Bamboo People Summative Writing Task

Task: You will write four separate TEPAC paragraphs on different topics for this
assessment. The first three paragraphs have an assigned topic, and the fourth one you
may choose the topic you want to write about. Each paragraph should be around 250
words. You will have class time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next
week to complete this task.

● Be sure to use specific examples and quotations from the novel as evidence in
your answer.
● After you finish ALL of your writing, please answer the following questions:
○ Which paragraph do you think shows your best Analyzing?
■ 3 because I clearly explained how Mitali Perkins used this book to
describe the conflict between Myanmar and Burma.
○ Which paragraph do you think shows your best Organizing?
■ I think paragraph 1 because I clearly understand similar or
differences between those two and I organize those personalities
and analyses.
○ Which paragraph do you think shows your best Using Language?
■ 2 and 3 because I clearly organize TEPAC and described my words
and feelings to a good sentence.

Paragraph #1

Explain the ways that Chiko and Tu Reh are similar or different. You may consider their
personalities, their family or social surroundings, or the events that happen to each of
them in the book. Use examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Chiko is the main character of part 1 in Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins and Tu Reh is the

main character of part 2. Chiko is Burmese and Tu Reh is Karenni. Chiko and Tu Reh have

differences and similarities. But we must remember that Burmese and Karenni are enemies. In

part one, Chiko was a book-smart Burmese boy that “wants to be a teacher” (15). He is
 “fifteen” (41) and His dad was the “best doctor in Yangon” (55). Because his dad was a doctor,

Chiko is “one of the few boys who can read and write in Burmese and English” (p.5). His

country is Myanmar and they think that Karenni “wants to break our country apart and divide”

(48). Tu Reh is a “16” Karenni boy that is skilled and trained to be a soldier. He called Chiko

“Stupid Burmese soldier” and try to “kill him” (151). Karenni thinks that “ The Burmese will

stop at nothing. They will kill without remorse” (138). Basically, Tu Reh and Chiko has some

similarities, but there are more differences between those two. Especially when it comes

between Burmese and Karenni. These examples show you that Chiko and Tu Reh has some

similarities, but mostly many differences come from Burmese and Karenni. Burmese and

Karenni are enemies to each other and try to get rid of each other. In the end, Tu Reh and

Chiko became very close friends and Chiko returned to his home. But still, a conflict between

Burma and Karenni’s tension still continues.

Paragraph #2

Consider the statement of inquiry for our unit:

“The way we understand our reality is shaped by our
context and our group affiliations.”
Write a paragraph that explains how two different people or groups understand the
same aspect of reality differently because of their context or their group affiliations.

In Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins have many different perspectives from one to another.

Depending on their environment and situation, people or group’s aspects of reality can be

different. When Chiko was at the military Chiko thinks that soldiers he sees in the military

camp “enjoy being rough (55)”, On the other hand, Tai doesn’t think that that is rough and
says to Chiko “you call that rough? (55)”. Also, when Tai was going to escape from the

military camp, he asked Chiko “want to join me? (56)” and Chiko thinks that escaping might

cause trouble and says to Tai “are you crazy? (56)” Not even inside this book but in reality,

there are different perspectives. Like politics where different perspectives about something and

they argue each other that their perspective and opinion is correct. Also during the war,

countries have their own objective of this war. Like the Vietnam War where American thinks

they are the heroes and save the whole world from communism and Vietnam thinks that

Americans are trying to rule over their country. As these wars continue, there are different

perspectives also inside America. Like Hippies that don’t support the war and cares about

peace and love. Basically, Chiko and Tai talks about the same thing but have different

perspective about something. I think this is obvious because Chiko and Tai was born in a

different environment. In reality, these things happen always. These examples show you how

Chiko and Tai have 2 clearly different perspectives because of their environment and the

people around them. If Chiko was surrounded by his neighbors and kind people, Tai was

surrounded by people that aren’t very generous. From this, you can clearly understand that

people have different perspectives and tell their own opinion and share it with others.

Paragraph #3

Explain how the two sides in the conflict between the Karenni and the Burmese Army
have been shown so far in Bamboo People. What message or theme do you think Mitali
Perkins might be trying to show about the conflict?

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins, shows a conflict between the Burmese Army and Karenni.

Burmese Army and Karenni people had been enemies for long time and they both have a
different perspective about each other. In Bamboo People, there are Burmese Army and

Karenni. Burmese Army thinks that the Karenni’s mission is “to destroy our peace (48).”

While the Burmese Army thinks the Karenni are violent and destroying their peace, the

Karenni thinks that Burmese “kill without remorse (138).” Mitali Perkins said that “these

young soldiers are taught that the Karenni and the other ethnic groups are the cause of the

problems in their country (269).” Also, Mitali said that she “began to understand how tough

life is for Burmese soldiers (269).” Basically, Karenni and the Burmese Army had a different

perspective on each other. If the Burmese Army were violent and mean, the Karenni isn’t

rough and violent. Mitali Perkins wrote this book to tell the audience what is happening in

Myanmar and how tough it is being a Burmese teenager and how they are taught in the wrong

way. I think what Mitali Perkins is trying to tell us is how Burmese teenagers are taught in a

wrong way that causes more between the Burmese Army and othe ethnic groups. Also, Mitali

Perkins is trying to tell us the conflict between the government and the Karenni. I think that

Mitali Perkin wrote this book to show how people use power, violence, and prejudice.
Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

Criteria A - Analyzing
i. identify and comment upon significant aspects of texts
ii. identify and comment upon the creator’s choices
iii. justify opinions and ideas, using examples, explanations and terminology
iv. identify similarities and differences in features within the text.

Criteria B - Organizing
i. employ organizational structures that serve the context and intention
ii. organize opinions and ideas in a logical manner
iii. use referencing and formatting tools to create a presentation style suitable to the
context and intention.

Criteria D - Using Language

i. use appropriate and varied vocabulary, sentence structures and forms of expression
ii. write in an appropriate register and style
iii. use correct grammar, syntax and punctuation
iv. spell with accuracy