Things Fall Apart

ActivitiesLai

English II

Bell Ringer: Think About… what do we, in our

American culture, consider “success”? Think of some examples of “successful” people in our culture. What does this tell us about our values?

Pair… Find a partner in your group to share with.

Share… your thoughts on this topic with your partner and be prepared to share with the class.

Think-Pair-Share

Adam, Joshua, Jade, Markesheya Sarah, Joshua, Anuli, Andrew Sydney, Will, Harolyn

2nd Pd Groups

Kelsie, Milka, Zigh, Lanie Jillian, Andrew, Alex, Aria Lanie, Michelle, Ayana, Noah Sarah, Reggie, Joel Alexis, Brandon, Mikala, Julia Lilly, Kira, Lizzie, Ash Natalia, Brenner, Kerry, Broaderick

3rd Pd Groups

Delia, Mac, Daniel, Michaela Grace, Jack, Bryan Raina, Savannah, Alvin Mariah, Bianca, Htoo

5th Pd Groups

Essential Question: What does success look

like in the Igbo culture? Using Chapters 1-4, find a quote that shows

Okonkwo has achieved success and status. Next, find a quote that shows Okonkwo

contradicting his “nobility”. Hint: Ch. 4 is a good starting point

Share these examples with your group. Record answers.

Okonkwo: a Man of Prestige

Each group member will be assigned a character

based on your colored sticker on the desk. Pink- Okonkwo (1-7) Yellow- Ekwefi (Ch. 9) Purple- Ezinma (Ch. 5) Green- Ikemefuna (Ch. 7) White- Nwoye (Ch. 7)

Character Portrayal

Write the character name in the middle of the card and

circle it. Top Left: write 3 words to describe that character. Top Right: Give a quote from the novel that supports

your description. Bottom Left: Predict what will happen to your character. Bottom Right: Draw an illustration of your character. Share your character descriptions with your group. Write your name on the back and turn it in to the inbox.

You will be graded on all the required components.

Characters Cont…

Now that we have completed the novel, revisit the

culture wheel on pg. 154 of your packet. Work with your new neighbors to fill out any new

information

Culture Wheel

Culture

Language Law

Sports, games

Religion

Food, music, art, dance

Ceremony

Clothing

Gender roles

Respond to the following question in

your journals: Can one culture be “right” and another

culture “wrong”? Explain your answer

Journal

Complete the culture comparison chart on pg. 179 of your packets.

Ibo Culture vs. American

Ibo Belief or Practice Modern American Belief or Practice

Make sure you have all required pages of your

packet completed for tomorrow: Study Guide 154 155 157 159 162 174 177 179

Packet

Get your SB books from the shelf. Open to pg. 193 Choose a character from the novel to write

your essay over. Okonkwo Nwoye Ezinma

On your chart, write down page numbers where you find details about your character.

Literary Analysis Essay

Get out your charts from

yesterday. I will be coming around to

check that they are completed. Don’t forget to include page

numbers of the details you use in your responses.

Warm-up

What is a thesis statement?

It is the guiding focus for your entire essay. It is the main or controlling point for your

whole paper. Everything in your essay should support your

thesis. The thesis appears early on to help guide your

reader through the points you will be making. Nothing should appear in the body of the

paper that does not directly connect to the thesis statement.

A Good Thesis Statement…

Includes your opinion (but stated as a fact)

Contains only one main idea

States something worthwhile—not obvious

Has an argument built into it

Is specific It is narrow enough

to fit the assignment

It is easily recognized as the main idea

It appears as the last sentence or two of your introduction

Thesis Statement Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t just announce your subject matter.

Don’t state a fact or statistic—a thesis must be debatable.

Don’t use “in my opinion” or “I think”; this creates a non-debatable thesis.

Don’t form your thesis as a question.

What does the author seem to say about the

outcomes when different cultures meet? Craft a thesis that reflects your interpretation of the novel’s theme focusing on your character’s perspective.

Okonkwo: Through Okonkwo’s struggle and eventual death, Chinua Achebe shows how one culture “falls apart” when another culture forces them to assimilate.

Nwoye: Using Nwoye as an example of a cultural conversion, Achebe displays the opportunities another culture can offer to those unhappy in their current circumstances.

Thesis Examples

Get out rough drafts for me to check. Pass them to the student behind you. Round 1: Read your classmate’s introduction

paragraph. Do they have an engaging hook to begin their essay (a

quote, definition, anecdote…)? If not, make a note on their paper to add a hook or make it

more engaging. Does their hook connect to their thesis statement? It

can’t be any random idea; it must relate to cultural collision or their character somehow. If not, make a note to revise their hook.

Peer-Editing

Find and highlight their Thesis Statement.

Make sure it is located at the end of the introduction.

It should answer the question on Achebe’s message about cultural clashes through their chosen character.

If it does not answer the prompt or include their character, make a note to revise their thesis.

Pass it to the next student behind you.

Round 1 cont…

Read their first body paragraph.

Does it describe their chosen character BEFORE the white men arrived?

Do they include specific examples and references to their character from part 1?

Do they cite the page numbers of these examples at the end of those sentences? Example: Okonkwo is described as a very violent

and short-tempered man early on in the novel (4). If you note any errors, make a note on their

essay. Pass it behind you again.

Round 2: Body

Read their 2nd Body Paragraph.

Does it describe their character’s response to the white men’s arrival in Part 2 and 3?

Do they include specific examples and references to their character from Part 2 and 3?

Do they cite the page numbers of these examples at the end of those sentences? Example: Okonkwo is clearly opposed to the white

man’s government as evident in his choice to kill a court messenger (204).

If you note any errors, make a note on their essay. Pass it behind you one more time.

Round 3: Body

Read your classmate’s conclusion paragraph.

Do they re-emphasize their Thesis Statement? They should NOT repeat it verbatim.

Do they summarize their main points to answer they question of “so what”?

Does it give the essay a sense of completeness? If not, make suggestions or comments on their

essay. Pass it back to the original owner.

Round 4: Conclusion