1. FLIP TO THE BACK OF YOUR COMPOSITION BOOK AND START YOUR LIST ON THE FRONT OF YOUR LAST PAGE. “To Read” List

2. Event Map Activity

3. Sherman Alexie How is he a “teller of truths”? What truths has he shared with us so far?

4. Tell Your Truth Write down one truth you think that all people should be aware of. My Example: There is a mix of good and bad in every person’s life, and we only see what that person chooses to show.

5. “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” What kind of story is it? What event is it built around?

6. What Truths Did You Find?

7. Telling Truth Comes Down to Two Questions: What makes us human? What forms our reality?

8. What Does Alexie Use to Tell Truth? Questions Memories Prophesies Actions/Reactions Events

9. What Syntax Does He Use? Simple sentences Separate from rest of story/paragraph (out of no where)  Broken up Questions  Makes reader think/decide for self  You take it in States something simply, then grows that into a deeper meaning  Compound sentences Italicizes strange/important speakers

10. An Odyssey (A Journey) What makes up an Odyssey?  A mission that requires a journey  A hero  Challenges along the way  A truth discovered  A home to leave/return to

11. Write a short Odyssey Can be serious or silly, but must:  Be two pages or less  Begin with a mission  Include challenges  Uncover your truth  Show how the main character arrives home changed As you are writing, consider your syntax:  How is the best way to structure the sentences you use to tell your truth? Are they long? Short? Questions? Statements? Written in all caps? Written as a list?

12. Share your Story Turn to the person next to you and swap stories Make note of the truth that exists in the other person’s story (don’t have them check it) Make note of the syntax the other person uses (Make sure both partners do this)

13. Share Out We’ll hear three different odysseys and see if we can identify the truth and use of syntax in each

14. Tonight for Homework: Reread the short story and identify all of the places where Alexie’s characters “tell truths” Describe the kind of sentences Alexie uses (syntax) and explain: is this the most effective way to tell these truths? Why or why not?

15. Homework We’ve read Sherman Alexie through a variety of different genres (essay, poetry, short story, and film) Which genre do you find him most effective in? Least effective in? Why?