Assignment #7 (100 points) - Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
Directions: This assignment is divided into three distinct segments - listening to a podcast (about 6 minutes), watching a video (about 50 minutes), and reading Sherman Alexie's book. Thus, it will require you to begin working on this assignment at least a week or two in advance of when it is due. Please keep your written answers brief - so that the entire assignment is no more than 5 double-spaced pages or 2-1/2 single spaced pages. But please do think deeply about your answers as we will be discussing them in class.
- Listening. Listen to the 2007 Fresh Air Podcast with Sherman Alexie at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14586575. Please answer the following questions:
- Alexie says that Arnold’s story is an “immigrant’s story,” that it's about “an indigenous kid who's an immigrant in the United States.” What do you know about Native American history that could be used as evidence to support AND refute his assertion?
- How and why does this brief interview make you want to read Alexie’s National Award winning book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?”
- Watching. Watch the November 3, 2007 video of Sherman Alexieat https://www.c-span.org/video/?202083-3/absolutely-true-diary-parttime-indian talking about what he calls his “semi-autobiographical” book. Please answer the following:
- How and why does Alexie’s presentation make you want to read Alexie’s National Award winning book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?”
- After listening to the brief Podcast and watching the video and before you have actually read the book, why do you think you were asked to read this book for History 420?
- In the video, Alexie responds to the question about how his book has affected his reservation by bending over and saying, “this is me, carrying the burden of my race.” How and why is this an important thing for you, as a teacher in training, to remember when you have your own classroom? How and why is this an indication that Alexie's book may be a good example of historical fiction?
- Reading. Now, armed with the above information, it is time to read the book. When you are done, please address the following questions:
- In the Podcast, Alexie states that “the reservation was created as a prison, as a rural concentration camp where Indians were supposed to disappear and die. And in the book, Junior says, “Reservations were meant to be prisons, you know? Indians were supposed to move onto reservations and die. We were supposed to disappear.” Look at the agreement between the United States and the Spokane Indians.
- Does the agreement confirm what Junior says about the purpose of a reservation?
- What do you know about Native American history that could be used as evidence to support AND refute his assertion?
- Does Junior’s desire to leave the reservation challenge the common media portrayals of Native Americans? Do you think his critical comments about life on the reservation are controversial? Why or why not? With whom?
- This book is banned from many school across the nation. Conduct a brief internet search and pick one or two reasons you found for having it banned. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- When you become a history teacher, would you consider using this book in either an 8th or 11th grade U.S. History class? Why or why not?
- Arnold leaves Wellpinit for Rearden because of the quality of education he can receive at a white school versus a reservation school. Read about Henry Thomas Cowley’s experience as a school teacher for the Spokane Indians and listen to the news bulletin about improving education for Native American students.
- Do you think Junior should have left? Would you have left?
- Are we, as a society, doing enough for Native American students?
- Using evidence from the book (direct quotes with page numbers), explain why you do or do not think this book is a good example of historical fiction? You will, of course, have to first come up with a definition for historical fiction.
- Do you think this book was an example of historical fiction? Why or why not?