The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Dialogue Journal Instructions

Instructions for taking notes on the novel. Worth 50 points

As you read your novel, take notes on it using the questions and format presented below. The
general idea is that you are locating and responding to passages (or drawings) in the novel that
seem to deal with Arnold’s sense of identity, his sense of who he is and how he fits into his
community and the larger world, and how he maintains hope in the face of adversity (or
problems). You should copy down passages from your novel and then write about how these
passages demonstrate how Arnold sees himself and his sense of identity, and how he maintains
hope or a positive attitude in the face of challenges and set-backs.

Some questions/issues that you should address in your responses are:

• Write a brief summary saying what is happening in this passage and what is going on in
the novel at this point
• What is/are the problem(s) Arnold faces?
• How does he deal with the problems (do he ignore problems, face them head on, lash out
at others, try to change the situation, try to change himself, etc.?)
• How does he view himself? How does he fit in or not fit into his community (either on
the rez or at his new school?)

1. Reading Schedule: Due Friday, Oct. 22: Chapters 1-15 (to the end of page 113)
(“Hunger” Pains” is the name of chapter 15)
Due:Friday, Oct. 29: Chapters 16-29 (page 114-end of book)

2. Dialogue Journal: 5 entries are due on Fri. Oct.22

5 additional entries are due on Fri. Oct. 29
(see below for explanation of “Dialogue Journals”)

Requirements:
“A” Level: You read and write on The Catcher in the Rye (see separate instructions)
--At least 10 passages and responses
--Responses are at least 150 words in length
--Word Count is included
--Neatly written or TYPED
--Your journals are handed in ON TIME
--Page numbers are provided for all passages quoted

“B” Level: You read and write on Part-Time Indian

--At least 10 passages and responses
--Responses are at least 150 words in length
--Word Count is included
--Neatly written or TYPED
--Your journals are handed in ON TIME
--Page numbers are provided for all passages quoted

“C” Level: You read and write on Part-Time Indian

--At least 8 passages and responses
--Responses are at least 100 words in length
--Word Count is included
--Neatly written or TYPED
--Your journals are handed in ON TIME
--Page numbers are provided for all passages quoted
 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Dialogue Journal Instructions
Instructions for taking notes on the novel. Worth 50 points

Use a “Dialogue Journal” format to collect passages and your responses to them (see
DO NOT write your dialogue journal in your
below.)
composition notebook. Write it on loose-leaf
paper (or type it) that can be handed in to me.
Passages My thoughts and comments

Can you imagine what would have
happened to me if I’d turned around and gone
back to the rez school?
I would have been pummeled. Mutilated.
Crucified.
You can’t just betray your tribe and then
change your mind ten minutes later. I was on a
one-way bridge. There was no way to turn
around, even if I wanted to.
“Just remember this,” my father said.
“Those white people aren’t better than you.”
But he was wrong. And he knew he was
wrong. He was the loser father of a loser
Indian son living in a world built for winners.
Page 55
This happens when Arnold’s dad is driving him to
Reardan High School for his first day. Rowdy
punched Arnold when Arnold told him that he was
going to leave the rez to go to school in town with
the white kids. Arnold knows that he can’t go back
now because he is seen as somehow betraying his
people by going off the rez.
I think it is sad that he feels like the only way he
will be able to achieve his dreams and overcome the
poverty and loser mentality on the rez is to go
against his own people. You would think that
people would support each other when they try to
better their lives. But I guess if one person does
better than those around him, that makes those
people have to take a look at themselves and see
how poor their lives are and that they COULD
change if they wanted to. I think sometimes people
get trapped into thinking that there aren’t options
and then they get used to being victims. Arnold is
trying to change that for himself, and unfortunately
that means that he is seen as someone who is
betraying his community.

WORD COUNT: 198

Due Dates: First 4-5 passages are due on Friday, October 22

All of the passages are due on: Friday, October 29