WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

gripping thought-provoking fast-moving heavy-goingdeadly dull

entertainingmoving

depressing implausible

FLIGHT BY SHERMAN ALEXIE

About the author•He was born on October 7, 1966 in the town of

Wellpinit on the Spokane Indian Reservation.• His father was a Coeur d’Alene Indian and his mother was a Spokane Indian.• He was born with hydrocephalus. • He was called “The Globe” by other children.• Educated in schools predominantly white. He graduated high school with honors. He started college.• He dropped out of university and worked as a busboy in Seattle.• He signed up for a poetry-writing workshop with Alex Kuo and there he discovered his potential as a writer.

http://www.spokanetribe.com/

Children of the sun

Quotations by the authorIf I write [a novel], it’s an Indian novel. If I wrote about Martians, it would be an Indian novel. If I wrote about the Amish, it would be an Indian novel. That’s who I am.

Quotations by the authorIt sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor.  You start believing you're poor because you're stupid and ugly.  And then you start believing that you're stupid and ugly because you're Indian.  And because you're Indian you start believing you're destined to be poor.  It's an ugly circle and there's nothing you can do about it. (Alexie,The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian)

Quotations by the authorI have come to the realization that many people have been reading literary fiction for the same reason they read mainstream fiction: for entertainment and a form of escape. I don’t want to write books that provide people with that. I want books that challenge, anger, and possibly offend.

topics in the novel

• violence• identity• loneliness• betrayal• social injustice • revenge• shame•forgiveness

MONOLOGUE ON ONE OF THE TOPICS

IntroductionMy name isI’m going to talk aboutFirst of all, I’ll talk aboutFirst of all, I’m going to explain how....Then, I’ll move to...

Finally, I’m going to give you my opinion about...BodyFrom my point of view...The advantages are...The disadvantages are...In my opinion...I’m sure that...However, I’d like to point out...Nevertheless, as you see here...I’d like to say...To illustrate this point..I agree with the idea...I don’t agree with the idea...Conclusion               To sum up...In conclusion...Let me summarise what I’ve just talked about...

POINTS TO ASSESS Variety and sophistication of grammar

used. Relevance and coherence of content. (do

not be repetitive) Fluency, pronunciation. Extent of vocabulary, variety and

appropriateness. (vocabulary from word bank and book)

Use of opinion expressions, linking words etc. 

DELIVER YOUR SPEECH

Put in some interesting facts to share with the listeners.

Remember:

Write your main ideas on index cards, a spare piece of paper, this will help you memorize your information.

Do not write details, and of course you shouldn’t be staring at the note cards during your speech.

It’s a good device to turn to in case you forgot what you wanted to say.

WRITE A BLURB FOR THE BACKCOVERA blurb is a short piece written about a product in order to interest people in it.

Identify the readers you wish to attractTry to draw interest by using descriptive

words and phrases to make your topic sound exciting, inviting and too good to miss!

Enthusiasm can enliven a blurb.

Caution: A blurb should never reveal so much that it spoils the experience of others.

Incude at least one quote from the work, which you feel is bound to draw in someone browsing in a bookshop.