Things Fall Apart
Themes:
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s classic literature novel, has the following theme(s):
http://www.litcharts.com/lit/things-fall-apart/themes
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s classic literature novel, has the following theme(s):
- Tradition vs. Change
Fate vs. Free Will - Language and Culture
- Masculinity
http://www.litcharts.com/lit/things-fall-apart/themes
Tasks: This is the first 30 hours of a 60 hour class. There are 12 tasks assigned. Each task has an estimated amount of time assigned to it. Some will take less time to complete a task and some may need more; however, if you are going over the amount of time assigned to "complete a task," there is a problem and you need to speak to me about it. Reasonable accommodations may be allowed. It is recommended that you do these tasks in order (except for Task 11 which is worked on every Wednesday for SSR).
FIT/Grammar: Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 1: Pretest
Completion time - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 2: Background 1
Completion time - 1 hour
Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of "A Crash Course in Literature - Things Fall Apart. Write a one-paragraph summary of what you watched.
Task 3: Things Fall Apart
Completion time to complete task
Free online text Free online audiobook
Complete the Study Guide.
Task 4: Themes in modern non-fiction
Completion time - 1 hour
Read “Exile” by Julia Alvarez (pages 106-107 Supplemental Reading) Write a three-paragraph essay (ABC format) explaining the speaker’s experience and emotions.
Task 5: Essay
Completion time - 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. Please be sure to view
Writing the Argumentative/Persuasive Essay for a complete understanding of what is involved in writing an informative essay.
Choose (one) 1 essay topic:
Task 6: Music and Literature
Completion time - 1 hour (as you read)
Many contemporary songs are inspired by literature and share common ideas and themes. Pick a song or songs from the list below, which share common ideas or themes from Things Fall Apart. Write 1 ABC paragraph explaining how the Things Fall Apart and your selected song share a theme or idea. See Music and Literature Assignment.
List of songs for Things Fall Apart :
Task 7: Exam
Completion time - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 8: Contemporary Fiction
Completion time - 7 hours
Read Picture Bride, The Namesake, A Thousand Splendid Suns, OR And the Mountains Echoed or another book on culture which has been approved. Write a 200 word (minimum) essay examining the cultural values expressed in the book of your choice.
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 9: Project (Choose 1)
Completion time - 3 hours
Additional tasks may be assigned at teacher discretion.
FIT/Grammar: Activities assigned on a daily basis.
Task 1: Pretest
Completion time - ½ hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Please relax this will only test what you know at this point in time. You are graded for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 2: Background 1
Completion time - 1 hour
Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of "A Crash Course in Literature - Things Fall Apart. Write a one-paragraph summary of what you watched.
Task 3: Things Fall Apart
Completion time to complete task
Free online text Free online audiobook
Complete the Study Guide.
Task 4: Themes in modern non-fiction
Completion time - 1 hour
Read “Exile” by Julia Alvarez (pages 106-107 Supplemental Reading) Write a three-paragraph essay (ABC format) explaining the speaker’s experience and emotions.
Task 5: Essay
Completion time - 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You MUST DOUBLE-SPACE AND LEFT-JUSTIFY YOUR PAPER. You must complete the rubric handout and turn it in to have your essay graded. Essay must be at least 400 words and include examples from the book. Please note that the grading of your essay may take 24 hours or more. Please be sure to view
Writing the Argumentative/Persuasive Essay for a complete understanding of what is involved in writing an informative essay.
Choose (one) 1 essay topic:
- Write an argumentative essay on the idea of tradition/change. Should a person be allowed to keep his/her traditions if they find themselves in a different culture? Use specific examples from the texts you read in this unit.
- Write an argumentative essay in which you take a stand on fate vs. free will. (Definitions: Free will is the idea that decisions control life and fate is the idea that events are inevitable and will happen no matter what.) Do you believe that our lives are controlled by fate or free will? Use specific examples from the texts you have read in this unit.
- Write an argumentative essay on whether a person should take on the culture and mores of the country to which they emigrate. Should the missionaries and foreign governments have been more tolerant of the Igbo people? Should Hana have kept her cultural ideals or changed them to match the American lifestyle? Use specific examples from the texts you read in this unit.
Task 6: Music and Literature
Completion time - 1 hour (as you read)
Many contemporary songs are inspired by literature and share common ideas and themes. Pick a song or songs from the list below, which share common ideas or themes from Things Fall Apart. Write 1 ABC paragraph explaining how the Things Fall Apart and your selected song share a theme or idea. See Music and Literature Assignment.
List of songs for Things Fall Apart :
- “The Times They Are A-Changin’ ” sung by Joan Baez
- “Changes” by David Bowie
- “Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
- “Changes” by Tupac Shakur
Task 7: Exam
Completion time - 1 hour
Must achieve a 70% or greater to pass.
Task 8: Contemporary Fiction
Completion time - 7 hours
Read Picture Bride, The Namesake, A Thousand Splendid Suns, OR And the Mountains Echoed or another book on culture which has been approved. Write a 200 word (minimum) essay examining the cultural values expressed in the book of your choice.
You must increase your TABE score to receive credit for this section.
Task 9: Project (Choose 1)
Completion time - 3 hours
- Prepare a presentation in which you discuss the themes from Things Fall Apart across literature, film, art, and music.
- Prepare a presentation, using a different tool than the one used in the first presentation, in which you discuss Tradition and Change across the pieces you have studied.
- Prepare a presentation on a topic that interests you with prior permission from your teacher.
Additional tasks may be assigned at teacher discretion.