1. Choose ONE section from the text (The Way to Rainy Mountain) - there are 24 sections total.

2. Then, read, carefully the three distinct subparts (the myth/legend, the secular history, the personal memory).

3. Write a fourth part to the section - not more than a paragraph, and then explain (briefly) how you view (narration-wise) your choice/product.

4. Post the paragraph and the explanation here, on the blog. Then write it out as well in the JOURNAL noetbook.

5. Read other people's responses. Comment on them.

AMERICAN HORSE Assignments (5)

STEP Five

If you had your saying in it, what would be the last sentence of this story? Why?

Post your findings.

Also, keep a record in your notebook of all the five steps for further class discussion.

AMERICAN HORSE Assignments (1)


STEP One

After carefully reading this story (teacher only hopes this might be the case!), think of the impact it has left on you, as a contemporary reader. In a few sentences, describe what this story seems to you and why that might be the case.

For example, When reading Erdrich's story 'American Horse' I had the feeling... I could see/understand...

AMERICAN HORSE Assignments (4)

STEP Four

See if you could relate the imagery (descriptions of time/place/movement) of this story to imagery present in The Way to Rainy Mountain.

Do they (the distinct images) inter-relate? Do they share common ground? Or do they function as each other's binary oppositions? Or?

Post your comments.

AMERICAN HORSE Assignments (3)

STEP Three

Choose a character from this story. Think of how you might describe this character, through use of color and objects, rather than words (theirs and others) and action. Then, post your findings.

AMERICAN HORSE Assignments (2)

STEP Two

Read the thoughts/summaries of your classmates. Read them carefully. Then, write it down (in your notebooks, and post it as a comment on the blog).

September marks the beginning of OUR AMERICAN jOURNEY.

To those of you that still have internet access and are reading this (keeping track), please do the following task:

1. Take a piece of paper, not the world's largest paper (any bit that is not miniscule would do).

2. See if you can find an empty envelope; if not when you are done with the paper, you are simply to fold it.

3. On the paper, write down the following fragmented sentences, and try to complete/finish them:

America is...

The definitive American product is ...

An American is...

The typical American story would...