Your Absolutely True Diary

In a composition book or similar (smaller than 8.5 x 11), you will write your own “absolutely true diary.” Journal writing will take place in class except for a few additional artistic assignments that you will complete outside of class. Although quality always matters more than quantity, each entry should be about one page long. Strive for detail when recounting an experience, reflect on the significance or lasting impact of the incident, and be thoughtfuland honest with all your entries. While this is a graded assignment for this class, the diary’s greater value is in how it helps you to understand your own life.

The list of entry topics and artistic assignments is listed below. Only activities done outside of class have a due date next to them because the rest are completed in class. Your diary will only be seen by me and possibly Mr. Steinhart. If you share any information that indicates you are a danger to yourself or others, I havea legal obligation to report that information. Otherwise, your diary is completely confidential.

Journal #1 Describe a time when you had to do or endure something emotionally difficult. How did you cope? Did it help?

Future Self Annotated Drawing/Photo (Due Thursday, 9.2)

Journal #2: How do you define a “best friend?” Do you agree with Junior that a best friend can be more important than your family?

Journal #3: Without giving their name, describe the most memorable teacher you’ve ever had. What made him/her memorable? How, if at all, did s/he impact your life?

Journal #4: Describe an interest that you have that you keep secret from others. Why do you keep it secret? OR

Describe something you found out about a friend or relative that surprised you. Why did it surprise you? What did you think of the secret? Why do you think they kept it secret, and why do you think they shared it with you?

Journal #5: Do you have hope? Hope for what? If not, why not? In order to have hope, will you have to do something difficult like Junior leaving the rez? What gives people hope?

Journal #6: When was someone really proud of you? When were you really proud of yourself? What’s the best thing anyone has ever said about you?

Dichotomy Annotated Drawing/Photo (Due Tuesday, 9.21) In going to Reardon, Junior experienced what it was like to be two different people at the same time. You probably experience something similar on a daily basis. Who do your parents want you to be? Who do your teachers and coaches want you to be? Who do your friends want you to be? And most of all, how do these compare with who you want to be?

Using Junior’s cartoon as a model, draw your own dichotomy. Juxtapose two different “yous” that reflect the challenges you having in being a multi-dimensional, complex person.

Requirements:

•A full-figure caricature or photograph of yourself with a minimum of twelve descriptors (six per side). Keep in mind that articles of clothing and props can be carefully selected to represent the two sides of yourself

•Labels that clearly indicate what the two contradictory sides of you are

Journal #7: Describe a time when you stood up for yourself or a time when you wish you had. What lessons did you learn from that incident?

Journal #8: What is respect? How does one get respect? Who do you respect? Who respects you?

Journal #9: Describe a time when you did something mostly just to impress someone else. Did it work? How did it make you feel? Did the other person ever find out, and if so, how did s/he react?

Journal #10 Have you ever challenged authority? Describe the incident, the consequences of your actions, and how it made you feel. OR On p. 98, Junior says he “realized that hard work—that the act of finishing, of completing, of accomplishing a task—is joyous.” Have you ever felt that way about a school assignment? Describe in detail.

Respect Annotated Drawing/Photograph (due Thursday, 9.30) On p. 69, Junior draws a picture the person he respects most, his grandmother. The annotations reveal aspects of her personality, life and the things he respects about her. In this assignment, pick a person whom you greatly respect, and, using a drawing or photograph, annotate it so as to reveal the person’s character & the qualities you most admire.

Journal #11 What are your dreams? Have you shared them with anyone? If so, how do people react? If you haven’t shared them, why not? How have your dreams changed over the course of your life?

Journal #12 Have you ever pretended to be something you’re not? What was that experience like? Did anyone find out? OR On p. 129, Junior says “If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing.” When has someone surprised you, in a good way?

Journal #13 Describe a time when you didn’t try or go for something because you were afraid of failing. Do you regret your decision? Why or why not? OR On p. 148, Coach tells Junior, “The quality of a man’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence…” Do you have an interest, talent, hobby, or field of study in which you’re committed to excelling? Why are you committed? What price do you pay for that commitment, and is it worth it?

Journal #14 On p. 154 Junior comments that the best thing about his grandmother was her tolerance. What’s the best thing about each member of your family? What do you think people say is your best quality? OR What’s the most selfless thing that a parent, relative or friend ever did for you?

Journal #15 How do you want to be remembered? If you could have five songs played at your memorial, what would they be and why?

Journal #16 When Junior experiences yet another episode of grief, he makes lists of good things to help himself cope. Make four lists of favorite things—food, movies, songs/bands, professional athletes, books, friends/relatives, famous people, etc…

Journal #17 Describe a time when someone else’s confidence in you or expectations of you exceeded your own. Did it inspire or intimidate you? How did you respond to their belief in you?

Journal #18 One of the recurring themes of Absolutely True Diary is how we are all complex people with loyalties, values and characteristics of many different groups. On p. 217, Junior realizes that he belongs to many “tribes.” What tribes do you belong to? Do any of them conflict? What are the challenges of belonging to more than one tribe? OR Junior laments that something that separates him from his white friends is the fact that he’s been to 42 funerals, mostly because of alcohol. Has alcohol affected your life in some way? What are your attitudes toward alcohol at this point in your life?

Journal #19 At the end of the book, Junior does a couple of things that scare him—climbs a very tall tree & realizes he will have to leave his home, family and best friend. When have you done something that required you to be brave or embrace the unknown? What were the consequences of your decision? How did the experience affect you?

Achievement Annotated Drawing/Photograph (due Thursday 10.7) Despite the many tragedies Junior faces his freshman year of high school, he also has several significant achievements—academic and personal success at a new school, getting a girlfriend, and his basketball prowess. Draw or provide a photograph of something you’ve achieved or are proud of and write a paragraph beneath the image describing the achievement and why you are proud.

Final Reflective Essay (due Thursday 10.28) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is an engaging and honest look at one person’s experience during freshman year of high school. Junior shares with the audience the struggles and changes with many facets of his life, including his best friend, his family, and school. He speaks candidly about tough issues like poverty, alcoholism, love, sex, betrayal, success, and loss. In this final writing assignment for the book, explain how this book affected you. Did it speak to you in a meaningful way? Could you relate to Junior in some way? Be specific about some of the themes that were especially relevant to you: friendship, family, drugs and alcohol, romantic relationships, personal challenges, ethnicity/race, privilege or poverty, your dreams. You must incorporate at least three quotes into your reflective essay (see addendum), and it must be at least four typed paragraphs long. This is the last writing piece of your journal.

Title and Cover (due Monday, 11.1) Title your journal “The Absolutely True Diary of ______.” Think about what kind of label is appropriate for your life so far. Also, draw or include a photograph of yourself that you feel fits your title.

Your Absolutely True Diary is due Monday, November 1.