As you read Things Fall Apart, you will focus on the development of one particular topic or
issue in the novel, and utilize a reading log to “track” this topic’s treatment throughout the
work. Your job is simply to collect, examine, and respond to as much evidence as possible.
Choose from one of the following topics:
 Husband/wife, father/children, OR mother/children relationships in the novel
 Roles of women in Ibo society
 Values of the Ibo society
 Religion in Ibo society
 Tribal customs of the Ibo
 Interactions of the Ibo with other cultures (including neighboring villages)
 Justice system/system of rules and laws in Ibo society
 Superstitions in Ibo society
 Proverbs of the Ibo
 Structure/Hierarchy in Ibo society
 Roles of children in Ibo society
To track your topic, construct a reading log with three columns, similar to the example below.
Chapte
r
Page
Ch. 1
P. 8
TOPIC: VALUES OF THE IBO SOCIETY
SIGNIFICANT PASSAGE OR
THE WAY YOUR PASSAGE
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR TOPIC
ILLUSTRATES YOUR TOPIC
"When Unoka died he had taken no title
at all and he was heavily in debt. Any
wonder then that his son Okonkwo was
ashamed of him? Fortunately, among
these people a man was judged
according to his worth and not
according to the worth of his father."
Clearly the Ibo value a man of action
and strength, and success is equated
with material gain. Achebe establishes
this by contrasting Okonkwo's shame
over his father's lack of achievements
with his father's idleness. This shame
serves as a strong source of motivation
for Okonkwo's ambition.
Your reading log is due the first day of class, July 31, 2017. Your reading log will
have an entry for each chapter in the novel.
Writing Assignment, due the first day of class, July 31, 2017.
In two or three well-developed paragraphs, trace the topic you have chosen from the beginning
to the end of the novel, citing at least four major examples. Be sure to discuss how its treatment
may change because of a character’s development throughout the story or because of the
presence of differing points of view or differing cultural perspectives.
Remember your paragraph pattern.
TIQATIQA in Each Paragraph
Topic sentence is qualified and addresses the main idea
Introduction to the quote gives context and background so the reader knows why your quote proves
the topic sentence
Quote is integrated smoothly into the paragraph
Analysis, at least two sentences, discusses why the quote proves the topic sentenced-it does not
explain the quote
The Second topic sentence in the paragraph – qualified and addresses the same thesis point
Introduction to the quote gives context and background so the reader knows why your quote proves
the topic sentence
Quote is integrated smoothly into the paragraph
Analysis, at least two sentences, discusses why the quote proves the topic sentence. It does not
explain the quote.
Please type your paragraphs in Times New Roman, twelve point type, or write them neatly in
blue or black ink.