Topic(s) / Good
(anything positive) / Important / Surprising / Confusing / Difficult / Bad
(anything negative)
Generational poverty… what perpetuates it and how to get out of it / Alexie’s parents were supportive of him going to Reardan… / With as few resources as Alexie had, he did it. I’m surprised he didn’t give up under all the bullying and isolation. / In order to get out of this situation a person needs education and/or relationships. Alexie just barely had these… Did these give him hope? Or did his hope make these enough? Or both? / Working Thesis:
Seeing how he fits into both his cultural community AND a successful larger world were essential components to Sherman’s Alexie’s development of a healthy identity. In particular, Alexie uses his writing to make sense of both personal and cultural conflicts and help him maintain hope for continued success.
Role of hope in dealing with
-conflict…
-poverty…
-death / / Alexie dealt with / overcame / used conflict. (Conflict btwn rez and Reardan, inside self: ”white” vs “red”, own alcoholism) to fuel his writing. Did that then help him make sense of himself and embrace that he has different… even conflicting sides? / Who has hope? How does a person who doesn’t see success have hope for something different? / Alexie survives the death of eight family members by writing, going to school, embracing funeral rituals… I find it interesting that it a mix of cultural practice and academic practice get him through.
Influences on Alexie’s identity
- culture and race
- death/alcoholism
- family
- education/sports
- writing!!!! / As a culture family and relationships are valued… a community that takes care of each other… “We lived and died together “(166). / Alexie traveled / saw a bigger world outside the reservation. He saw success / hope AND got to see how he fit into it, which gave him more... / “I draw [write] because I want to talk to the world. And I want the world to pay attention to me” (6). Writing is a surprising outlet and part of who Junior/Alexie is. / Alcoholism isn’t just stereotype. Is an epidemic to be addressed… Alexie became sober after___yrs. Writing success and family are what he credits in helping him make the decision to become sober.

Thesis Drafting: Alexie’s ability to convert conflict into understanding… ability to embrace /understand the strengths of his culture/community and address/overcome the

Ablility to be realistic about his own flaws and strengths – writing,

About his culture’s flaws and strengths: community

Ability to see outside himself… travel, experience the world and opportunity

Helps him understand that his identity if many

Understanding that his identity has many aspects (he is of MANY tribes) helps him succeed because he draws strength, hope, support, experience, confidence from all of those areas. He is NOT just a poor, dumb indian who deserves nothing as the stereotype suggests. And he sees this because he sees the bigger world, a successful world (through going to Reardan) and how he fits into that success…giving him hope.

Working Thesis:

Sherman Alexie’s success and identity stems from an ability to convert conflict and see himself as part of a larger world…

Sherman Alexie is an American Indian AND citizen of the larger world… his identity includes but is not limited to his race or culture. His identity is enhanced by seeing

Understand/seeing how he fits into both his cultural community AND a successful larger world were essential components to Sherman’s Alexie’s development of a healthy identity. In particular, Alexie uses his writing to make sense of both personal and cultural conflicts and help him maintain hope for continued success.

Topic(s) / Good
(anything positive) / Important / Surprising / Confusing / Difficult / Bad
(anything negative)
Nelson Mandela’s release from prison after 27 years / His seeming lack of bitterness is surprising and inspiring. How could he be wrongfully imprisoned for 27 years and not be bitter? / The world changed without him – his child grew up, his wife grew farther away, technology advanced, loved ones lived and died.
Nelson Mandela votes for first time and becomes first democra-tically elected president of South Africa / “I have come to tell you we are free.”
Mandela’s years fighting in the resistance and in prison remind him to honor the roots of the resistance. / How does he stay kind and fair? How does the abused (him) not become the abuser after so long oppressed? / Hard to imagine the magnitude of the experience… first time voting AND being voted for. J / Privileges of citizenship – voting, rights -- are taken for granted. We have an apathetic democracy. South Africa’s struggles due to being brand new and ours because of being passive.
Mandela’s release from prison and election as President of South Africa / People are proud to be active in their democracy... it truly has power because they invest it with power. / Even after 27 years of imprisonment, when he came to power, he was truly a DEMOCRATIC leader. He didn’t abuse his power. Instead he was a fair leader, still looked to for guidance today. / Working Thesis:
Nelson Mandela’s ability to stave off bitterness and remain humane and empathetic through severe hardship has made him a remarkable leader. He is remarkable leader because he is a remarkable human being.
Topic(s) / Good
(anything positive) / Important / Surprising / Confusing / Difficult / Bad
(anything negative)

Working Thesis: