Final Thoughts on "True Diary"

Our last blog posts answered one of the following questions:

1. Discuss your favorite cartoon/picture from the novel. What is significant about it? What does it reveal about Junior and his situation? Why do you think the author includes these throughout the book?

2. Discuss the ending to the novel. Was it a satisfactory ending? Why or why not? What would you have done differently?
3. Junior discusses the “tribes” that he’s a part of on p.217. Discuss how his perception of who his tribe is has changed from the beginning of the novel to this point.
4. What was the significance of the game against Wellpinit and Reardon for Junior and Rowdy? Why did Junior cry at the end after winning?
5. How does Junior change throughout the novel? What do you consider his most significant changes and why?

Please see Colt M, John P, and Aaron P's posts for some thoughtful replies. Good job!

About Blog Post 1

Blog post 1 asked students to consider who Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, is in the way that he sees the world, describes himself, and those around him. Why does he keep an "absolutely true" diary and what keeps him going?

We also shared our own experiences with diaries, "lifeboats" or what keeps us going in hard times, and insights into the reading. Please take a look especially at Aaron P, Mary P, Matt S, and Jesica S's blogs for some great examples of blog post 1!

Welcome

Welcome to the hub of our English 97 class. This is ourspace for our voices in a zone that's part personal and part academic. Each person's blogs will reflect his or her unique voice and point of view.

This quarter, we'll be writing on a book we'll all be reading together: Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian." We'll be writing about quotes we find intriguing, worthy of discussion, and/or confusing and we'll also be writing personal experiences that mirror the main character's. Throughout this quarter, we will be writing our thinking and our lives in these blogs.

Let me introduce our space to you. On the sidebar are the ghosts of English 97. If you ever need some inspiration, take a look at the blogs from previous students. There are also links to the current members of this class. If you click on their name, you'll find their blog. So as you can see, this class blog is really a hub for all of us.

Alexie writes, "If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance. Or better, one's chances of survival increase with each book one reads" so here's our fighting chance. We're excited about what's ahead! Come back often and leave us a comment! Stay tuned!