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Lesson 10

We will analyze how external factors contribute to the development of Okonkwo’s character.

Lesson Goals

Reading and Knowledge

  • Analyze Relationships: How well do I analyze and demonstrate an understanding of the significance of interactions between Okonkwo and his father?
  • Gather and Organize Evidence: How well do I gather and organize relevant and sufficient evidence to demonstrate an understanding of the main character in a text?
  • Determine Meaning and Purpose: How well do I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about Achebe’s perspective, purpose, and meaning in Things Fall Apart?

Writing

  • Form Claims: How well do I develop and clearly communicate meaningful and defensible claims about Okonkwo that represent valid, evidence-based analysis?
  • Develop Ideas: How well do I use devices, techniques, descriptions, reasoning, evidence, and visual elements to support and elaborate on coherent and logical narratives, explanations, and arguments?
  • Organize Ideas: How well do I sequence and group sentences and paragraphs and use devices, techniques, descriptions, reasoning, and evidence to establish coherent, logical, and well-developed explanations?
  • Use Conventions to Produce Clear Writing: How well do I apply correct and effective syntax, usage, mechanics, and spelling to communicate ideas and achieve intended purposes?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, Penguin Random House, 1994

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Write

We get ready to complete the Section Diagnostic.

Review the prompt on the Section 1 Diagnostic Checklist.

Review your work from Section 1 to help you gather ideas for your Section Diagnostic.

  • Review your responses to the Section 1 Question Set, and your tools or notes from this section.

  • Review your Vocabulary Journal. Identify a significant word or words that you would like to use in your response to the Section Diagnostic.

  • Review your Mentor Sentence Journal. Select at least one technique that you plan to use when writing your response to the Section Diagnostic.

Activity 2: Read – Write

We will complete the Section Diagnostic.

Individually, complete the Section Diagnostic:

Write a multiparagraph analysis of the external influences on Okonkwo's character. In your response, consider how Okonkwo’s character is shaped or influenced by his father.

In your response, be sure to provide evidence from the text to support your ideas.

Activity 3: Write

We will revise our responses to ensure that our work is appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience.

Independently review, revise, and edit your response, paying attention to how clearly you have communicated your ideas. Use the Section 1 Diagnostic Checklist to review and revise your response.

Activity 4: Write

We will reflect on our work on the Section Diagnostic and assess our progress toward the Culminating Task.

Step 1

Choose at least three of the questions below and respond to them in your Learning Log:

  1. How well did you take necessary action to prepare for the task?

  2. What went well for you during the completion of this task?

  3. What did you struggle with during the completion of this task? How did you push through that struggle?

  4. How well did you actively focus your attention during this independent task?

  5. How well did you develop and use an effective and efficient process to maintain workflow during this task?

  6. What would you do differently during the next Section Diagnostic?

Review your Culminating Task Progress Tracker. Think about all you have learned and done during this section of the unit. Evaluate your skills and knowledge to determine how prepared you are for the Culminating Task.

  • Add or refine any skills and content knowledge required for the Culminating Task.

  • Evaluate how well you are mastering skills and knowledge required for the Culminating Task.

Step 2

Review the Central Question of the unit:

What does it mean for things to fall apart?

Use the following questions to guide a discussion with a partner or small group:

  1. What new knowledge do you have that relates to the Central Question?

  2. What are you still curious about that relates to the Central Question?

  3. What is the relationship between the Central Question and the texts you have read so far? How do the texts shed light on the question? How does the question help you understand the texts?

  4. How has your response to the question evolved, deepened, or changed?

In your Learning Log, write your response to Question 3. You will return to this response in later lessons to examine how your understanding of the Central Question has evolved.