Assignment 13, Chapters 7-9

Desert Solitaire, Chapters 7-9

Terms and Concepts: Chapters 7 and 8 introduce us to some of the characteristic people of this desert region, the cowboy and the Indian. Both are adapted to the desert biome in much the same way as the other animals of the desert. As you follow the story of the two cowboys, Roy Scobie and Viviano Jacquez, try to find in them the unique character traits that fit this solitary and harsh environment. Understand how thier personalities are suited for their life and work in the desert, but would be a difficult match for the suburban/urban life most of us are familiar with. The same could be said of the American Indian, but history has dealt these people a cruel blow that many have never recovered from. Appreciate the difficult time most Indians have trying to maintain their culture and life in our Western culture at the same time. Understand the intended role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and their actual negative impact on Indians life. Be aware of the similarities and the differences in the plight of American Indians compared to other poverty stricken and disenfranchised people in this country. Chapter 9 is all about water. Water takes on a level of importance to the inhabitants of the desert unlike anywhere else. We use gallons of water every day without any real thought of the amount we use, its quality, or where it comes from. All of these factors become critical to people and other organism in the desert. Read this ninth chapter in an effort to understand the critical importance of water in the daily life of individuals and the subtle ways people think about the various properties of water in the desert. Reading: Due 25 February. First Draft: Due 27 February. Comments: Due 2 March. Final Draft: Due 4 March. Essay: This assignment is a character description. Write a one page essay describing the "typical" cowboy. What kind of person is he at work, at home, and as a spouse. Use the characters of Scobie and Jacquez as your guide, but try to come up with a single profile of the typical cowboy. Conclude your essay with a discussion of what aspects of their character do you and don't you admire and why? Watch a "cowboy" movie staring Clint Eastwood, John Wane, Robert Redford, or Brad Pitt. Avoid the comedy movies that some of these actors have done. Then using the information you compiled for the first part of this essay and our class discussion, describe how the image of the "typical" cowboy hero in the movie matches the picture of the "real" cowboys described by Abbey. You must use specific examples from the movie and book to support the points you make in your essay.

Photographs of the Havasupai indian woman and the "real" cowboy from Old Pictures.