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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indianby Sherman Alexie
Novel Reading Assessment – Extended Constructed Response (RACE + CE + CE)
Directions:
Step 1 – Read the list of topics found in the novel.
Identity formation
Home
Racism/Race
Escaping Poverty
Mortality
Friendship
Hopes & Dreams
Education
Family
Traditions & Customs
Isolation
Loss
Loneliness
Self-Esteem
Fitting In
Stereotyping
Being an individual versus a member of a community
Step 2 – Prewriting and outlining- Complete the outline graphic organizer on pages 3 and 4 of this handout.
Use one of the topics from the list above to create a central idea/theme statement. Answer the question, “What
significant idea does the author, Sherman Alexie, repeat throughout the book about one of the topics?” Think about the
question, “Why does this novel matter?”
WRITING PROMPT:
Determine and state a central idea or theme developed throughout the WHOLE novel. Cite at least three
pieces of evidences (quotes + page numbers) from the beginning, middle, and end of the novel. Explain how
each quote supports your central idea/theme statement. Use 6 sentences to after each quote to explain
how your evidence/quote supports the central idea/theme statement.
Restate the prompt and answer it with your central idea/theme statement.
Use cite and explain X3. This will be like three Reading Response Entries. Make each piece of evidence its own
paragraph by using transitions and indenting.
An effective written response will be one that…
 perceptively and insightfully determines a central idea/theme based on its development over the
course of the whole text;
 perceptively identifies three or more strong, specific pieces of evidence relevant to a central
idea/theme from important and/or challenging parts of the text (best quotes not easy ones); and
 insightfully and thoroughly explains how each piece of evidence supports a central idea/theme.
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CENTRAL IDEA/THEME ANALYSIS SCORING GUIDE
1) Ideas: I can determine a theme and analyze its development over the course of a text.
4
Significant and
insightful
understanding of the
entire text’s theme.
3
Identifies an accurate
but more obvious
theme based on a
majority of the text.
2
Identifies a theme based
on a part of the text
and/or misses important
ideas.
1
Identifies a theme that
shows misunderstanding
of the text OR relies on
personal opinion.
0
No judgment can be
made about the writer’s
understanding of theme.
2) Development A: I can cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support my understanding of theme.
4
Identifies two or
more insightful,
specific pieces of
evidence.
Quotes and details
demonstrate
attention to more
difficult or less
obvious parts of text.
3
Identifies two relevant
and specific pieces of
evidence.
2
Identifies evidence that is
only partly relevant and
insufficient.
Quotes and details are
more obvious or may
not be the strongest
evidence available.
Quotes and details are
too short or may not
include enough original
text to support a theme.
1
Identifies insufficient
evidence that may
contradict a theme OR
that is irrelevant.
0
No specific details are
provided.
Quotes and details are
minimal and
demonstrate little
understanding of the
text.
3) Development B: I can thoroughly explain and connect my evidence to support a theme.
4
All evidence from the
text is followed by
insightful and
thorough explanations
relating quotes/details
to the theme
identified.
3
Most evidence from
the text is followed by
accurate explanation
relating quotes/details
to the theme
identified.
2
Some evidence from the
text is followed by
accurate but
underdeveloped
explanations, OR the
explanations are unclear,
OR merely paraphrase or
summarize the evidence.
1
Evidence is inaccurately
or irrelevantly
explained.
0
No explanations are
provided.
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SAMPLE STRUCTURE AND PARAGRAPHING FOR CENTRAL IDEA/THEME
EXTENDED CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE
Student Writer
Fisher-Reed
English 2
28 October 2015
The theme is the book Tuesdays with Morrie is the hard times should be used to learn from and to
teach others instead of being dwelt upon.
In the beginning of the book, a character named Morrie is slowly dying from the harsh disease known
as ALS. ALS is going to take Morrie’s ability to move, speak, eat away from him. In his past and present,
Morrie has gone through some pretty tough experiences. But these upsetting moments do not tie Morrie down.
Instead he uses these times to learn from and teach others how to get through their mistakes and how to live
freely with a clear chest. For example, on page 21, Morrie is starting an interview with Ted Koppel, the host of
“Nightline”, about how he has a stabilized positive outlook of dying. Morrie says, “Ted,” he said, “when all this
started, I asked myself ‘Am I going to withdraw from the world, like most people do, or am I going to live?’ I
decided I’m going to live--or at least try to live--the way I want, with dignity, with courage, with humor, with
composure” (Albom 21). Morrie has the realization that the time he has is ticking and he only has a couple of
months left on Earth. He does not let this concept shut him down with fear or worrisome. Instead, Morrie uses
these last few months to live and experience the time he has left. He is not dwelling, but he is trying to make an
impact and teach the others to not fear death, hence why he is doing the broadcast.
There is another example of the theme in the middle of the book. On page 81, while Morrie is doing a
Tuesday session with Mitch about death, Morrie says, “Yes. But there’s a better approach. To know you’re
going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. That’s better. That way you can actually be more involved in
your life while you’re living” (Albom 81). Morrie is using his knowledge on pain, suffering, and death to help
teach Mitch, his former college student, know what to do when he is dying. With Morrie’s advising words, Mitch
will not have to go through all of the thinking and studying on how to act or feel during his last moments with
life. Instead, Mitch will be able to live happily and not be swarmed by the fear of dying, which Morrie had taught
him.
Lastly, toward the later part of the book, on page 163, Morrie is doing his last section of his Nightline
interview and evidence of the theme is present. He begins to discuss the topic of how he is feeling with his
clock almost up. He is reviewing his time with ALS when Morrie says, “Be compassionate,” Morrie whispered.
“And take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, this world would be so much better a
place” (Albom 163). Morrie is overviewing his realizations from dying. He is taking any last breath to teach
others how to make themselves happier, have more knowledge on death, family, money, love, friendships and
more. He has not taken one second to dwell or sink down about dying or leaving everything behind. He is
taking death and twisting it into a learning and meaningful experience for not just himself but the other
surrounding him. He is protecting his family and friends emotions for overflowing with Morrie’s death and future
deaths as well.
If one takes too much time to focus on mistakes or hardships, one will never get the experience to live
happily and make more space to create happier memories. People will die sad and live unhappy lives. That is
why with the hard times in life,, problems should be used to learn from and teach others instead of dwelling on.
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Central Idea/Theme RACE (CE) (CE)
Extended Constructed Response Outline Graphic Organizer
Restate and Answer the question by turning it into a statement and answering all parts of the question.
A major theme in Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, is…
Draft here:
Cite Evidence #1 from first half of book
Toward the beginning, on page…
In an early chapter entitled “…” on page…
Draft here:
Explain evidence #1
This shows…
This means…
This illustrates…
This reveals…
Draft here:
Cite Evidence #2 from the middle of the book
Later in the middle of the novel, (character name) states on page…,
Toward the middle in a chapter entitled “…” on page…
Draft here:
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Explain evidence #2
This shows…
This means…
This illustrates…
This illuminates…
Draft here:
Cite Evidence #3 from the last chapters of the book
Finally, in the end, on page…, (character) reveals…
As the novel concludes in a chapter called “…” on page…,
Draft here:
Explain evidence #3
This shows…
This means…
This illustrates…
This exemplifies…
Draft here:
Conclusion – Restate your theme statement in other words to wrap-up your writing.
Draft here:
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