Three Cups of Tea Background Information: Name:______
Because historical, geographical, and political context plays an important part in Three Cups of Tea, please research and give a brief presentation tomorrow on the background of one of the following topics. Presentations may be oral or multi-media. You may use a variety of media, including graphic art and photographs, video, music, models, replicas, and costumes. Report briefly on your highlighted topic:
Karakoram Range Braldu River
Deosai Plateau Pakistan’s political relationships with its neighbors
Pakistan’s internal relationships between tribes The effects of high altitude on human body systems
Paiyu cha Pakistan culture (food, clothing, daily life, etc)
Muslim faith Muslim prayer times and Mecca
Mountain porters Constructing a (simple) bridge over mtn. plateau
The effects of limited gene pool on a tribal society Jean Hoerni
Poppies (cultivation and uses) amber (formation, uses, etc)
Pennies for Peace Pakistan statistics (literacy rates, death and birth rates, national products, etc)
Balti tribe
You will be the “expert” on this topic as we read this novel. Please be prepared to answer questions about your topic and to record information as others present.
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Geography Connection- see maps
Vocabulary: gorge, lassi, silhouetted, chapatti, winced, shalwar kamiz, perservering, Sahib, epilepsy, Allah, ibex, Angrezi, lentil, tomar, nurmadhar, rupees, “Allah Akbhar!”, “As-salaam Alaikum!”, “Cheezaley!”, “Inshalla”
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Read Chapters 1-4 (do not read past the end of Chapter 4 before doing the following assignments)
CHOOSE ONE (#1 or #2)
Reading Response: Please be sure to answer in complete sentences and cite sources as needed. Follow rubric.
1- The first line of the story begins “Greg Mortenson was lost.” The word “lost” can have both literal and figurative meaning. State what you think the author meant by this sentence.
Personal Response: Please be sure to answer in complete sentences and follow the writing rubric.
2- Motivation is what drives us to do something. In this novel, Greg Mortenson is motivated to do something to commemorate the life of his sister. Explain his motivation, his original intention, and how that intention grew into a faithful promise. If you wanted to honor someone special to you, who would you honor and what would you do to honor that person? What would you need to do to accomplish that goal?
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Character:
Writers employ a variety of characters while weaving their tales. Beyond the standard definitions of protagonist (the main character in a literary work) and antagonist (the main character or force that opposes the protagonist in a literary work), recognizing the types of characters and the parts they play while reading an interesting story can add to the experience.
Dynamic Character - a character which changes during the course of a story or novel. The change in outlook or character is permanent. Sometimes a dynamic character is called a developing character.
Flat Character - a character who reveals only one, maybe two, personality traits in a story or novel, and the trait(s) do not change.
Round Character - a well developed character who demonstrates varied and sometimes contradictory traits. Round characters are usually dynamic (change in some way over the course of a story).
Static Character – a character that remains primarily the same throughout a story or novel. Events in the story do not alter a static character’s outlook, personality, motivation, perception, habits, etc.
During Reading- As you read, look for evidence to determine whether the character is dynamic, flat, round, or static. Is the information about the character explicit (stated in the text) or implicit (implied)? Fill out the character graphic organizer for each character. Mark “E” for explicit facts and “I” for implicit facts.
Greg Mortenson Haji Ali Dr. Jean Hoerni Jahan (Haji Ali’s granddaughter)
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Read Chapters 5-10 (do not read past the end of Chapter 10 before doing the following assignments)
CHOOSE ONE (#1 or #2 or #3)
Personal Response: Please be sure to answer in complete sentences and follow the writing rubric.
1-Greg writes 580 letters to people telling them about the need for education in Pakistan. Did the response he received surprise you? If you were planning to build the school in Korphe, who would you write to and why?
Reading Response: Please be sure to answer in complete sentences and cite sources as needed. Follow rubric.
2-Mortenson has great news to deliver to Haji Ali about the school, but first he takes tea. What does this reveal about Mortenson? What does taking tea reveal about the Balti culture and traditions? Why is this significant to the story? Describe a custom or a tradition of hospitality from your culture.
3- How does Greg feel when he returns to the US with the school not built? Did he agree with Haji Ali’s decision? Explain the sense of community in this village as evident from the chapters to this point.
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Cause and Effect Chart- Use this organizer to chart the cause/effect relationship between important events in the story. Some of the events are already listed.
CAUSE / EFFECTGreg wants to honor the memory of his sister Krista.
Villagers of Korphe take care of Greg Mortenson.
Jean Hoerni donates money.
They are unable to bring supplies to Korphe without a bridge.
Mortenson shares a third cup of tea.