages 101-103

1.   Why does Junior think of Rowdy at Thanksgiving time? 

2. Describe the cartoon Junior draws.

3.  Why is Rowdy’s respect still so important to Junior?

 4.How does Rowdy’s father regard the cartoon? 

“Hunger Pains” pages 104-113

1. How does Penelope and Junior’s friendship develop? 
2. How are Penelope and Junior using each other? 
3. What advice does Junior give Penelope? Is it good advice?

“Rowdy Gives Me Advice About Love” pages 114-117

1. Why does Junior refer to how ‘white’ Penelope is? What is the effect of this? 
2. Gordy claims, “White girls are privileged. They’re damsels in distress” (Alexie 116). What does this mean?

“Dance, Dance, Dance” pages 118-129

1. Why is the novel called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian? 
2. Examine the cartoon on p. 120. Analyze each of the pictures. Why do you think Alexie presents the information in this way?
3. How do Penelope and Roger react to Junior’s admission that he is poor? 
4. What does Junior learn by the end of the chapter?

“Don’t Trust Your Computer” pages 130-132

1. What does Junior email Rowdy and how does he reply? Why does this make Junior laugh?
2. Why do the people at home call Junior an ‘apple’? 
3. What does Gordy say about the role of the tribe? How is this applicable to Junior?

“My Sister Sends Me a Letter” pages 133-134

1.      What does Junior think of Mary’s ‘gorgeous new place’?

“Reindeer Games” pages 135-149

1. Why does Junior try out for the basketball team? 
2. What happens at try-outs? Why does Junior get in? 
3. Why does Junior say “it was like something out of Shakespeare” (Alexie 142) when he discovers their first game is against Wellpinit?
4. What happens when Junior enters the gym? How does he react? Why?
5. What happens during the basketball game? Write a short news report.

TO BE CONTINUED .... 

THE TITLE - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

THE TITLE

• What do you think about the title? 
• Absolutely true – is it?  If someone says “absolutely true,” one wonders…
• True diary – is it?  Fiction, so it’s not a true diary
• Part-time – how can one be a part-time Indian? 
• Biracial
• Not wanting to be completely Indian?  Or completely white?

• Do you think we will be able to trust that everything he says will be absolutely true?  Why or why not?
•   Do you think people label you with a stereotype?  What is unfair about the stereotype?

INDIANS - BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

Native American land was reduced down to 2% of the continental United States. From the time of the white European’s first arrival, to the late 1800′s over 95% of the native lands were colonized. During the 1800′s sixty separate tribes from around the country were forcibly moved to Oklahoma

• Who are the Spokane Indians? Where are they located? What is their history? What are their customs and traditions?
• Why were reservations set up in America? What was their goal? Has it been successful?
• What are some of the issues and problems facing Native Americans?
• Are there any similarities between Native Americans, African Americans and Australian Aboriginals? What are they? What are the differences? (name at least 3 for each)
• What is a powwow?

About the author

Sherman Alexie from Barbara Lukač Patarčec

Exercises: Read the presentation and make notes about the author of the book. think about the paralels between the author and Junior - where are they similar and where do they differ.