Thematic Art Project
Due: Friday, June 6
Final Assessment for Things Fall Apart
For the final project for Things Fall Apart, you will expand upon one of the stations that you completed in the Thought Circus last week. You will analyze what Achebe is saying about a specific theme or concept that you select. Using a creative medium, you will illustrate the concept or theme. You will incorporate three quotes from the text and explain how these quotes support your analysis of the theme, and you will compose a rationale that explains how your artistic project expresses that theme or idea. Your rationale will be approximately one-page.
Some Themes and Concepts to think about:
§ Western Perception of Africa and African countries
§ Gender Roles and Gender Identity
§ The Role of Fear
§ The Role of Change
§ The Role of Tradition
§ Parent/Child Relationships
§ The Role of Religion
§ Colonization and Imperialism
§ The Role of Government
Options for your medium: (Choose One)
If there is another medium that you would like to utilize for your project, please see me to discuss.
Create a collage:
Create a collage or other piece of artwork (drawing, painting, a combination of these, etc.) that expresses one of the themes or concepts from Things Fall Apart.
In your rationale, you will explain how your collage expresses Achebe’s message about a particular theme. You will provide insight into why you have selected specific items (materials, images from magazines, specific drawings, words) and how they support your understanding of the theme you have selected.
Within your collage, you will cite three quotations from the text, and in your rationale, you will explain what these quotations state about the theme you have selected.
Write a narrative (1-2 pages in length)
You will write a narrative from the perspective of one of the characters in Things Fall Apart. You may write in first person and take on the role of the character you have selected, or you may write in the third person and focus solely on one character, but write through the voice of the narrator.
You may also create your own alternative ending to the story. This narrative should contain choices that make sense within the context of the story that we read. Avoid outlandish choices that are untrue to the characterization that has been developed.
In both options for narratives, you will express a clear understanding of characterization and analysis of themes within Things Fall Apart.
Within your narrative, you will incorporate three quotations from the text. This can be done through flashbacks or by inserting the character into specific moments within the text and sharing that character’s reflection and understanding.
You will write a rationale explaining how the choices you have made express Achebe’s message about the theme you have chosen. You may use the rationale as a space to explain the relevance and analysis of your quotations.
Poetry
You will expand upon the poem that you began in class, or you may write a brand new poem. You will write a poem that expresses what Achebe is saying about a particular theme in the text.
In your rationale, you will provide an explanation for how your poem reflects this theme, citing three specific examples from the text.
Your poem should be at least 20 lines and include three metaphors.
To help you plan, fill out the following sheet:
Theme or concept you have selected:
What do you want to say about this theme or concept? (What do you think Achebe is expressing about this theme?)
Quote 1:
Quote 2:
Quote 3:
Medium you plan to use:
Why you have selected this medium:
Grading Rubric
Rationale:
Student explains how the quotations relate to the theme he or she has selected ____/5
Student’s quotations and explanations reveal Achebe’s message on specific theme with well-argued analysis
_____ No connection to theme (0-4)
_____ Little connection (5-7)
_____ Weak connection (8-10)
_____ Adequate connection (11-13)
_____ Proficient connection (14-17)
_____ Excellent connection (18-20)
____ /20
Student justifies his or her artistic choices and utilizes the creative medium to express Achebe’s message on specific theme:
_____ No connection to theme (0-4)
_____ Little connection (5-7)
_____ Weak connection (8-10)
_____ Adequate connection (11-13)
_____ Proficient connection (14-17)
_____ Excellent connection (18-20)
____ /20
Clarity of language:
How correct is the use of grammar, spelling, and voice?
_____ 20 or more errors (0-4)
_____Fifteen to nineteen for the entire paper (5)
_____Ten to fourteen errors for the entire paper (6)
_____Six to Nine errors for the entire paper (7)
_____Four to Five errors for the entire paper (8)
_____Three or fewer errors for the entire paper (9-10)
_____ /10
Quality of the Work
Overall, how effective is the work? ____ /20
_____/75
Notes: