The Literacy Autobiography is part summary and part personal response to Sherman Alexie’s short story, “Superman and Me Download Superman and Me” (“SM”). Originally published in 1997, “SM” is a personal story of Alexie’s relationship to reading as a young boy growing up on an Indian reservation. In the Literacy Autobiography, you will summarize Alexie’s short story and then use it as a springboard to narrate your own story, which will be formed by answering one of the response prompts provided below.
Paper Requirements:
5 full paragraphs meeting the following paper structure:
Summary/Introduction: Introductory paragraph that provides a summary of “SM.”
Response/Body Paragraphs: Three body paragraphs, written as a personal narrative that respond to one of the provided prompts. Using “SM” as an example text, these paragraphs should focus on your own personal story.
Conclusion: Concluding paragraph that provides readers with the overall significance of your experience (why it is valuable or meaningful).
APA style, including paper formatting (12-point, Times New Roman font, double spacing, indented paragraphs, page numbers, etc.), a title page, in-text citations, and a References page.
Class resources (weekly video and written lectures, assignments, and resources) provide instruction on each component of the Literacy Autobiography. Be sure to utilize your resources for a successful essay.
Response Prompts:
Choose one of the following prompts to guide the body paragraphs of your essay:
Influences: Alexie introduces his father as an early influencer of his literary development. Who has impacted your life in a similar way? Are there friends, family members, teachers, or other mentors who helped shape your introduction to reading, writing, or education? In what ways were these important?
Development as a Reader or Writer: Alexie describes his early experiences with books beginning with his interest in Superman comics, and then explains how he developed his understanding of a paragraph by relating it to the world around him. Do you have similar early memories of interacting with texts in specific ways? If so, what are those and how did they help influence your understanding or relationship to reading and/or writing?
Expectations: Alexie explains that there were certain expectations placed on children who lived on the reservation, which he challenged by breaking the stereotype. Have expectations been placed on you by family or society regarding your education? If so, how have you either challenged or lived up to that expectation?
Relationship with Education: Alexie shares that he visits as many classrooms as possible to encourage students to develop a love of reading. In this way, he demonstrates the value of education in impacting life in positive ways (in fact, he notes that it might “save” lives). What value do you place on education? In what ways might it impact your life?
Process:
You will work to build up to the final essay in stages following the goals of the writing process. These steps include:
Assignment 1: brainstorming summary points and response ideas
Assignment 2: drafting the introduction and body paragraphs
Assignment 3: drafting the complete essay in APA style
Assignment 4: finalizing the essay
Rubric
Literacy Autobiography
Literacy Autobiography
Criteria Ratings P
20 to >18.0 pts
Meets all expectations
The first paragraph clearly summarizes “SM (Superman and Me)” and provides a strong and relevant introduction to the essay.
18 to >16.0 pts
Meets most expectations
The first paragraph clearly summarizes “SM” but remains somewhat superficial and provides a relevant introduction.
16 to >14.0 pts
Meets some expectations
The first paragraph misses major points in the summary but provides an adequate introduction.
14 to >12.0 pts
Does not meet several expectations
The summary has serious omissions or issues of relevance and may not provide an adequate introduction.
12 to >0 pts
Little to no attempt apparent
The introduction raises serious concerns about accuracy and completeness of the summary or its adequacy as an introduction.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePurpose statement (thesis) (15 points)
15 to >14.0 pts
Meets all expectations
The last line of the introduction provides a clear, forceful, and direct statement that conveys student’s own relationship to education that the body of the essay will focus upon.
14 to >12.0 pts
Meets most expectations
The last line of the introduction provides a relevant statement that conveys student’s own relationship to education that the body of the essay will focus upon.
12 to >10.0 pts
Meets some expectations
The last line of the introduction provides an adequate statement that conveys student’s own relationship to education that the body of the essay will focus upon.
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