Multi Text Study Rationale/Explanation: Jason Koon
Multi Text Study Rationale/Explanation: Jason Koon
Rationale/Explanation
Jason Koon
For this multi-text study I chose two books that deal with the political and social tensions
of Northern Africa.
Naidoo, Beverly, The Other Side of Truth. London, England: Harper Collins. 2000.
ISBN. 0064410021
Graf, Mike. Somalia (Countries of the World). Mankato Minnesota: Capstone Press.
I chose The Other Side of Truth because it portrays the plight of many people around the
world in a way that is easy for young adolescents to understand and relate to. The book deals
with experiences that most young adolescents can relate to such as loss, fear, and uncertainty.
Through these common experiences, Naidoo opens the minds of her reader’s to a world that is
far different from their own; a world of oppression and injustice. The fictional events of this
novel are set in the context of real historical events; such as the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa,
and against the backdrop of the Abacha regime that controlled Nigeria in the mid-1990‘s. This
gives the novel an authenticity that will open the mind’s of students to the realities of life in
Northern Africa.
The Other Side of Truth is written on a fifth grade reading level, but the interest level is
considered to be from 7th to 9th grade. This novel is the winner of numerous awards including the
Carnegie Medal, and was named an ALA notable book, and an ALA best book for young adults.
The Non-fiction text for this study is Nigeria. It is part of The Countries of the World
series. This book provides background information on Nigerian culture, history, religion, and
politics. This book is written on a 4th grade reading level and will provide students with a real-
I chose these books for 7th grade because it connects with the Social Studies Standard
course of study for seventh grade. Africa is one of the major themes in seventh grade social
studies and this multi-text study will lend itself to numerous interdisciplinary connections
between Language Arts and Social Studies. Also, I chose this study because it details the
struggle of the two young refugees to find recognition and aid. The two main characters in the
book use informational and argumentative communication to expose the evils of the regime from
which they are fleeing and argue successfully to be allowed to stay in England.
Jason Koon
RE 3150
4/4/06
Table of Contents
Section Book(s) Used Page #
1. Reading/Assignment Schedule for all books……………………………..2
Individual
Individual
Individual
Individual
Individual
9. Reference List………………………………...............................................20-21
10. Rubrics………………………………..........................................................24-29
11. Objectives……………………………….....................................................30
This is a schedule that you should follow when reading The Other Side of Truth and the
other texts that go along with it. This will help you break the book up, so that you can read a little
bit each day rather than try to read it all in one or two nights.
Assignment(s) to be completed
- Study Guide #1
Week Two - Read Chapters 10-19 (Chapters 10 &11 will be read aloud)
- Study Guide #2
- Study Guide #3
Week Four - Read Chapters 29-33 (Chapters 29 & 30 will be read aloud)
- Study Guide #4
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Reading Log
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Pre-Reading Activity
Beverly Naidoo Web Quest
It is important to remember that whenever you are looking for information on the internet
you must be careful to make sure that your sources are accurate and reliable. Link to
Before beginning your internet search look at the title of the book. You can usually learn
something about a book just by looking at its title. Develop three specific questions that you
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After developing these questions get together with your small groups and make
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Next, in your small groups, use internet sources to investigate eight questions about
Beverly Naidoo and her book, The Other Side of Truth. You will share your findings with the
class. Some websites that contain helpful information are listed below. You may also use any
additional websites that you find, but make sure they are reliable and accurate sources.
http://www.beverlynaidoo.com
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/iten.asp?
Item+9786029628&Catalog=Books&N=43+606241&Lang=en&Section+kids&zxac=1
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth244
1. What are some of the major events of Beverly Naidoo’s life that may have had an
effect on her as a writer?
7. From what you know about Naidoo’s life, why do you think she has written this
book?
8. Why is it important to know background information about a book and its author
before reading it?
1. Why did the Nigerian Government assassinate Sade and Femi’s mother?
2. In chapter one Uncle Tunde and Folarin have a conversation about the truth and
the articles that Folarin writes for his newspaper. Re-read what each says to the other.
Who do you agree with more? Why?
4. Do you think that Folarin did the right thing by sending his children to a
foreign country by themselves? What would you have done in his situation?
5. In Chapter Seven Sade and Femi have a run in with the authorities. From what
you know about them, how would their reaction to the authorities be different from
yours?
Characterization
List at least three character traits for each character. Note whether you learned this information
through direct or indirect characterization and the page number where you found this
information.
Sade
Femi
Papa (Folarin)
Uncle Tunde
1. What events in Chapters 9-12 lead the children to be taken into police custody?
How do they come to meet Mama Appiah?
2. What effect do Sade and Femi’s experiences growing up in Nigeria have on the
way that they view the police?
3. What does Sade think of Iyawo Jenny? Why does Sade not respond truthfully to
Iyawo Jenny’s questions?
4. How does Femi deal with the traumatic events that he has experienced? What
effect doe this have on Sade?
5. Through their traumatic experiences Sade and Femi have begun to encounter
the other side of truth. What do you think is Naidoo’s purpose is in writing a
book about the negative effects of telling the truth on these children?
Characterization
List at least three character traits for each character. Give a page number where you found clue
about this character trait. Tell whether you learned this information through direct or indirect
characterization
Mrs. Bankole
Iyawo Jenny
Mama Appiah
Kevin
1. What are some of the differences that Sade notices between her old school in
Nigeria and her new school in London?
2. How do Marcia and the other girls react to Sade? How does Miriam treat Sade?
3. By this point, many different themes are developing. Complete the chart to show
how the book addresses the following themes and what events and/or characters in the
story help to develop these themes?
Racism
4. Compare and Contrast Sade and Miriam? How are they alike, how are they
different?
3. Through chapter 28, the truth has been responsible for many of the negative things
that have happened to Sade, Femi, and Folarin. In the final chapters how does the truth
save them?
4. Throughout the course of this book, the main characters undergo major
changes. In your small groups complete the chart using the character traits from
Study Guide #1, then list at least three new character traits that each character has
developed during the course of the novel.
Femi
Folarin
5. Although the events of this story are fictional, similar events regularly
happen around the globe. Why do you think events like this often go unreported?
What effects might the truth have, if it were reported about real life events, the way it
was reported about the Solaja family in the story?
The book Nigeria by Kristin Thoennes gives us some insight into Sade and Femi’s lives
in Nigeria. After reading this book, you are going to write a first person account of a young
person growing up in Nigeria. Use the following questions to help you organize your ideas
before you write. You may want to use the book Nigeria (Cultures of the World) by Patricia
My Life in Nigeria
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Where do I live?__________________________________________________________
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Although The Other Side of Truth is fiction, it makes reference to a few real life events
and people. One of these is the execution of Nigerian journalist and author Ken Saro-Wiwa. In
your small groups, access http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Saro-Wiwa and answer the
1. Who was Saro-Wiwa speaking out for? What was he speaking out against?
2. According to the Nigerian government, what was the official reason for his
execution?
4. Think about the novel The Other Side of Truth, Folarin Solaja was faced with a
difficult decision after the death of Saro-Wiwa. He had to decide between writing the
truth and protecting his family. Fill out the chart with reasons for and against speaking
out against the government.
What would you have done it you were in Folarin’s position? Why?
The following assignment is to be completed in your small groups. Each group will
Research Coordinator The research coordinator will oversee any research and fact
checking that needs to be done to complete this
assignment.
Secretary The Secretary will keep a record of the ideas that are
discussed and write/type the final copy of the speech.
All group members are expected to participate in the research, discussions, and
writing of the speech, as well as contribute ideas and insights whenever possible!!
The Assignment
Imagine that it is October 1995 and you are the United States ambassador to the United
Nations. Ken Saro-Wiwa is still being held prisoner by the Nigerian government, and you have
the opportunity to deliver a speech to the Nigerian government on the subject of Saro-Wiwa’s
arrest and pending execution. Write a persuasive speech arguing for the release of Ken Saro-
This is your opportunity to take what you have learned and apply it in the real world. By
reading The Other Side of Truth, your eyes have hopefully been opened, as mine were, to the
injustice and oppression that is happening all over the world. Unfortunately, most Americans
have not had an experience like you have hopefully had during this study. You are going to have
an opportunity to help them open their eyes. You have a choice of two assignments.
1. Write a letter to the editor about your experience reading The Other Side of Truth,
non-fiction materials and the information about Ken Saro-Wiwa. Give persuasive reasons
why Americans should be aware, and work to bring an end to injustice and oppression around
the world. Include suggestions about what individuals can do to help. You may want to use
2. Write a letter to your congressman about your experience reading The Other Side of
Truth and the materials about Ken Saro-Wiwa. Give persuasive reasons why the United
States government should act to bring an end to injustice and oppression around the world.
These letters should be in business letter format, so that they can be sent to our
Reference List
A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary by: Ken Saro-Wiwa and William Boyd; Penguin, 1996.
ISBN 0140259147. A Month and a Day is the true account of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s detention
Songs in a Time of War by: Ken Saro-Wiwa; Passeggiata, 1993. ISBN 9994501623. This is a
Sozaboy is a novel written for young adolescents about a young man who signs up for the
Nigerian Military and fights in the Biafran War. It is partly based on his own personal
experiences.
Journey to Jo’burg by: Beverly Naidoo; Collins Educational, 1996. ISBN 0006726933. This is
one of Naidoo’s first and most acclaimed books. Many of the same themes that are addressed in
Out of Bounds by: Beverly Naidoo; Puffin, 2001. ISBN 0141309695. This is a collection of
short stories by Naidoo that deals with the oppression and injustice under the Apartheid system
of South Africa.
Esparanza Rising by: Pam Munoz Ryan; Blue Sky Press, 2002. ISBN 043910242x. Although set
in a very different context than The Other Side of Truth, Esparanza Rising deals with many of
the same themes. Especially the idea of being forced to leave ones homeland and becoming a
refugee.
Coming to England by: Florella Benjamin, Illustrated by Michael Frith; Puffin, 1995
ISBN 0140380817. Based on Benjamin’s real life experience of moving from Trinidad to
England, this book deals with adjusting to life in a new country and culture.
Nigeria (Cultures of the World) by: Patricia Levy; Benchmark Books, 1996.
ISBN 1854355740. This book is a much more in depth look at the culture of Nigeria. It
goes into much more detail about the life that Sade and Femi may have had in Nigeria before
The Other Side of Truth is an eye-opening book to much of the injustice and oppression
that exists around the world, as well as to issues dealing with refugees, immigration, and racism.
These additional materials are all materials that will help further your study in any or all of these
areas. All of these references deal in some way with some of the themes or events of the book. I
have provided this list and allowed for self-selection so that all students can pursue the themes
Refugee
Asylum
Immigration
Passport
Boycott
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Vocabulary Assessment
Write a well-developed paragraph using all of the vocabulary words at least once.
Rubrics
A 41-45
B 36-40
C 31-35
D 26-30
F 25 or below
Study Guides
A 18-20
B 13-17
C 9-12
D 7-9
F 6 or below
A 28-30 B 25-27
C 21-24 D 19-20
F 18 or below
A 15 B 12-14
C 9-11 D 6-8
F 5 or below
A 18-20
B 15-17
C 12-14
D 9-11
F 8 or below
A 28-30
B 24-27
C 19-23
D 15-18
F 15 or below
A 54-60
B 46-53
C 38-45
D 30-37
F 29 or below