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March 27th Review and Homework

We finished up our studies on WWII, looking at the Holocaust, the Atomic bombs, D-Day, Generals MacArthur and Eisenhower, Navajo Code Talkers, the Women in the War, the Economy, and the Tuskegee Airmen. You were all assigned research for this week's lesson as we start moving into the Cold War Era and McCarthyism.

We are also moving into a fairly modern text, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. This text, while not easy on the emotions, is an easier read than some of our previous books. Therefore, I've assigned the first 73 pages. You'll stop at the chapter titled "Tears of a Clown." Now before you become overwhelmed, this novel has illustrations and bigger font. :) And it's no more than 15 pages a day, which I think you can all manage just fine.

You will be writing your final literary essay on this text, as it is the last one on our list. I am giving you the freedom to explore this novel however you feel inspired. Prepare for a literary discussion in class. What symbols are you seeing? What is the most compelling event or problem you see? Can you make any connections to this story and some of the previous stereotypes of Native Americans in our culture? I know for me, when I was in high school, I visited my first reservation and I was surprised by the level of poverty and despair around me. I had envisioned something closer to The Last of the Mohicans. How does Junior's upbringing look similar to yours? How is it different? Which relationships are changing the most?

We will be listening to some Bob Dylan in class this week, and I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited!

Keep polishing your final project. Only a few weeks left.

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