Vignette 7.3. Reading, Analyzing, and Discussing
Complex Texts in American Literature
Integrated ELA/Literacy, ELD, and History in Grade Eleven (cont.)Adriana: That’s not fair.
Ms. Robertson: What’s not fair?
Adriana: That’s not fair that they made the Cherokee nation leave so fast, or maybe
it’s not fair they made them leave their land at all—just because they
wanted the gold.
Ms. Robertson: Whose perspective is that?
Adriana: Mine?
Ms. Robertson: Okay, and what do you think the author’s perspective might be? Why don’t
you discuss that for a bit.
Ms. Robertson leaves the group for a few minutes to listen in on the other groups’
conversations. When she returns, the students are still discussing the fourth guiding question.
David: I think the author thinks the U.S. government treated the Cherokee
nation—all the Native Americans—unfairly.
Ms. Robertson: Can you say more about that?
David: Well, here it says that the Cherokees were supposed to be removed slowly,
in “gradual stages.” But they discovered gold on that land, so they wanted
to get them out fast and take the gold.
Chue: It seems like the author is looking down on that.
Ms. Robertson: Are there any words in particular give clues about what the author thinks?
Chue: We think when he uses the words “clamor” and “immediate wholesale
exodus,” it makes it sound like people were freaking out and telling the
government to get rid of all the Native Americans right away. To wipe
them all out. And he also uses quotation marks around “permanent Indian
frontier.” I think it’s like when you do air quotes. You’re saying it’s not really
that.
Adriana: And he also uses words to describe the Native Americans, like “shabby” and
“rusty” and “refugees.” So, that makes us think he feels more for the Native
Americans than the U.S. Government. He’s telling us how bad they had it,
how bad their experience was.
David: He sympathizes with them.
Ms. Robertson: Who sympathizes with whom?
David: The author sympathizes with the Native Americans, and he thinks the U.S.
Government treated them with injustice.
Adriana: I want to elaborate on what you said. I think he has the same perspective
as the Native Americans. I think he’s trying to show us what their
experience was like.800 | Chapter 7 Grades 11 and 12