Posted: January 20th, 2016

novel: The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

novel: The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Topic: Overcoming racism

Requirements

Write a research paper that is a minimum of 5-6 pages in length and submit it in proper APA format, including cover page, in-text citations, and reference page.
Incorporate a strong thesis that is placed as the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.
Include quotes from the primary as well as a few secondary sources. (Primary sources are by the author, while secondary sources are critical books and essays about the author.)
Assertion: Be sure to present a strong argument that ends with a solid conclusion. This means that you will repeat your thesis and add your final thoughts or end with a strong quote.
Utilize the excellent resources…no .com/no Wikipedia…use academic journals

**This was an idea for an opening paragraph/thesis given to me by someone…feel free to use and/or “tweak” to fit the paper.

Arnold Spirit Jr., better known as Junior, is the main character in Sherman Alexie’s novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Junior is an intelligent fourteen-year-old Native American teenager that struggles to overcome racism brought about by his culture. The story is written with a humorous tone; however, the message of the novel is tragic. Society’s view of their race has grown to expect the Native American’s to fail, which in turn discourages them, strips them of their of their hope, and they continue to live in their poverty. Junior, who is the exception in Sherman Alexie’s novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, finds the courage to leave the reservation with hope of a better future. He does so even though he knows he will be faced with racism in the “White world”, to prove society wrong.

“We were supposed to make you give up being Indians. Your songs and stories and language and dancing. Everything. We weren’t trying to kill Indian people. We were trying to kill Indian culture.” (p. 35)