How affected is Thinks Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe's personal biography? Using a four corners strategy, and evidence from their readings, class members debate the degree of biographical influence in Achebe's novel.

Concepts

literary analysis, things fall apart, close reading, imperialism

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Model the close reading process by sharing with class members the first page of the "Close Reading of a Critical Essay" handout

Classroom Considerations

• The 11th in a 13-lesson unit, designed specifically for identified gifted and talented learners, that uses a variety of texts to explore the concept of diversity and the challenges of communicating across diverse cultures
• Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart serves as the anchor text for the unit

Pros

• The 10-page packet includes the plan, links to biographical material on Achebe, resources for the Historical-Biographical Critical Approach, and an annotated close reading example

Cons

• None

Common Core

RL.9-10.6 RL.9-10.7 RL.9-10.9 RI.9-10.1 RI.9-10.3 RI.9-10.4 RI.9-10.5 RI.9-10.6 RI.9-10.8 W.9-10.7 W.9-10.8 W.9-10.9.a SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.3 SL.9-10.4 L.9-10.1.a L.9-10.5.a