*Mr. Alper’s Sample Critical Lens Essay:

*Mr. Alper’s Sample Critical Lens Essay:
Introduction—
J.F. Clarke said, “The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys his or her conscience.” This means
that the bravest person is one who stands up for what he/she knows is right, even if it is not easy or accepted by
others. This quote proves to be true in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Atticus Finch and
Tom Robinson are two characters who exhibit bravery by doing what they know is right, despite the
consequences that would follow their actions. Lee uses characterization to show how this occurs.
Explanation of Introduction—
J.F. Clarke said, “The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys his or her conscience” (state the
Critical Lens quote). This means that the bravest person is one who stands up for what he/she knows is right,
even if it is not easy or accepted by others (interpretation of the quote—use one of the five we wrote in class).
This quote proves to be true in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee (whether you agree or disagree
with the quote without using „I‟ and then state T.A.G.). Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson are two characters
who exhibit bravery by doing what they know is right, despite the consequences that would follow their actions
(thesis statement—applies back to the critical lens—while stating the two characters that will be used in each
body paragraph). Lee uses characterization to show how this occurs (transition sentence, which expresses the
literary element or elements that will be used in each body paragraph to help prove your thesis).
First Body Paragraph—
In the novel, Atticus Finch is characterized as a moral, patient, and level-headed man, who is Maycomb
County‟s leading attorney. He is concerned with being fair and continually tries to do what he thinks and
knows to be right. For example, Atticus tries to teach his children the difference between right and wrong and
raise them in a way that contradicts the time period and society in which they live. Rather than raise his
children to be racist like the other people in the town and country, Atticus instead tells his children, “You never
really know a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk
around in it” (39). Atticus is trying to explain to his kids that you cannot pre-judge someone based on first
impressions, including race, gender, or physical appearance, but must wait until you know the person in order to
make a fair assessment of their character. In this way, Atticus teaches his children to treat all people equally
regardless of how they act, say, or what they look like, which goes against the thought process of most of the
country and their county during the 1930s. A second example is...
Explanation of Body Paragraph—
In the novel, Atticus Finch is characterized as a moral, patient, and level-headed man, who is Maycomb
County‟s leading attorney (literary element—describes Atticus, which goes along with the quote). He is
concerned with being fair and continually tries to do what he thinks and knows to be right. For example,
Atticus tries to teach his children the difference between right and wrong and raise them in a way that
contradicts the time period and society in which they live (First example that proves the critical lens quote and
goes along with how Atticus is characterized). Rather than raise his children to be racist like the other people in
the town and country, Atticus instead tells his children, “You never really know a person until you consider
things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (39) (First quotation from the
story that proves the first example, which proves the critical lens quote). Atticus is trying to explain to his kids
that you cannot pre-judge someone based on first impressions, including race, gender, or physical appearance,
but must wait until you know the person in order to make a fair assessment of their character. In this way,
Atticus teaches his children to treat all people equally regardless of how they act, say, or what they look like,
which goes against the thought process of most of the country and their county during the 1930s (Explanation of
quote from the story). A second example is... (Beginning of second example)