Dear brand new Year 10s,

The Department of Literature In English, College Section welcomes you to the College Section
and looks forward to this shared learning journey.

We are here to help you make a smooth transition to the O Level IGCSE 0475 course which will
be taught over two years. This is a skill-based syllabus and you will be meticulously coached in
developing these skills which we will be working to hone in a more focused manner according to
the new course structure.

To ease this transition, the Literature department’s writing programme is embedded in the term:
Every week, you will practise their analytical skills in either a writing class or activities designed
around honing their critical thinking and analytical writing skills. Our Year 11s are already being
trained in analytical writing through this program.

Educational research from the last few years has forever changed what we know about how
learners process existing knowledge and new information; that is why your Literature related
prep work this summer has been designed around individual discovery and exploration.

When you join in August, we will be studying the following African novel together:

"Things Fall Apart"

By
Chinua Achebe

And here is your Summer Pre-reading Assignment on the above-mentioned novel

1. Watch a documentary about Chinua Achebe: Instead of reading about the author, you can
watch a documentary about his life and work. Look for documentaries on YouTube or streaming
services like Netflix or Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QoF_XjaYTw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko8z7cuzK7s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5OAjnG6rKo&ab_channel=LibraryofCongress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHF_w0gkyiI&ab_channel=PBSNewsHour

2. Watch videos about the Igbo culture: Instead of reading about the Igbo culture, you can watch
videos that provide an introduction to the culture. Look for videos on YouTube that showcase
Igbo customs, traditions, and way of life. You can also look for virtual tours of Igbo villages and
towns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGLt3Ig8FTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr82EvHiKyU&ab_channel=HomeTeamHistory
3. Listen to interviews with Chinua Achebe: Look for podcasts or YouTube channels that feature
interviews with Chinua Achebe. Listen to some of these interviews and take notes on what he
says about his writing, his influences, and his views on African literature.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHF_w0gkyiI&ab_channel=PBSNewsHour

4. Watch video summaries of "Things Fall Apart": Look for videos on YouTube that summarise
the key themes and plot points of "Things Fall Apart." These videos can help you get a sense of
what the book is about before you start reading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc_VL3awV-k&ab_channel=OneMinBooks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alMRMb6Dk7I&ab_channel=CourseHero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ-pLiomGSQ&ab_channel=Vidya-mitra

FINAL SUBMISSION:

5. Create a video reflection: Based on your research and learning, create a video reflection on
what you expect from "Things Fall Apart." Record yourself discussing what you think the novel
will be about, and what themes you think it will explore. You can also discuss how you think it
will relate to your own experiences and knowledge. You will be marked on 5 and the length of
this video should be between 2-4 minutes.
Your teacher will ask you to submit this video upon your return to school in August 2023.

We hope you will have fun with these activities! Some links have been added as pointers so feel
free to research on your own! This will help you build a deeper understanding of the book and
its cultural and historical context.

As educators, parents and students, we all understand that regularity in attending lessons and
submitting assignments, class engagement and taking the onus for their learning is always a
staple of good academic performance. And this is a good time for this reminder.

Onaissa Imtisal Abbasi

Head of Department
Literature In English
&
Patron Dramatica, The Theatre Club
College Section
Karachi Grammar School
www.kgs.edu.pk