 Read
article about the Nacirema Tribe
• Read aloud – one person reads to group, or take
turns reading
• Circle words you don’t know
• Underline rituals and rites that seem bizarre to
you
Nacirema
 Located
in the Middle East between Iraq
on the West, and Pakistan and
Afghanistan on the East.
 Also called Persia
 Has large reserves of Petroleum and
Natural Gas
 Main religion is Shia Islam
 Main language is Persian, though in Iran
they refer to it as Farsi
7,588 miles
What kind of differences would
Firoozeh have experienced
between her life in Iran and her
life in California?
Father
Kazem
Farid
Mother
Farshid
14
Firoozeh
7
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The theme of Funny in Farsi is “shared humanity.” What
does that mean to you?
How would our communities, both locally and globally,
be different if we saw our commonalities before our
differences?
Most Americans’ perception of the Middle East is limited
to what is shown on the evening news. Since only bad
news is news, how does this affect the perception of
Middle Eastern immigrants in this country?
Minorities often do not try to be a part of American
society, preferring instead to spend time with others who
are like themselves. What can be done to encourage
assimilation?
Should immigrants speak their native language at home?
 Based
on a true life story
 Is a first-person story or narrative
 Includes author’s thoughts and feelings
 Includes a moral lesson or something to
learn
 Includes the writer’s opinions
 Includes imagery and other descriptive
language
 Has a conversational tone
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Why a memoir and not make it a novel?
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In what ways does memoir move beyond personal narrative?
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Why does memoir enhance self-reflection?
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What past events helped shape the person you are? What
makes a life event a memoir-worthy experience?

What kind of literary devices and themes would authors use
to create a memoir?
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Why does the author use humor to tell her stories?
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How are universal human experiences exhibited in
contemporary literature?
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How does the literature people create reflect their culture?
1. Read
2. Read again! Underline the following info:
(YOU MUST COMMENT ON/LABEL
IN THE MARGINS)
Unfamiliar words & references (?)
Characters, setting, plot points (C/S/P)
Funny moments ()
Make connections between events & you, other
texts/media, & the world (*)
General things that stick out at you (!)
3. Complete the worksheet
Get into your groups
Take out your chapter work
You will take turns telling your group members
about your chapters, going through the Chapter
Close Reading Sheet answers (all of it, even
though the group sheet only asks for plot points
and a connection) – chronologically (some
groups will have two members with the same
chapter – both members should share)
 While one member is talking, have the next
member fill in the group summary sheet, so each
member is taking a turn doing some writing.
 Once you are finished, you must hand all work in
with names on it.
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