Goals for the Day:
- Process and synthesize readings and film
- Understand the perspective of Sherman Alexie's work
- Define "theme"
1. Wrap up yesterday....
Finish Reel Injun
20 minutes to work on your response to the film
2. Circle up!! Discussion: Chapter 1, Bury My Heart
3. Assign Books
4. About the Author: Sherman Alexie and Colbert
5. Read together: "Imagining the Reservation"
- Powerful Images?
- What strikes you about this writing?
- What is Alexie doing here?
What is a theme?
- Central idea of a literary work
- Categories of theme in contemporary literary studies:
- Thematic concept: what it's about
- Thematic statement: what the work "says" about the subject matter
What themes emerge from this story?
Why does Alexie say, "Imagination is the only weapon on the reservation"?
7. Preview: Analytical Response Writing
8. Timeline of due dates for December
9. Google folder of project resources
HOMEWORK:
Read "A Drug Called Tradition" (p. 12) and "Indian Education" (p. 171) for tomorrow.
As you read through Alexie's work, try to pick out passages that seem to represent the themes of the stories. Annotate on post-it's or stand-alone notes in ways that will ultimately help you analyze the stories in your written response.