Name: ________________________________________ Block:

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Reading Journal: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Mastery Work #1)

Overview: We will be reading Things Fall Apart as part of a novel study

over the next several weeks. You will be keeping a reading journal as you
read and the purpose of this journal is to think critically about the novel. We
will be having reviews and discussions of the chapters/sections during class
each week, and this journal will allow you to prepare for these in class
activities. Because Things Fall Apart is such an influential, complex, and
masterpiece of literature, the more times we can return to the text, then the
more insight and understanding we will gain.

Directions:
The reading log should include:
o The number of the journal, the date and the chapter.
o An example of the folkloric/cultural from the novel.
o A reflection.
o New vocabulary.
All required information for each entry should be complete and
accurate.
Record quotations and paraphrase folkloric and character traits in a
quoted sentence, and the reflection should be a paragraph of at least
five sentences.
Complete the journal entries for at least 20 different chapters.
You will complete the journal in Google Docs.
You will share your journal with two other peers.
For both peers, you will complete five responses/reflections to their
journal entry, focusing on their reflection and reaction to the reading.
Responses should be five to ten sentences in length and should offer
constructive feedback as to the extent you agree with their response
and how they can improve their journal entries.
Journals will be checked between every Monday and the following
Friday.
SAMPLE JOURNAL

Reading Journal #1: 12/15/17 (Chapter 11)

Example of Folkloric or Igbo culture What I thought while I was reading

& page number.
Choose an example of Igbo
Folklore/Culture:
o Proverb or saying.
o Imagery, symbolism, fable, myth,
legend.
o Ceremonies, traditions, beliefs,
agriculture, gender roles, or
cultural artifacts.
Now explain:
o What does your example suggest
about Igbo people and their
values?
EX: "And then the egwugwu
appeared. The women and children
sent up a great shout and took to
their heels" (Achebe 69)
Explain: This example suggests
that Igbo culture both values and
fears its Gods. It also shows that follow Chielo to the cave of the
women and children have a different Oracle, her love for her daughter was
relationship with the Gods than men stronger than her concerns for the
do. Women/children and grouped
together and show fear, men stand
apart and are show bravery.
this section
o Discuss the use of a literary
element (metaphor, simile,
imagery, characterization, conflict,
setting, etc)
o Make text connections (text to
world, text to self, text to text)
o Ask questions about the text.
Chapter 11 really focuses on the
characterization of Ekwefi as a brave
and maternal figure. Ekwefi is very
attached to Ezinma as her only child
and was reluctant to let the priestess
carry Ezinma off into the night.
Although she knew it was taboo to
Gods and even for her safety. Ekwefi
left her home in the middle of the
night and walked through darkness to
ensure that Ezinma was safe. Later,
Okonkwo joined Ekwefi and I wonder
if he would have done the same for
any of his other children? He seems
 to favor Ezinma.
VOCABULARY:
Choose 4 new vocabulary words from this chapter, define each and use
them in an original sentence.
1. Forsake- to abandon
a. Do not forsake me, my darling!
2. Voluble- Talkative
a. Sally is a voluble child; she chatters all day long.
3. Plumage- feathers of a bird
a. The pigeons in NYC have raggedy plumage.
4. Delectable- Delightful; delicious
a. My father's famous pecan pie is delectable!