Working with “superman and me” by Sherman Alexie
1. Number each paragraph 1-8
Paragraph 1:
2. Find where Alexie uses a compare/contrast technique.
3. Find a short sentence within the paragraph.
4. Identify the types of nouns used in the second prepositional phrase of this
sentence: “We lived on a combination of irregular paychecks, hope, fear and
government surplus food.”
5. Mimic the sentence in number 4 by including a prepositional phrase with a
combination of tangible and intangible nouns.
Paragraph 2:
6. Find a short sentence within the paragraph.
7. What insight does Alexie share about himself when he describes why he decided
to love books?
Paragraph 3:
8. Find a short sentence within this paragraph.
9. Find a metaphor (figurative language that compares two things without using
like or as).
10. Find something that Alexie reveals about his family subtly.
Paragraph 4:
11. Find a short sentence within this paragraph.
Paragraph 5:
12. Find where Alexie uses repetition to point out contrast.
13. What is crafty about this sentence: “He grows into a man who often speaks of his
childhood in the third-person, as if it will somehow dull the pain and make him
sound more modest about his talents.”
Paragraph 6:
14. What is ironic about the first sentence of paragraph 6 in light of the last sentence
of paragraph 5?
15. What is crafty about this sentence: “They wanted me to stay quiet when the nonIndian teacher asked for answers, for volunteers, for help.”
16. Find four sentences that use parallel structure.
Paragraph 7:
17. Find 4 short sentences in a row.
18. How many sentences begin with “I read”?
Paragraph 8:
19. Find a phrase that is repeated though there may be slight variations.
20. Find three sentences in a row that begin with the following parallel construction:
[Third person plural] [verb].
21. Find three examples of rhetorical questions.
22. How many sentences from paragraph 7 are repeated in paragraph 8?
23. What is the SUBJECT of this essay? What is the PURPOSE of this essay?