Inspired by: The Arrival - Week 6

In the curriculum inspired by Shaun Tan's "The Arrival," students delve into the unique storytelling method of a silent graphic novel. The learning objective is to develop the ability to recommend books and provide reasoned justifications for their views. Students are encouraged to critically analyze the impact of the wordless format, discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of a silent graphic novel compared to a traditional written novel. Through reading Part 6 of "The Arrival," they consider how the absence of text influences their engagement with the narrative and their empathy towards the immigrant experience. Shaun Tan himself reflects on this choice, explaining how it immerses readers more deeply into the protagonist's perspective, compelling them to search for meaning without the guidance of written language. This concept is explored further as students prepare an oral presentation, articulating their thoughts on the effectiveness of graphic novels in storytelling.

Additionally, the lesson plan includes creative activities that encourage students to express themselves through performance and writing. They are tasked with writing and performing a play-script, capturing a scene where the protagonist's daughter aids a lost young woman, thereby echoing her father's earlier experiences as a newcomer. This activity emphasizes the cyclical nature of the immigrant's journey and the passing on of kindness. In another exercise, students focus on the use of punctuation to convey additional meaning and tone in writing. They examine the use of dashes in sentences to indicate parenthesis and are prompted to write diary entries that reflect on the character's experiences, using dashes to add emphasis and convey a more informal tone. These activities not only deepen their understanding of "The Arrival" but also enhance their literacy skills in a context that is both engaging and emotionally resonant.