WELCOME TO TRIMESTER 3!

Please find your desk, pick up a book, and start filling out the yellow/blue book cards.

Instructor: McCombCost to replace book: $10.00Book # should be on the inside cover or on the bottom of the book.

TRIMESTER 3

Kite Runner Project (theme) Literature Circles Independent Reading

Hero’s Journey Project

Satire

Mystery/Suspense

KEYS TO PASSING THE TRIMESTER

Show up for class. Do the work. Turn the work in!

Please consult my class website whenever you are absent or needed to get additional handouts. Please go to the OSH website and follow the links to find my site or make this address your favorite:www.msmccomb.pbworks.com

Homework is designed to aide you in doing well on the summative. Your homework shows me how well you are grasping the content .

Good practice—is important! Do or do not…there is no try.

You are responsible for your decisions. Luck favors the prepared. Choose your path wisely.

We will begin this trimester reading the book The Kite Runner.

THE DANGER OF A SINGLE STORY

This book is the first Afghan novel to be written in English.

Over 9 million copies sold worldwide, and translated into 25 languages

Takes place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and America.

Time: Early 1970s to early 2000

AUTHOR: KHALED HOSSEINI

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan Father: a diplomat Mother: teacher of Farsi and history 1976: relocated to Paris, France September 1980: granted political

asylum in the US; moved to California.

1st of 3 books Around 2006, he established The

Khaled Hosseini Foundation, a nonprofit, which provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND ON AFGHANISTAN

Invaded and conquered by several empires: Persian, Greek, Arab, Turk, Mongol, British, Soviet, and America and her allies

KABUL Kabul is the capital and

largest city of Afghanistan

Kabul is a blend of old and new buildings.

Kabul has many historical monuments, including the tombs of some of its rulers, and a number of gardens.

Kabul’s population is mainly Persian- (Dari-) speaking, although there is a large proportion of Pashtuns.

DIFFERENT TRIBES Pashtun: Most numerous and powerful Sunni Muslim Aryan features They live primarily in the

region that lies between theHindu Kush and the northern Indus River in Pakistan.

PASHTUN

DIFFERENT TRIBES Hazara: Least powerful (they make up one-fifth

of Afghanistan’s population) Shiite Muslims Asian features They have a reputation for industriousness yet

work the least desirable jobs

HAZARA

SOME HISTORY…

Afghanistan emerged as a nation in 1747 under Ahmad Shah. He is known as the father of Modern Afghanistan.

Peaceful rule until 1973 when Mohammad Daoud joins with Afghan communist to overthrow his cousin, the king. Afghanistan switches from being a monarchy to being a republic.

Deterioration begins… Mid ‘70s. Afghanistan is pro-communist and anti-religious Iran and Pakistan (its neighbors) are strongly Islamic.

1978: A coup deposes Daoud, and Taraki becomes President—for a short time.

In 1979: USSR invades and Taraki is killed. The Soviet Army sets up a government in Kabul.

To counter the Soviet presence, an Islamic campaign was declared to overthrow the Soviets.

Afghan warriors were trained and generously funded (with billions of dollars) by the CIA.

In 1989, as a result of the campaign, Russia leaves Afghanistan. (1979-1989)

AFTERMATH…

Russian casualties: 15,000 Afghan Casualties: Over 1 million dead

6.2 million escape Afghanistan Afghanistan is reduced to rubble

IMPACT… After, the status quo in the country could not effectively

be moderated by a strong central government. Lots of infighting with rival factions. (1992)

So, mini-states (within a state) arose. The mini-states made it easy for foreign occupation.

Foreign players strengthened relationships with regional leaders, and the central government weakened, creating an chaotic situation in Afghanistan and an opening for human rights abuse…

1994-96: THE TALIBAN

They began by helping to restore peace and security.

Then, they took over as Afghanistan’s government and soon began enforcing laws through rigorous enforcement of what they deemed to be “Islamic Law”:

-public beating -flogging -amputation of hands -stoning to death.

TALIBAN RULES FOR WOMEN

WOMEN COULD NOT DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS…

PUNISHMENTS

Not clothed in accordance with the Taliban rules?Whipping, beating and verbal abuse

Unaccompanied by a male relative?Whipping, beating and verbal abuse Having non-covered ankles?Whipping of women in public Accused of having sex outside marriage?Public stoning of women

SOME OTHER RULES FROM THE TALIBAN

Don’t listen to music, or watch of movies, television and videos. All people with non-Islamic names change them to Islamic

ones. Forced haircuts upon Afghan youth. All boys must wear

turbans. Men must wear Islamic clothes and a cap; men should not save

or trim their beards but grow them long. All people attend prayers in mosques five times daily. Kite flying is banned; it is “un-Islamic”.

SOME OTHER RULES FROM THE TALIBAN

Anyone who carries objectionable literature will be executed. Anyone who converts from Islam to any other religion will be

executed. No burial of those executed; their bodies must remain in public as

examples to other potential “wrong doers”. Non-Muslim minorities must distinct badge or stitch a yellow cloth

onto their dress to be differentiated from the majority Muslim population. Just like what did Nazis with Jews.

Banned the use of the internet by both ordinary Afghans and foreigners.

SO…

It’s in this world our characters live.

So why is it called The Kite Runner?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbElUw-m1es&safe=active

Quoted from “Kites for Kabul: Flying for Freedom”

Kite-running is a two-person affair…[one] is in charge of the holding the wooden kite spool, around which the wire, or “tar” is wound. The second person[…] is in control of the movement of the kite in the air. Kite flyers stand on tops of buildings, fighting with kites from all over the city. The object is to strike down the kite of your opponent with the string of your kite, after which you will be called the winner. The strings are often made with razor wire which gives the sharpness to cut down other kites. After an opponent’s kite is set free, it flutters away into the wind where it is usually picked up by the local children, who fly it the next day as their own….

KITE FLYING

In a 2007 article by Kirk Semple of the New York Times, kite flying, which “remains off limits to girls and women”, and which was banned during the Taliban regime, is again becoming the “the main recreational escape for Afghan boys and some men.”

Ways to participate:

Hold the spool Control the movement Be the kite runner

KITE FLYING

Amir holds the spool and controls the movement of the kite while Hassan is the kite runner.

EXPECTATIONS

Use class time wisely. Be prepared for the quizzes and literature circles

on the scheduled day.

Time to read.

SOURCES

http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/kiterunnerhigh_0.pdfhttp://www.rawa.org/rules.htmhttp://medianet.pps.net.doc.n00020_tg.pdfEncyclopedia Britannicahttp://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story