Persepolis: The Story of A Childhood

- Gaining Background Information

Why are you doing this? To demonstrate your ability to do the following:
Analyze the credibility of sources
Analyze the information in sources to determine if they are a benefit to the task that you
must complete
Analyze the information provided within a source in order to determine if it is valid and
trustworthy
Use background information about a cultural to better understand the novel and characters
or conflicts within the novel
Introduction: 12/17-12/18 = Workdays in P106
and 01/4 - 01/5 = Workdays in P106
Soon we will begin reading the graphic novel
Persepolis
, the story of a teenage girl in Iran
during the Islamic revolution in the mid 1970s. In order to completely appreciate her story, we
need to learn more about Iran and its society, culture, and institutions during that time period, and
we will be doing that with the help of the articles researched and presented by small groups. Your
job will be to determine which sources provide accurate and sufficient information, and after doing
so, you will organize the information within the article into powerpoint that will be used to present
the facts to the class.
Task: Informative Culture Presentation - DUE Wednesday, January 6th; approx. 5-10 minutes.
Once in your groups, you will be assigned your topic to report on. As a group you will need to
work together to find the best possible additional source(s) that provides sufficient and accurate
information concerning your topic.
Consider the date of publication, author, publisher, facts, possible bias, sources used, amount
of information given, etc.
You will document your consideration of the article's validity on the assigned group
worksheet (located on the back).
After determining the proper sources, you will check with me
to make sure you have made
the correct choices.
Next
, you can begin, as a group, to:
create annotations on your articles, highlighting/taking note of the most important aspects
of the articles.
create a powerpoint of the information in your articles. Use proper format and be sure to
include all information that your classmates would need in order to understand the topic
that you are presenting on.
Topics:

The Shah of Iran his role in government and specific reasons for his overthrow
Islam major beliefs of the religion and why some religious groups felt the revolution was necessary (be sure to
discuss the significance of the Shia and Sunni sects)
Society in Iran-institutions such as schools, religion, families, government
One group on pre-revolution norms - what was life like in Iran leading up to 1979?
Once group on post-revolution norms - what was life like in the Islamic Republic?
Culture in Iran-movies, music, art, fashion
One group on pre-revolution culture - what was society like in Iran leading up to 1979?
One group on post-revolution culture - what was society like in Iran leading up to 1979?

Group #1 - the Shah of Iran

When and how did the Shah of Iran (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) come to power? What was the US &
Britains role in him becoming Shah?
What kind of government did the Shah lead? Provide specific details about what life was like for
Persians under his rule.
When and how did the Shah lose power? What role did Islamic fundamentalists play?
Who took over after he lost power, and what was the new government like?
What is the Iranian hostage crisis, and what relation did the Shahs exile have to the Iranian
hostage crisis?
Group #2 - Islam
What are some of the major beliefs of the religion of Islam?
How do Islamic beliefs compare to those of other major world religions?
Explain the distinction between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
Who is Islam's main religious figure? What is the main Muslim text?
Who is the top Muslim political leader in Iran?
What was the role of Islamic fundamentalists in the overthrow of the Shah of Iran?

Group #3 - Society in Iran Pre-Revolution

What religions are represented in the population of Iran PRE-revolution?
What is the role of women in society PRE-revolution??
Describe the PRE-revolution education system in Iran, including higher education (universities)
for most of the population

What is the family structure in Iran PRE-revolution?

Group #4 - Society in Iran Post-Revolution

What religions are represented in the population of Iran POST-revolution?
What is the role of women in society POST-revolution?
Describe the education system in Iran, including higher education (universities) for most of the
population. How as the educational system affected by the revolution?

What was the family structure in Iran POST revolution? How was family life influenced by the
revolution?
Group #5 - pre-revolution culture
Describe and give examples of the major phases of Iranian art. Discuss what kind of art is popular
during your time period (pre-revolution).
Describe Iranian cuisine. What kinds of dishes are popular? What are considered delicacies?
Describe some major categories of Iranian music. Focus on the most popular kinds music of your
time period (pre-revolution).
What kinds of sports were popular in Iran? Who participates and who observes?

Group #6 - post-revolution culture

Describe and give examples of the major phases of Iranian art. Discuss what kind of art is popular
during your time period.
Describe Iranian cuisine. What kinds of dishes are popular? What are considered delicacies?
Describe some major categories of Iranian music. Focus on the most popular kinds music of your
time period.
What kind of movies are popular in Iran? Describe some major Iranian movies, including their
plots and directors.

Iran Culture Presentation Rubric

Student Names:
____________________________________________
Topic:
CATEGORY

Preparedness &
accurate completion
of prompt

Student group
accurately answers
almost all questions
posed by the prompt,
and classmates,
about the topic.

Student group
accurately answers
most questions posed
by the prompt, and
classmates about the
topic.

Student group
accurately answers a
few questions posed
by the prompt, and
classmates about the
topic.

Student group
either does not or
is unable to
accurately answer
most questions
posed by the
prompt and/or
classmates about
the topic.

Covers topic in-depth

with details and
examples. Subject
knowledge is
excellent.Provides
classmates with a full
understanding of the
topic.

Includes essential
knowledge about the
topic. Subject
knowledge appears to
be good. Provides
classmates with a
good understanding
of the topic.

Includes essential
information about
the topic but there are
2 or more factual
errors. Provides
classmates with a
good understanding
of parts of the topic.

Content is
minimal OR there
are several factual
errors. Does not
seem to help
classmates
understand the
topic very well.

All sources are

credible and are
accurately
documented in the
desired format.

Most sources are

credible and are
accurately
documented, but a
few are not in the
desired format.

All sources are

documented, but
many are not in the
desired format.
Sources may be of
questionable
academic credibility.

Some sources are

not accurately
documented
and/or are not
credible.

Slides include
images & videos that
show considerable
thought/creativity
and which make the
presentation better.

Slides include some

images and a video
which somewhat
enhance the
presentation, but
could be more
relevant/thoughtful.

Slides include either

images OR a video
which and which
somewhat enhance
the presentation, but
could be more
relevant/thoughtful.

The slides include

minimal images
and/or no video
-props OR the
elements chosen
detract from the
presentation.

________ / 15
Extent of content

________/ 15

Credible sources

________/ 10
PowerPoint

________ / 10

TOTAL: ______________ / 50