TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD WRITING A LITERARY ESSAY

STAGES IN THE PROCESS Analysis Make sure you understand the question Planning Construct your argument. Organise your points Supply evidence for the points Writing Use your plan to write the essay Editing Check your language and style

Analysis of the topic: 1.Highlight the key words 2. Define terms 3. Answer the following question: “ What is this essay asking me to do?”

Planning 1.Brainstorm, tabulate, or list all the important points on the topic. 2.Write out your argument in a sentence or two. 3.Now consider your introduction and conclusion

Outline of essay Introduction Body Conclusion Elaborate on the argument Remember to paragraph The argument must build up logically Introduce the topic. Frame an argument Reinforce what you have proved. DO NOT INTRODUCE ANYTHING NEW INTO THE CONCLUSION

Paragraph practice P.E.E.R P = POINT Key sentence E = Explanation E = Evidence R = Refer Back to argument. IF YOU FOLLOW THIS FORMAT YOU WILL SUCCEED IN WRITING A GOOD ESSAY!

Writing the essay 1. Follow your plan. 2. Make sure you follow the correct paragraph construction. 3. DO NOT TELL THE STORY! The content you relate must be used as evidence. 4. Style must be: FormalPresent tense No slang, abbreviations, colloquialisms Write in the present tense Link your paragraphs Remember the title of the novel – “ To kill a mockingbird”, or To Kill a Mockingbird or italics.

Edit your essay 1. Read through the essay and check your language and spelling. 2. Make sure your paragraphs are linked. 3. Check your word limit.

NOW LET’S DO AN ESSAY TOGETHER!

To Kill a Mockingbird is a story about morals. Discuss the moral development of Scout and Jem through the novel. Definition: the ability to distinguish between right and wrong/ good and bad, ethical Go through the novel and describe how their perception of right and wrong, good and evil changed. What they learnt. Teachers: Atticus /Calpurnia/ Miss Maudie/ Mrs Dubose, Raymond Adolphus / Mr Cunningham Lessons Scout and Jem learn: Right to stand up for what you believe in, but you need to know how to do so (Defending Atticus) Not everyone has the same opportunities, so don’t judge (shoes) (From Atticus) Never harm something that is innocent (learning goodness) (Ms Maudie/ Atticus/ Heck Tate) Sometimes people are not what they seem: Raymond Adolphus (acceptance and tolerance) People are fallible / governed by their prejudice (The jury) Things don’t always work out the way you expect them to. Courage is displayed differently in different people (Mrs Dubose) Stick to your word, doing what is right (Atticus) Beginning of the novel – innocent: all goodness. Being moral is what happens when you begin to face evil.

OUTLINE OF ARGUMENT Introduction Body Conclusion Good role models. Circumstances also teach them Lessons they learn to develop their morals: Stand up for what is right Defend the good with dignity Do not harm anything innocent Acceptance of others Define morality Young- everything is good. As they get older/ develop a system of good and evil, right and wrong. The novel begins with Scout looking back at summer that passed and Jem’s broken arm. It ends with that incident- In the intervening stages – a journey has taken place: journey from innocence to understanding and responsibility. This is the journey of their moral development.

Morality can be defined as the ability to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. For Jem and Scout, in To Kill a Mockingbird this is easy when they are young. Everything is good to them. However, as they grow older their world undergoes a dramatic change and their definition is no longer as clearly cut. The novel shows us the moral development of Jem and Scout as they begin to understand more of the ways of the world. Point / Explanation/Evidence/ Reference back to topic

Point / Explanation/Evidence/ reference back to topic Jem and Scout are fortunate because they are surrounded by strong role models and people who are able to negotiate them through the transition from an idealistic world to a more realistic viewpoint of the world. These teachers are Atticus, Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, Mrs Dubose, Raymond Adolphus, Heck Tate and even Mr Cunningham. However, it is not only the teachers they find themselves surrounded by that are important, there are also circumstances which lead to their growth. These include going to school, the adventures with Boo Radley, visiting Calpurnia’s church and most significantly the trial of Tom Robinson and Atticus’ defence of it. All these factors contribute to their moral development

Point / Explanation/Evidence/ Reference back to topic As the novel progresses, Scout and Jem learn valuable lessons. One of these lessons is the lesson of courage and sticking with what you believe in despite what the world is telling you. They both learn this from the example set by Atticus. He is chosen to defend Tom Robinson and he does so even though the whole town turns against him. Through his example Scout and Jem are able to see that it is not easy to fight for the good.

Point / Explanation/Evidence/ Reference back to topic They also learn that it is necessary to fight for the good by holding their head up high and not retaliating. For Scout it is when she learns to hold her tongue against those who rile her – Walter Cunningham and her cousin Francis. For Jem it is not to harm others in his anger against them. This he learns when he damages Mrs Dubose’s flowers and then has to read to her to help her overcome her addiction. They both develop a sense that there is evil in the world and that it is important to stand up for the good, while at the same time maintaining dignity.

Point / Explanation/Evidence/ reference back to topic Another lesson in moral development they learn is the responsibility not to harm what is innocent. This is the famous “Mockingbird Lesson”. Their teacher here is Boo Radley. At first they begin with childish games, but they come to realise, that these games might be cruel and that he too is a person, worthy of dignity and respect. Jem learns this when he finds his mended pants on the fence. Scout learns this right at the end of the novel when she finally meets Boo Radley. These are significant lessons in their moral development.

There is another lesson the children learn which contributes to their moral understanding. They learn to accept others. When they visit Calpurnia’s church they see that there are people who have not had the same opportunities they have had. They learn this too when Mr Cunningham gives payment in kind rather than cash. Finally, they learn from Mr Dolphus Raymond that the prejudices they hold are not valid. The moral lesson of acceptance, is one of the most profound lessons the young children learn. Point / Explanation/Evidence/ reference back to topic

The novel begins with Scout reflecting on Jem and his broken arm. The novel ends with that incident. In the retelling of what happened, Scout and Jem go on a journey. They move from innocence to the understanding and knowledge that the world has both good and evil in it. Most significantly, they learn how to negotiate those forces. That is the journey of their moral development. Point / Explanation/Evidence/ reference back to topic