Webquest: The Absolutely True DIary of a Part-Time Indian

If I were to be hired as an 8th grade teacher next year, I would like to have my class read The Absolutley True Diary of A Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.  I would consider using activities from this webquest which I found online: http://sites.google.com/site/hannaswebquest/Home .  This webquest asks students to compare and contrast the main characters life with that of a real teenager growing up on a reservation.  Students will have to write journalistic articles on two topics: Indian Reservation Schools & Alcoholism in Americans.  In order to write these articles students will have to use online reference sites and critically question Alexie’s depiction of the the two topics.  The task gives a number of online resources that students will need to use to determine how true to life Alexie’s depiction of the Wellpinit reservation is in the book.  This activity is good for my students because it asks them to process information from various sources, as well as question another source of information.  Hopefully asking students to question stereotypes with this exercise will add to their critical analysis of the text.  In addition this activity will develop students’ comparative writing skills as they will be asked to compare and contrast what they have found online with information found in the novel.  Lastly, the activity incorporates technology in an authentic way asking students take on the role of a journalist, and to present their understanding in the form of an article.  A nice thing about this webquest is that it adjusts the tasks for different grade levels.