1. 9 th Grade Core THEME ESSAY

2. To Kill a Mockingbird literary analysis There are many themes (insights or lasting truths about life) which literature offers readers. Often literature and its themes are based on the events and lessons we have experienced throughout history from the events that have shaped our lives. Write an essay which states and fully explains ONE major theme of a novel or play that we read as a class while also exploring a historical connection for that theme.

3. AdvancedProficientBasicBelow Basic Focus and Organization  Establishes a clear and specific thesis statement focused on a single theme  Incorporates sophisticated and subtle techniques to engage the reader  Purpose of the writing is clearly evident; focus is maintained throughout  Examples are presented in a way that is logical and easy to follow.  Format, paragraphing, and transitions are sophisticated and subtle  Establishes a clear thesis statement focused on a single theme  Includes title, author, genre in introduction  Purpose of the writing is evident; focus is largely maintained throughout  Examples are presented in a way that is easy to follow.  Format, paragraphing, and transitions are present  Thesis statement lacks a clear focus  Purpose of the writing is not readily apparent; focus wanders  Limited organizational structure that may be difficult to follow  Limited use of paragraphing and transitions  Lacks a clear thesis  Purpose of the writing is not apparent and lacks focus  Lacks logical structure Content  Well-chosen, fully-developed examples from the text that illustrate and analyze the importance of the selected theme to the author’s purpose  Thoroughly explains how the examples are connected to the thesis (theme)  Enhances examples with well-chosen citations from the text  Clearly summarizes and explains how an historical event connects to the theme providing strong analysis & cited examples  Insightfully explains the theme’s importance for characters & people today  Appropriate and adequately developed examples (2- 3) from the text that illustrate the theme and attempt to analyze its importance  Adequately explains how the examples are connected to the thesis (theme)  Includes citations from the text  Summarizes and explains how an historical event connects to the theme providing adequate analysis & cited examples  Explains the theme’s importance for characters and people today  Limited and undeveloped examples from the text that may not clearly illustrate the theme  Minimal explanation of how examples are connected to the thesis (theme)  May include citations from the text and research  Attempts to summarize and explain an historical event making limited connections to the theme  Attempts to explain the theme’s importance for characters and people today  Underdeveloped or confused examples that do not illustrate the theme  Lacks explanation of how examples are connected to the thesis (theme)  Lacks citations from the text  Fails to summarize and explain an historical event and its relation to the theme  Fails to explain theme’s importance for characters and people today Voice and Style  Fluent and understandable writing  Sophisticated & varied sentence structure  Awareness of audience  Precise and sophisticated word choice  Appropriate tone for the essay’s purpose  Awareness of pronoun usage  Writes in literary present tense  Writing is understandable  Varied sentence structure  Some awareness of audience  Appropriate and varied word choice  Some awareness of pronoun usage  Writes in literary present tense  Writing is somewhat difficult to understand  Repetitive/incorrect structure  Limited awareness of audience  Limited word choice  Limited awareness of pronoun usage  Limited use of literary present tense  Writing is difficult to understand  Flawed sentence structure  Disregard for audience  Inappropriate word choice  Lacks awareness of pronoun usage and literary present tense Conventions  Evident control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation  Paper is virtually error-free  Properly formatted citations/works cited page  Control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, & sentence formation  Errors in conventions do not significantly impact meaning  Properly formatted citations/works cited page  Limited control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation  Errors in conventions impact meaning  Little to no control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation  Errors severely impact meaning

4. To Kill a Mockingbird literary analysis Using your graphic organizer to guide your content, compose the essay’s body as it relates to tracing the thematic development in the text. But let us also ensure that we attempt to articulate the theme’s importance to the author’s purpose. This furthers your discussion beyond a summary by providing your insights.  The audience has read the text, so there isn’t a need to retell the story, but rather cite instances as you articulate how the author develops the theme.  Remember to write in literary present, to avoid 1 st /2 nd person pronouns, and incorporate your excerpts with a set up and a correct in-text citation.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird literary analysis Now lets transition from the text to a modern discussion.  As you go from the textual paragraph, create a “sophisticated” transition that clearly connects to two texts.  While Lee presents the reader insights into ______ in To Kill a Mockingbird, one can clearly see how it permeates modern society as well.  Now, the audience may not be familiar with the event(s), so there is a need to retell it (them) –keep the summary brief but make certain it is clear for the audience. Validate your research with TAG.  Be sure to clearly explain how this modern incident(s) connects to the theme that you’ve determined Harper Lee threaded throughout her text and how that theme remains significant to/in society. Include an excerpt(s) as textual evidence.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird literary analysis Intro Grabber- For a literary analysis, there are generally two ways to get started: discuss your motif or the literary element of theme. Thesis- it is the theme you created based on the motif TAG- this takes the general theme and connects it to the text; of note, you should also TAG the news article(s) that you introduced later in the text. Preview- give a glimpse into the body, in terms of the text, modern society, and/or the importance of theme

7.  History is known for its strict and discriminating attitude towards people of the African American race; whether it was slavery, limitations to ordinary things like water fountains, or the murder of blacks under unjust motives, they go through the poorest circumstances they could be put into. The Civil Rights Act and many more amendments have heightened equality for the blacks in that era; however, the existence of racial discrimination hasn’t faded away just yet. The motif of race plays an extremely important role in this novel. The color of skin shouldn’t determine how someone lives life or is treated; however, in the fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the characters live in an environment where hatred towards blacks is taught as a normality- only few think otherwise, and even fewer stand up to make a difference. The book shows evidence of this theme through the thoughts and actions of Atticus and Scout Finch, Cecil Jacobs, Calpurnia, Bob and Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson. Although this theme is widely seen in literature, it affects millions of individuals in society today, such as the murder of individuals purely based on their racial inheritance.

8. To Kill a Mockingbird literary analysis Conclusion Restate the thesis Review a general summary of the body Zinger- as always, the best zingers connect back to the grabber; in this case, it is a chance to voice your take on the theme

9.  Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is packed with themes that can be applied both to the characters and to the world today. The book’s main theme presents a look at how poorly and disrespectfully some are treated for no exact reason, other than the biases associated with race, the personalities of the characters, specifically the Ewells, the Finches, Cecil Jacobs, Calpurnia, and Tom Robinson. This theme is also extremely visible in daily life, specifically when blacks are murdered by racist police offices under no reasons. A lot of the time, the white officers don’t face any convictions or aggressions. Not only is this extremely unfair for the African Americans as a whole, but it illustrates the inequality that still exists among races today. If all men were created equally, then why should the level of melanin determine the likelihood of being hired for a job, the quality of schools one attends, or the arrest rate differences for similar offenses. Lee wrote this book to push the Civil Rights act further than it was and hopefully make a difference for the poorly and unfairly treated population- we can’t live with this racist and tainted mindset forever.

10. ARMS …a simple way to improve an essay A (add)  Missing task items, excerpts to further argument, details/descriptions or any content related items R (remove)  Unnecessary repetitions, unimportant excerpts, off task/topic information M (move)  Sentence structure for variety/style, paragraphs for emphasis, idea order for a logical flow S (substitute)  Overused words, weak verbs with strong verbs, better adjectives, generic words…for style and/or clarity

11. Revising/Editing A LITERARY ANALYSIS Revision is altering what you say (ARMS)ARMS Do I follow the elements of organization/blueprint- thesis and thread, intro/conclusion elements? Is my thesis/claim succinct? Do I then present the best examples and arguments to validate it? Do I include and set up my excerpts as the best evidence? Do I repeat the quote or “use” it? Is there a clear balance of insights/opinions of your own, in addition the specific evidence? Editing is more about conventions and how you say it Continue with some of the “S” (in terms of style). The obvious stuff -periods, title/title, no symbols, etc. The not so obvious stuff the spell check might not catch -homophones, repeated/missing words Scan and find all verbs –they need to be present tense if discussing plot! Double check citation rules (in-text and works cited, long/block quotes, etc.)

12. Core Turn-In  12 pt, double spaced, black –but font type can vary a little but should still be “educational”  Don’t forget MLA header and a creative title (same font as paper)  I’ll comment/grade electronically but will use the rubric to guide me/score it, so take a second to look it over (on my website)  Go into NoodleTools and create a Works Cited Page for the book and the article(s) that you discussed in your paper.  Name the file lastname_theme and “drop” it