Lesson 7

Lesson Goals

Texts

Core

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

• • “Igbo Culture and History,” Don Ohadike, 1994

Materials

Tools

• Mentor Sentence Journal

• Organizing Evidence Tool

• Vocabulary Journal

Reference Guides

• Academic Discussion Reference Guide
• Annotating and Note-Taking Reference Guide
• Questioning Reference Guide

Question Sets

• Things Fall Apart: Section 1 Question Set

Editable Google Docs

• Mentor Sentence Journal

• Organizing Evidence Tool

• Things Fall Apart: Section 1 Question Set

• Vocabulary Journal

Activity 1: Discuss – Write

We will review the words we wrote down for homework in our Vocabulary Journals and cement our understanding of their meanings.

In your group, compare the words you wrote down in your Vocabulary Journals. Select one word from each group and respond to the vocabulary exercises provided by your teacher.

Activity 2: Read

We will learn about Igbo women.

Step 1

Read and annotate “Women’s Associations” and “Secret Societies” with a small group. Respond to the following question:

1. In Things Fall Apart, what connections can you make to “Women’s Associations” and “Secret Societies” in addition to the ones noted in the essay? Cite evidence from both texts to support your answer.

In your group, choose one specific aspect of either women’s associations or secret societies that you have read about in Things Fall Apart and share them with the whole class.

Step 2

Consider how Achebe develops the female characters in the novel. In your group, choose one female character to analyze. For the character you have chosen, analyze how something you read about in “Women’s Associations” connects to her.

Step 3

Share your character analysis with the rest of your class.

Activity 3: Write

We will examine Okonkwo’s friend Obierika.

Listen as your teacher or one of your peers reads a passage aloud, starting on page 66 with "‘I cannot understand why you refused’’ and ending with "‘nor be the one to do it’" on page 67.

In your Learning Log, complete a quick-write to respond to the following quotation: "‘But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it’" (p. 67). As you write, consider how Obierika’s views are different from Okonkwo’s. How do you know? Cite evidence from the text to demonstrate the connection.

Activity 4: Discuss – Read

We will analyze the differences between Okonkwo and Obierika.

With your group, skim Chapter 8 and look for differences in opinion between Okonkwo and Obierika. Discuss the following question:

1. How does Achebe use Obierika to highlight aspects of Okonkwo’s personality?

Activity 5: Write

We will revise our quick-write to analyze how Achebe juxtaposes Okonkwo and Obierika.

Step 1

Consider the following questions as you reread your quick-write and jot new notes in the margin:

1. How does Obierika act as a foil to Okonkwo?

2. What is the impact of Achebe juxtaposing Obierika and Okonkwo?

Use your Organizing Evidence Tool to gather and organize your thoughts.

At the top of the tool, write your central claim or thesis.

Develop at least two supporting claims for your main claim. For each claim, provide evidence from the text. Then, analyze the evidence by explaining how the evidence supports the supporting claim and your central claim.

Step 2

Revise your quick-write to respond to the following questions:

1. How does Obierika act as a foil to Okonkwo?

2. What is the impact of Achebe juxtaposing Obierika and Okonkwo?

Activity 6: Read

We will read chapters 10–11 for homework.

For homework, read Chapters 10-11 of Things Fall Apart. Respond to the following questions from the Section 1 Question Set in your Learning Log:

Chapter 10:

1. What do you learn about the Igbo through the case of Odukwe?

2. What is the decision of the egwugwu? Do you agree with the decision? Explain.

Chapter 11:

1. A fable is a story, typically told with animals as characters, that contains a moral. What do you think is the moral of the tortoise story?

2. Chielo was introduced in Chapter 6 as a friend of Ekwefi. In her role as the priestess of Agbala, how is she different?

Write new or interesting words you encounter in Chapters 10-11 in your Vocabulary Journal. Write down at least two sentences you find interesting in Chapters 10-11 in your Mentor Sentence Journal.