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Lesson 6

We will participate in a Socratic Seminar about the novel’s main character, Okonkwo.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I work productively in various roles with other participants?

  • Can I use language and strategies to accomplish my intended purpose in communicating the characteristics of the main character?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will discuss the details surrounding ikemefuna’s death in order to understand Okonkwo’s character.

Listen as your teacher or one of your peers reads a passage from Chapter 7 aloud, starting with "One of the men behind him cleared his throat" on page 60 and continuing to the end of the chapter.

Using your copy of the Character Note-Taking Tool, respond to the following question with your group:

  1. What do we learn about Okonkwo during this scene?

Identify quotes that provide information about Okonkwo from the chapter.

Activity 2: Discuss

We will participate in a Socratic Seminar about Okonkwo’s character.

Step 1

You might be wondering what a Socratic Seminar is and why we conduct them.

A Socratic Seminar is a student-led dialogue in which participants use open-ended questions to gain a deeper and more robust understanding of the ideas and values in a text or the connections across multiple texts. The purpose of a seminar is not to argue for a particular view or interpretation, but to ask questions, posit your own thinking, listen to others' responses, and expand your views of the texts and topics. There is no leader in a Socratic Seminar. Each participant's voice is equal, and there are no experts.

Different perspectives and analyses of the texts are critical: they help all participants see multiple sides of complex ideas, issues, and topics, expanding everyone's understanding. During a seminar, it is important to pose questions that elicit discussion, not a simple right-or-wrong or yes-or-no answer.

As such, it is critical that questions in a Socratic Seminar are open-ended (they elicit multiple perspectives), thought-provoking (they challenge you to evaluate text and synthesize your ideas), and clear (they are easily understandable).

With your classmates, create norms for a Socratic Seminar.

Step 2

Consider the chapters you have read so far. Write two open-ended, thought-provoking questions about Okonkwo’s character. Reference the following examples of strong question frames:

  • What do you think about _____?

  • What is the relationship between _____ and _____?

  • What do the texts say about _____?

  • What about this perspective do you agree or disagree with?

  • What significance is this to _____? If _____ is true, then _____?

Below are questions to avoid:

  • questions that are too vague (these invoke uncertainty in other group members)

  • questions that are too general (these do not ensure understanding)

  • yes-or-no questions (these do not elicit discussion)

Step 3

In a small group, participate in a Socratic Seminar. Begin your discussion by responding to the following question:

  1. How does Achebe develop the character of Okonkwo?

Support your thoughts with evidence from the text.

Continue the discussion by asking your open-ended questions and responding to your peers’ questions. Remember to use textual evidence to support your responses and observations.

Activity 3: Write

We will reflect on our Socratic Seminar.

Respond individually to the following questions in your Learning Log:

  1. How did the seminar deepen your understanding of Okonkwo?

  2. What new questions emerged for you during the seminar?

  3. How will this discussion help you while reading the rest of Things Fall Apart?

Activity 4: Read

For homework, we will read chapters 8–9.

For homework, read Chapters 8-9 ofThings Fall Apart. Respond to the following questions from the Section 1 Question Set in your Learning Log:

Chapter 8:

  1. How is Okonkwo affected by the death of Ikemefuna?

  2. What does Obierika understand about Ndulue and Ozoemena’s relationship that Okonkwo doesn’t?

  3. How would the novel be different if Obierika were the protagonist instead of Okonkwo? Why isn’t he the protagonist?

Chapter 9:

  1. Why is Ezinma treated differently than other children?

  2. Define ogbanje. Why do you think Achebe includes the story of Ezinma’s iyi-uwa?

Write new or interesting words you encounter in Chapters 8-9 in your Vocabulary Journal.