To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird
The Thesis
Step one: Break down the
prompt.
PROMPT 1: The central issue of many novels and plays is
the difficulty in discerning the “truth” about a certain event
or situation based on the differing accounts of various
characters. Several times in To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee
questions who is responsible for Tom Robinson’s death.
Write a well-constructed para-essay discussing different
characters’ views about where this responsibility lays,
and include your own opinion towards the end of your
writing. Be sure to support your opinion and conclude
smoothly.
*Everyone will be writing on this first prompt. You can
choose the second one.
• The prompt begins with a general statement that
helps you get into the same mindset as the
author of the prompt. What is the general
statement? What does it mean? Rewrite the
general statement in your own words.
• The next statement directs you to think about a
specific idea regarding the general statement.
It’s now related to a specific work--To Kill a
Mockingbird and a specific situation--who is
responsible for Tom Robinson’s death.
• The next portion directs your writing. Look at the
verb: “discuss.” How do you discuss on paper?
How do you say what you believe without
personal pronouns?
• What characters would have differing views on this
quandary? Who would Atticus hold responsible?
Mayella Ewell? Calpurnia? Jem? Scout? Sheriff
Tate? Miss Maudie? Aunt Alexandra? Walter
Cunningham, Sr.?
•
When you are writing a para-essay, you want to stay
with only 2 or 3 points in order to stay clear and
focused. Would your discussion be more interesting
if each character held the same view or if they held a
differing views?
•
List two characters. What might their views be? Is
Scout going to blame society or a person (think
about her age)? What about Calpurnia? Write down
what you think your chosen characters’ views would
be.
• Now you are ready to write a simple thesis. EX:
By using Scout Finch as the narrator of her
novel, Harper Lee provides an innocent and
naive point of view regarding Tom’s death which
contrasts sharply with Calpurnia’s recognition of
society’s responsibility.
• With this as a thesis, what would you discuss
first? What example would you use to support
it? Make sure your example is detailed and
specific. Don’t use more than one or you will run
out of time.
• What would you discuss next? What support?
Choose only one in order to remain balanced.
Your para-essay should be layered like this:
• Thesis Statement
• Transitional sentence that leads to your
first discussion (Scout’s view).
• Establish Scout’s view.
• Support Scout’s view with a paraphrased
example from the text.
• Explain how the example ties back to
your thesis.
• Transition to next character (Calpurnia).
• Establish Calpurnia’s view on who is responsible
for Tom’s death.
• Provide a paraphrased example from the text that
supports your premise.
• Re-connect the support to your thesis.
• Offer your own opinion as to who is responsible
by making reference to both Scout and Calpurnia.
• Conclude smoothly with one sentence.
Next...
• Choose one other prompt and work with a
partner (or two) to develop a thesis and pre-write
for your chosen prompt.
• If you don’t finish your pre-write in class, you will
have to finish it at home. I will be taking up your
pre-write as well as your two para-essays, so you
have to have one.
Things to avoid...
•
the pronoun “you”
•
Any personal pronouns until you reach the part where you add your
own opinion in prompt 1. No other prompt asks for a personal
opinion, so you won’t use “I” in the 2nd para-essay.
•
Avoid starting a sentence with “this” or “because.”
•
Do NOT use “the reader” as a subject or object.
•
Write in literary present tense.
•
Do NOT re-tell the story. Discuss it without re-telling it.
•
Do not make a giant sweeping statement for your conclusion. EX:
Harper Lee is one of the greatest writers in American literature. DO
sum it up. EX: As a young, white child in the racist South, Scout lacks
the maturity to understand the complexities of social responsibility,
while Calpurnia, as a black woman, understands and even expects
white society to act the way it does.