Things Fall Apart

1. Things Fall Apart Activities Lai English II

2. Think-Pair-Share • 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.

3. 2ndPd Groups • Adam, Joshua, Jade, Markesheya • Sarah, Joshua, Anuli, Andrew • Sydney, Will, Harolyn

4. 3rd 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

5. 5thPd Groups • Delia, Mac, Daniel, Michaela • Grace, Jack, Bryan • Raina, Savannah, Alvin • Mariah, Bianca, Htoo

6. Okonkwo: a Man of Prestige • 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.

7. Character Portrayal • 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)

8. Characters Cont… • 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.

9. Culture Wheel • 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 Language Law Culture Sports, games Clothing Gender roles Religion Food, music, art, dance Ceremony

10. Journal • Respond to the following question in your journals: • Can one culture be “right” and another culture “wrong”? Explain your answer

11. Ibo Culture vs. American Complete the culture comparison chart on pg. 179 of your packets.

12. Packet • Make sure you have all required pages of your packet completed for tomorrow: • Study Guide • 154 • 155 • 157 • 159 • 162 • 174 • 177 • 179

13. Literary Analysis Essay • 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.

14. Warm-up • 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.

15. 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.

16. 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 A Good Thesis Statement…

17. 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.

18. Thesis Examples • 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.

19. Peer-Editing • 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.

20. Round 1 cont… • 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.

21. Round 2: Body • 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.

22. Round 3: 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.

23. Round 4: Conclusion • 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.