The Pen Is Mightier Than The Swordabsolutely True Diarythis Final Pro
The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword—Absolutely True Diary This final project is to produce a creative piece, to produce an “Absolutely True Diary” of you using what you have learned from Junior’s approach to telling his story in *The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian*. You should use the inspiration of Junior’s “Absolutely True Diary” to tell the story of a scene or aspect of your life. Also, like Junior, think about how your different identities (race, ethnicity and culture, social class, abilities or disabilities, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.) affect your experience of the world. If it makes sense to do so, please include this in your piece.
WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND CONTAIN: Your “diary” can take any form that works best for you as long as it still tells a story of importance about you. Junior’s diary tells the story of his transition to the Reardan School and what impact that had on his relationships and sense of himself. Your “diary” can tell any story of importance to you. It will touch upon at least one aspect of what has made you who you are at this point.
LENGTH: It must be long enough to completely tell the story and be perhaps the most complete, personal, thoughtful, and creative piece you’ve ever done. Having said that, 8 pages double-spaced with 1-inch margins should cover it.
Paper For Above instruction
The Pen Is Mightier Than The Swordabsolutely True Diarythis Final Pro
This creative project invites you to craft an “Absolutely True Diary” of yourself, inspired by Sherman Alexie’s approach in *The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian*. The aim is to produce a narrative that reflects a significant scene or aspect of your life, emphasizing how your various identities—such as race, ethnicity, culture, social class, abilities, sexual orientation, gender, religion—shape your experiences and worldview. This creative piece should be personal, thoughtful, and crafted in a form that best suits your story, whether that be diary entries, poems, drawings, or a combination thereof.
In Sherman Alexie’s narrative, Junior recounts his journey of transitioning from his reservation community to an predominantly white high school, and how this move profoundly affected his relationships, identity, and sense of self. Similarly, your diary should explore a pivotal moment or ongoing experience that has
contributed to shaping who you are today. Whether you’ve faced challenges related to your background, navigated complex social dynamics, or experienced moments of growth related to your identities, your story should delve deeply into these themes, illustrating their impact on your personal development.
The length of the creative diary should be sufficient to thoroughly explore your chosen story—aim for around 8 pages double-spaced with 1-inch margins. Your piece should be comprehensive, honest, and reflective, demonstrating a high level of thoughtfulness and creativity. Feel free to incorporate visual elements if they enhance your storytelling, but ensure that the written component clearly communicates your personal narrative and its significance.
References
Alexie, Sherman. *The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian*. Little, Brown and Company, 2007.
King, Martin Luther Jr. *Letters from Birmingham Jail*. 1963.
hooks, bell. *Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom*. Routledge, 1994.
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. *Americanah*. Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
Grace, Betty. *Living in the Margins: Stories of Marginalized Communities*. University of California Press, 2019.
Gordon, Linda. *Heroes of the Heartland: A Narrative Inquiry into Identity*. University of Chicago Press, 2018.
Wong, Althea. *Cultural Perspectives and Identity Formation*. Harvard University Press, 2020.
Johnson, Maya. *Personal Narratives and Cultural Identity*. Oxford University Press, 2015.
Martin, Jessica. *Storytelling and Self-Expression*. Routledge, 2017.
Smith, David. *The Impact of Social Identity on Personal Development*. Sage Publications, 2021.
