To Kill a Mockingbird

Unit Essential Question: How does censorship, in all forms, affect society today?

Before Reading the Novel, To Kill A Mockingbird:

Step 1:

Set a purpose for reading.

It is always a good idea to set a purpose for your reading. It will help you to understand the text and hopefully give you motivation to read as well.

As you read the novel, think about these questions:

1) Why are we reading the novel To Kill a Mockingbird today when it was written in the 1960’s?

2) Do the ideas in the book have any importance today?

3) What does the book mean in terms of how I think about myself, my family, my peers, my community, my country and humanity?

Step 2:

View the PBS website below about the Scottsboro Trial. Harper Lee based some of the events of To Kill A Mockingbird on this trial. Be sure to read the timeline and the description of the film.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/

Step 5: After you view the website, write a journal entry with your response to the questions below. These are about the initial reaction to the events. We will come back to this for further exploration later.

1) Were you surprised by what happened to “The Scottsboro Boys?”

2) Did they get a fair trial? Why or Why not?

3) Do things like this happen today? Give examples.

Step 6:

View the powerpoint presentation below on elements of a novel, as background for reading.

Later in the unit you will be asked to use the information in this powerpoint so it is important that you view it. You can always come back to this later to refresh your memory.

Narrative Elements to watch for while reading-

• plot
• setting
• conflict (internal/external)
• theme
• character development
• mood, tone, style
• author’s purpose
• point of view
• design

While Reading the novel

If you sometimes have difficulty with reading novels like this one, listening to an audio book is a nice option. You may also purchase an audio version of the book at: Amazon.

Effective readers ask questions to clarify their thinking. The first chapter of any book can be confusing, and yes, it can also be boring. The first chapter of this novel includes a lot of details about the town of Maycomb and its history.

PART ONE

During Reading Ch. 1 (pages 3-19)

Step 1:

From the description of the town, draw a map of the area of Maycomb detailed in chapters 1-3. Include the following on the map-

Finch House

The Radley's

School

Miss Maudie Atkin's house

Miss Stephanie Crawford

Dubose house

Include a compass and legend of important landmarks mentioned in the chapters. Label each landmark.

Step 2:

Harper Lee based Maycomb, Alabama (a fictional town) on her own home town of Monroeville, Alabama. Read the National Geographic article and visit the Monroeville town website. Then answer the following question.

During Reading Ch. 4-6

Step 1: Quick Write

Write your response to the question below:

Often books or movies are similar in themes, characters, or plot. Name another book or movie that is similar to To Kill A Mockingbird in some way. Explain at least two similarities between both writings.

Step 2:

Education, prejudice, bravery, trust, and femininity have emerged as themes in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Choose one of these themes. Write one detailed paragraph including five examples of how one theme is represented in Chapters 4-6.

FCA 1- Chosen theme specifically stated in first sentence

FCA 2- Five examples cited from chapters 4-6 (put page number after example)

FCA 3- Importance of theme to the novel specifically stated through each example

During Reading Ch. 7-8

These chapters begin to hint at future controversy. Controversy surrounds this novel. Visit the links below and answer the following questions.

Step 1: Quick Write

"Books Under Fire"

100 most frequently challenged books

1st amendment

American Library Association

1. Where does the novel appear on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged book list in 2000-2009?

2. Name two other titles that you were surprised to find on this list.

3. A challenge occurs when someone attempts to remove a book from school curriculums

and libraries; if the material is removed, it is considered banned. Why have books like To Kill a

Mockingbird been challenged?

4. Why do others disagree with this challenge?

Step 2: Debate the issue

Using the above texts as well as the novels read in class, take a position on the topic of censorship of books. Fill in the For and Against chart for the position you choose. For every argument, make sure you include the direct text evidence to support the position.

Students should be free to read anything they want to because books that deal with tough issues can help young people cope with these things in their own lives. Youth can learn better ways to respond to drugs or racism or violence if they can read about characters facing those issues.

Part II

In many ways, racism is a form of censorship.

Several themes are brought to light in this second part of the novel. Controversies and tensions that have been hinted at and an underlying part of the story are now out in the open.

Racism, Prejudice, and Courage are examples of these themes.

The second part of this novel focus on the trial of Tom Robinson. As you read, making connections to historical information and present day events will help in your understanding.

Keep in mind the information about the Scottsboro Boys' trial from the introduction activities. These directly reflect on the trial in the novel.

During Reading Ch. 12-14

Click the picture to learn about Jim Crow Laws and how the south keep segregation alive.

Using the chart completed while investigating Jim Crow Laws, answer the question:

How does Atticus silently protest Jim Crow laws?

Using reasonable best effort, write an essay using the ACES format.

FCA 1- Specific ways Atticus protests stated in the form of a thesis statement

FCA 2- at least 2 specific examples from the novel (chapter, pg. ) are made to support position

(2 per body paragraph)

FCA 3- all novel examples are supported by specific cites from research

During Reading Ch. 15

Step 1:

As you read the chapter, pay close attention to the examples of courage over-coming fear.

Step 2:

Answer the following Type 3 writing:

How is courage shown in this chapter?

Using reasonable best effort, write an essay using the ACES format.

FCA 1- topic sentence introduces title and topic

FCA 2- at least 3 specific examples that illustrate courage

FCA 3- each specific example is explained to tell how it illustrates courage

During Reading Ch. 16-17

Step 1:

Comparative Writing-

Read the timeline of Harper Lee's life and important events.

Based on the timeline at the link above, write a comparative essay for or against the following statement:

The events in To Kill a Mockingbird are a direct comparison to Harper Lee's life.

Using reasonable best effort, write an essay using the ACES format.

FCA 1- Points of comparison stated in the form of a thesis statement

FCA 2- at least 3 specific real-life events are compared to specific events or characters in the novel

FCA 3- all comparisons are supported by specific cites from article and novel*

*1 cite article, 1 cite novel PER BODY PARAGRAPH

During Reading Ch. 18-19

Step 1:

Comparative Writing-

Read the events of the Scottsboro case:

Scottsboro Trial-written notes and photos

Voices of the Trial

Timeline of the Trial

Map of the events

Read some of the documents written during and after the Scottsboro incident.

New York Times Article 1937

Based on the details found at the links above, write a comparative essay for or against the following statement:

The events in the Tom Robinson trial are a direct comparison to real-life events of the Scottsboro case.

Using reasonable best effort, write an essay using the ACES format.

FCA 1- Points of comparison stated in the form of a thesis statement

FCA 2- at least 3 specific real-life events are compared to specific events or characters in the novel (topic sentence)

FCA 3- all comparisons are supported by specific cites from articles and novel *

*Must use a cite from the articles and the novel in each body paragraph

**Must use information from at least 2 different articles

During Reading Ch. 20-21

Step 1:

Read the articles at the links below.

(note: if the links do not work, the articles may be downloaded as a Word document at the bottom)

Trayvon Martin shooting and racial profiling

Open letter to demand arrest in Black Panther bounty

Argumentative Writing-

Based on the articles, discussions in class, and events in the novel, write an argumentative essay for or against the following statement:

Racism has a negative impact on society today.

Using reasonable best effort, write an essay using the ACES format.

FCA 1- Position stated in the form of a thesis statement

FCA 2- at least 3 specific arguments are made to support position (mention opposite viewpoint)

FCA 3- all arguments are supported by specific cites from article and novel

During Reading Ch. 22-23

Rodney King Beating- reaction to verdict