The absolutely true diary of a part-time indian

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

 

Introduction:

You will for the next 5 weeks read the book "The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. Every week you should read a couple of chapters and answer the corresponding comprehension questions (see schedule below). You will have time to read, discuss and answer the questions about the book at school. If you don't have time to read the pages or write down the answers to the questions at school, it must be done at home.

Feel free to go about it anyway you like, either by reading the book by yourself, aloud with others in a group room, or by sitting in another place with headphones and listening to the book. You can choose to work with the comprehension questions either alone or in pairs/group. It is however your responsibility to come to each lesson prepared and to make sure that you’ve read the entire book and have handed in the questions by your first English lesson in week 12!

You should write all your answers in ONE word document.

You can listen to the book at: 

https://esl-bits.net/ESL.English.Learning.Audiobooks/Diary/indice.html

Pre-reading activities: watch and discuss the videos.

·         About the author: Since the book is semi-autobiographical (partly autobiography and partly fiction) you might be interested in getting to know a little bit more about the author, Sherman Alexie:

Living outside borders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_F_jl3BE-k

·         Reservation | Native Americans | One Word | Cut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOWUDM1GBhk

·         The invasion of America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJxrTzfG2bo

 

 

·         Native American or Indian?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=19&v=kh88fVP2FWQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwebenglish.se%2Fthe-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0ULW1odBfxgSWmRGUlArdU8nnBAKJwbaj2qEHbNiL3Y_co&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDI4NjY0LDM2ODQyLDI4NjY2&feature=emb_logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading schedule

Week 5. Read/listen to chapters 1-4 (The Black-Eye-of the-Month Club – Because Geometry is Not a Country Somewhere near France, p. 1-31) + answer the following questions:

1. Use five adjectives to describe junior.

2. Why is Junior a member of the Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club?

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

4. What is the Spokane Powwow?

5. Describe Mr. P.

6. Why is Junior so cynical about white teachers?

 

Homework: Finish reading/listening to chapters 1-4 (p. 1-31) + questions. Make sure that you are on page 31 to your first English lesson in week 6!

 

Week 6. Read/listen to chapters 5-9 (Hope Against Hope- Grandmother Gives Me Some Advice, p. 32-73) + answer the following questions:

7. 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.”

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

9. Why is Junior deemed to have betrayed his tribe?

10. How could have Junior reacted to being called names?

11. What is Junior´s grandmother´s advice?

 

Homework: Finish reading/listening to chapters 5-9 (p. 32-73) + questions. Make sure that you are on page 73 to your first English lesson in week 8!

 

Week 8. Read/listen to chapters 10-15 (Tears of a Clown-Hunger Pains, p.74-113) + answer the following questions: 

12. How does Junior try to establish a connection with Penelope?

13. Examine the cartoon of Junior´s journey to school. Contrast this to how you normally get to school. How many kilometers is twenty-two miles?

14. What is significant about Junior speaking up in class?

15. How does Junior become friends with Gordy? What do they have in common?

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

17. What advice does Junior give Penelope? Is it good advice?

 

Homework: Finish reading/listening to chapters 10-15 (p. 74-113) + questions. Make sure that you are on page 113 to your first English lesson in week 9!

 

Week 9. Read/listen to chapters 16-23 (Rowdy Gives Me Advice About Love-Wake, p.114-168) + answer the following questions: 

18. Why does Junior refer to how “white” Penelope is? What is the effect of this?

19. Why is the novel called “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”?

20. How do Penelope and Roger react to Junior´s admission that he is poor?

21. What does Junior think of Mary´s gorgeous new place?

22. What happens during the basketball game? Write a short news report.

23. What good things about his culture does Junior realize?

 

Homework: Finish reading/listening to chapters 16-23 (p. 114-168) + questions. Make sure that you are on page 168 to your first English lesson in week 11!

 

Week 11. Read/listen to chapters 24-30 (Valentine Heart-Talking about Turtles, p.169-230) + answer the following questions: 

24. How does Junior cope with his grief?

25. What happens in Mrs Jeremy´s class? Why is it so significant to Junior?

26. How does Junior give his team confidence?

27. How does Mary die? Why does Junior feel responsible in some way for Mary´s death?

28. What tribes does Junior belong to? How does this help him feel better?

 

Homework: Finish reading/listening to chapters 24-30 (p. 169-230) + questions. Make sure that you’ve read the entire book to your first English lesson in week 12!

Post-reading (week 12):

After we have finished the book, you will write an essay about a given theme. More information and themes will be given later.