Instructions:
Week 3, you read, reflected upon, and completed a discussion posting on Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Based on your close reading and analysis of Alexie’s book, choose 1 of the 2 paper prompts below, and write a 3-4 page paper in response to it.
Topic #1
Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is in part a story of Junior’s transition into his new school Reardan High. In his book, however, Alexie devotes only a few chapters describing Junior’s experiences inside an actual classroom. In your essay, focus on 1 or 2 chapters of Junior’s life (i.e., chapters in the book or pivotal moments/experiences), and discuss the lessons learned outside the four walls of a class. In what ways are these life lessons more valuable than his academic studies?
Topic #2
As the title of Alexie’s book suggests—The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian—Junior feels that he is caught in-between his life on the rez and his new one at Reardan High. In your essay, discuss how Junior’s new high school experiences affect his relationships to his friends, family, and/or community back home on the rez. To what degree does Junior’s education impact how he views himself in relationship to his Native American community?
In your paper, make sure to respond directly to your chosen topic prompt. In addition, your paper needs to include the following elements:
- an introduction with a clear thesis statement
- body paragraphs with strong topic sentences (please refrain from using quotes as your topic sentences)
- evidence and specific examples from the text (Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of Part-Time Indian)
- a conclusion
- an original title and a list of works cited (your works cited page should not count as part of the 3-4 page paper requirement)
Sample Solution
