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Question
Answer the following question in about 120-150 words.
A grown up Zitkala-Sa, reflects on the incident about cutting of her long hair and is conflicted that she did not do enough to resist and surrendered easily. She also wonders if she could have tried something else to prevent the incident.
As the grown-up Zitkala-Sa, create a diary entry, expressing these thoughts and conclude by absolving yourself of any blame.
You may begin like this:
I find myself reflecting on an event that happened many years ago…
Solution
Dear Diary
I find myself reflecting on an event that happened many years ago, one that has continued to haunt me ever since. It is the incident where my long hair was forcefully cut off at the Carlisle Indian School. As I sit here today, I cannot help but feel conflicted about my actions that day.
On one hand, I am proud that I stood up for myself and refused to submit to their demands at first. I remember the fire in my belly as I declared that I would struggle before giving in. However, as time passed, my spirit wavered, and eventually, I allowed them to cut my hair. Looking back now, I cannot help but feel that I gave in too easily, that I did not do enough to resist.
As I ponder over what I could have done differently, I realize that there might have been other options. Perhaps I could have sought help from my fellow students. Maybe I could have tried to escape or find another way out of the situation. But in that moment, I was so overwhelmed and confused that I could not think straight.
I know that I have blamed myself for this incident for far too long. But today, I choose to absolve myself of any blame. As a young girl, I forced into a strange place. I was not given the chance to make my own choices, to decide what was best for me. I was a victim of a system that sought to strip away my identity and forced me to assimilate.
Today, I choose to forgive myself and honour the brave little girl who stood up for herself that day. I am grateful for her courage and strength, and I will continue to honour her memory by fighting for justice and equality for all.
Zitkala-Sa
Notes
Content - 2 Marks
⇒ Full credit for sustained, clear, well-developed personal response to the task that appropriately justifies any arguments
⇒ Partial credit of 1 ½, 1 and ½ as per the response clarity and relevance
Expression - 2 Marks
⇒ Full credit for effective organisation -structure, relevant vocabulary and effective relay of ideas
⇒ Partial credit of 1 ½, 1 and ½ as per the level of coherence and cohesion
Accuracy - 1 Mark
⇒ Full credit for none to minimal errors
⇒ Partial credit of ½ for spellings and/or grammatical, largely accurate
⇒ No credit for error density causing impediment in understanding
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