Things Fall Apart
Analytical Essay
SpringBoard, Unit 3, Embedded Assessment 2, Pages 221-223
What is the prompt?
How to figure out the
“sense of identity” part
Questions to ask yourself:
Possible Senses of Identity
OKONKWO
 Identifies with manliness as strength, wealth,
power, and violence
 What drives him is to be UNLIKE his father
 It is important for him to be respected by his clan
Possible Senses of Identity
NWOYE
 Does NOT identify with manliness as violence
 Prefers his mother’s storytelling (intellect)
 He is traumatized by the twins in the forest and
Ikemefuna’s death at his father’s hands
 He does not fit in at home
 Does NOT want to be like his father
Now work this into
a thesis statement…
thesis statement
thesis statement
thesis statement
Let’s practice!
Create and share a
possible thesis statement
for this essay now…
What’s next?
Pre-plan your writing
by creating an outline
to ORGANIZE
your paper!
You will need:
1. An introductory paragraph
2. TOPIC SENTENCES
for each body paragraph
3. EVIDENCE
for each body paragraph
4. COMMENTARY
for each body paragraph
5. A conclusion paragraph
Start by mapping out your
body paragraphs and use
your thesis as a guide…
forming topic sentences
Thesis: Nwoye’s struggle with identity leads him to embrace a
new culture, which ultimately saves him, and illustrates the
positive effects change can have on individuals.
According to our thesis, we need to show 3 things: these
will become our topic sentences for the 3 body paragraphs.
 Nwoye doesn’t identify with his culture.
 Nwoye finds his place in the new culture.
 Nwoye’s journey illustrates positive
effects of change.
body paragraphs
 Make a statement
(claim = topic sentence)
 Support it with examples
(text evidence = quotes, pg. #s)
 Comment on it/explain it
(why and how = analysis)
Make a C-E-E Chart 
CLAIM
(How Nwoye
does not fit in)
1. Nwoye does
not identify with
violence and
overpowering
others as
manliness
EVIDENCE
1. List quotes here
from the book that
show Okonkwo’s
disappointment in
his son and
Nwoye’s inner
thoughts as well
as actions that
prove he is
conflicted and
unhappy
EXPLANATION
1. Not identifying
with violence as
manliness is a
problem because it
leads to his father
being openly
disappointed in him
and regretful that
Nwoye is his son.
This would lead
anyone to negative
feelings. This causes
Nwoye to look
elsewhere to fit in.
Revisit your thesis…
Nwoye’s struggle with identity
leads him to embrace a new culture,
which ultimately saves him, and
illustrates the positive effects change
can have on individuals.
What do you need to address and prove next?
CLAIM: BP2
(Nwoye embraces
the new culture)
2. Nwoye is
attracted to the
new culture and
religion.
EVIDENCE
EXPLANATION
2. Okonkwo
2. List quotes
essentially pushes
here that show
Nwoye away.
his steps in
Nwoye begins with
embracing the
curiosity when the
new culture,
missionaries arrive.
from listening
Then he learns of
outside the
their ways and is
church to full
attracted to the new
membership;
way of life because…
include evidence
Finally, he fully
of his feelings!
embraces the new
culture and seems
the better for it as
evident by his…
Revisit your thesis…
Nwoye’s struggle with identity
leads him to embrace a new culture,
which ultimately saves him, and
illustrates the positive effects change
can have on individuals.
What do you need to address and prove next?
CLAIM: BP3
EVIDENCE
(Author’s intent:
what he’s showing
through Nwoye:
universal
message/theme)
3. List here any
quotes that may
show this (there
may not be any)
3. Through his
journey, Nwoye
shows how one
can overcome
struggles and come
out ahead when
confronted with
change.
EXPLANATION
3. Nwoye finds
elements of the new
culture and religion
that speak to him,
such as storytelling
and nonviolence. He
finds people who
accept him for who he
is. He escapes his
negative and violent
home environment.
Finding peace with
himself and being out
of harm’s way,
physically and
psychologically, may
very well have saved
his life.
Required to be turned in:
C-E-E chart
CLAIM
Topic Sentence:
Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence:
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence:
Body Paragraph 3
EVIDENCE
EXPLANATION
Ready to write
an intro?
intro
Begin in an interesting way
Work up to and lead into your thesis
Make sure you include the author, title,
and some background information so
the reader knows what you are talking
about (write as if the reader has never
read the book)
END with your thesis statement!!!!!!!!!!!
intro example
All families have problems: sometimes there
is tragedy; sometimes there are obstacles;
sometimes there is change; sometimes there are
unhealthy relationships. All of these are part of
young Nwoye’s life in Chinua Achebe’s Things
Fall Apart. In this story, the author uses Nwoye as
an example of how one can overcome the most
difficult of obstacles by finding and following
one’s own identity and calling. Nwoye’s struggle
with identity leads him to embrace a new culture,
which ultimately saves him, and illustrates the
positive effects change can have on individuals.
What about a
conclusion?
conclusion
 Summarize and finalize your main points
but don’t repeat yourself and don’t be
boring!!! Use different words/angles/tactics.
Bring your topic to a more universal
level(beyond the story and applied to life; what
did the author of the story accomplish?)
Try to end strong and leave your readers with
something to think about—you should spend as
much time on your final sentence as you did on
your thesis statement. Last words are
memorable!
conclusion example
Through his journey, Nwoye has many ups and
downs, and his story is perhaps only just beginning.
He survives some very challenging times growing up
as Okonkwo’s son, but he leaves in order to find
himself, vowing to return for his mother and siblings.
At a time that proves to be too much too handle for
some, including his father, Nwoye not only adapts to
the cultural collision of colonialism, but also finds new
meaning in life by finding himself through the changes
and new opportunities. In this novel, Chinua Achebe
shows us the powerful and personal dynamics of a
native culture put to the test, but gives us hope that
when things do indeed fall apart, a person can still
pick themselves back up and march on.
Let’s look at the rubric…
(SpringBoard page 223)
Let’s look at the rubric…
(Open your books to page 223)
Any questions?
Let’s get drafting!