The Girl Who Can By: Ama Ata Aidoo Empowerment Poster

Introduction

Have you ever been told you couldn't do something because of who you are—your age, your gender, or where you come from? In the powerful short story "The Girl Who Can," the Ghanaian author Ama Ata Aidoo tells the story of a young girl named Adjoa who faces just that. Her grandmother and others in her life have very fixed ideas about what a woman should be. But Adjoa has a gift, a unique ability that might just change their minds. This WebQuest will guide you to explore Adjoa's journey, the themes of gender expectations and self-confidence, and help you connect her story to the real world.

Task

You are a literary critic and a creative writer! Your mission is to create a "Character Empowerment Poster" that demonstrates your understanding of the story.

Your poster will have two parts:

Analytical Section: An analysis of the characters and the main conflict in the story.
Creative & Reflective Section: A short, creative piece of writing from a character's perspective and a personal reflection.

You will present your final poster to a small group of your classmates.

Process

Follow these steps to complete your task. Use the provided web links to conduct your research.

Step 1: Read and Understand the Story

First, read the short story "The Girl Who Can" carefully. You can find it in your textbook or use the online version below.
Resource Link 1: British Council: "The Girl Who Can" PDF
- Note: As you read, take notes on the characters of Adjoa, her mother, and her grandmother (Nana).

Step 2: Research the Author and Context

Understanding the author and her background helps us understand why she wrote this story.
Resource Link 2: Encyclopedia Britannica: Ama Ata Aidoo
Resource Link 3: Postcolonial Web: Aidoo's Life and Work
- *Take notes on 2-3 key facts about Ama Ata Aidoo's life and her common themes.*

Step 3: Analyze the Characters and Conflict

On the left side of your poster, create a section titled "Character Analysis."
Answer these questions in your analysis:
1. How does Nana view women and their roles? Use a quote from the story to support your answer.
2. How is Adjoa's mother caught between the old ways (Nana) and the new (Adjoa)?
3. What is Adjoa's special talent, and how does it become her "voice"?
4. What is the main conflict in the story? (Person vs. Person? Person vs. Society?)

Step 4: Get Creative and Reflect

On the right side of your poster, create a section titled "Finding a Voice."
Option A (Diary Entry): Write a diary entry from Adjoa's perspective after the race. What would she write about her feelings, her victory, and her changed relationship with Nana?
Option B (Letter): Write a short letter from Nana to a friend, explaining how her feelings about Adjoa and her "thin legs" have changed after the race.
Personal Reflection: Below your creative writing, write 2-3 sentences answering this: "Describe a time you felt proud of an ability you have. How did it make you feel confident, like Adjoa?"

Step 5: Design Your Poster

Combine your work from Step 3 and Step 4 onto one poster (can be digital like a Google Slide or on physical paper).
Make it visually appealing! Include the title of the story, the author's name, and relevant images or simple drawings.

Evaluation

Criteria	Excellent(4)	Good(3)	Developing(2)
Analysis and Understanding	Accurately analyzes all characters and the central conflict with strong support from the story.	Analyzes characters and conflict with some support from the story.	Identifies characters and conflict but with minimal or inaccurate support.
Creative Writing	Creative piece is insightful, closely connected to the story's themes, and shows clear perspective.	Creative piece is connected to the story and shows a clear perspective.	Creative piece is only loosely connected to the story or character.
Reflection and Design	Reflection is thoughtful and personal. Poster is neat, organized, and creative.	Reflection is clear. Poster is neat and organized.	Reflection is unclear. Poster is messy or disorganized.
Total:			30 pts

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have delved into the world of Adjoa and discovered how a young girl used her unique talent to challenge stereotypes and find her own voice. By analyzing the characters and stepping into their shoes through creative writing, you have gained a deeper appreciation for Ama Ata Aidoo's message about potential, confidence, and breaking barriers. Remember, everyone has a unique "can" inside them. What's yours?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKfVZvxMkRjKCfJok-WIHO-3deGOL2LMwVSavaCSmcHrSB3g/viewform?usp=header

Credits

Aidoo, A. A. (1997). The Girl Who Can and Other Stories. Sub-Saharan Publishers.
British Council: For providing the accessible PDF version of the short story.
Encyclopedia Britannica: For the authoritative biographical information on Ama Ata Aidoo.
Postcolonial Web: For the detailed academic context on the author's life and work.

Teacher Page

This activity was created by: Teacher Lester

His full name is James Lester G. Manatad, but you can call him Teacher Lester. He is a Licensed Teacher pursuing Master Degree with an expertise in Literature.