To Kill a Mockingbird Literary Analysis Essay

Directions: Write a well organized 5 paragraph essay on one of the following essay prompts.

Length Requirements: 500-750 words (2-3 typed pages) A good rule of thumb is that one hand-written page will end up at ½ page typed.

Formatting Requirements: Double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, standard 1” margins

Introduction Requirements:

• Hook • Author’s full name • Title of novel

• Brief plot summary – in two to three sentences briefly remind your readers what happened in the story. Highlight the major action of the story, especially those parts that are relevant to your analysis.

Thesis Statement: The thesis should list the three points you are going to make in answering your question.

Body Paragraph Requirements: Each body paragraph should include at least one citation from the text.

Essay Tone: Formal - Do not refer to yourself in the essay. Do not say, “I think,” “I feel,” “I believe,” “In my opinion,” or make any other reference to yourself.

Essay Prompts

Option 1: Describe the ways in which economic class (how much money people have) affect the events in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by analyzing at least 3 significant moments, dealing with class, from the novel.

Thesis Statement Starter: Economic class in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird affects the events in the novel by…

Option 2: Describe how racism affects the events in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by analyzing at least 3 significant moments, dealing with race, from the novel?

Thesis Statement Starter: Racism in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird affects the events in the novel by…

Option 3: Jem and Scout comes of age in this novel. Describe how Jem OR Scout change from the beginning to the end of the novel by analyzing at least three significant growing up moments from the novel. Be sure to explain why these moments are significant.

Thesis Statement Starter: The protagonist [Jem Finch OR Scout Finch] changes throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by…

Option 4: A recurring symbol throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is the story Atticus tells his children, “…it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Explain this metaphor and analyze the ways in which Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are all metaphorically portrayed as mockingbirds.

Thesis Statement Starter: In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are all metaphorically portrayed as mockingbirds because…

Option 5: Atticus tells the children several times that they need to “walk in someone else's shoes” before judging another person. Describe three times in the novel when Atticus, Scout, and/or Jem try to put themselves in someone else's shoes. How does this change the way they view the other people’s situations? What role does this advice play in sympathy and compassion?

Thesis Statement Starter: In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus’ point to “walk in someone else’s shoes” before judging another person is seen . . .

Option 6: In the last few lines of To Kill a Mockingbird Scout says, "he was real nice..." and Atticus replies, "most people are, Scout, when you finally see them." Describe three times in the novel when Jem and Scout learn that their first impressions of a person are not correct.

Thesis Statement Starter: The protagonists Jem and Scout from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird initially misjudge...

NAME: ______

ATTACH THIS RUBRIC TO THE FRONT OF YOUR FINAL PAPER

Requirement / Pts. / Met / Partial / Not Met
Introduction – 20 points
Essay begins with an attention grabbing hook / 3
Intro paragraph with a summary of the novel / 5
The book title and the author’s name is mentioned / 2
Thesis statement that clearly addresses the essay prompt / 10
Body Paragraph 1 – 30 points
Clearly supports the first section of thesis / 5
Textual Citation is relevant and properly formatted / 10
Quote is explained or effective tied in to the topic / 5
Examples and ideas fully develop and explain topic / 10
Body Paragraph 2 – 30 points
Clearly supports the second section of thesis / 5
Textual Citation is relevant and properly formatted / 10
Quote is explained or effective tied in to the topic / 5
Examples and ideas fully develop and explain topic / 10
Body Paragraph 3 – 30 points
Clearly supports the third section of thesis / 5
Textual Citation is relevant and properly formatted / 10
Quote is explained or effective tied in to the topic / 5
Examples and ideas fully develop and explain topic / 10
Conclusion – 10 points
Conclusion restates thesis and gives opinion about the text / 5
Summaries and wraps up paper / 5
Formatting and Style – 30 points
Title is centered at top and relates to your topic / 2
Each paragraph is indented and formatted correctly / 3
Transitions used clearly to organize / 5
Tone / 5
Grammar / 10
Spelling / 10
TOTAL / ______/ 150

Total Score______Percent______Letter Grade______

Comments:

Introduction
Thesis: ______
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Body Paragraph 1
Point from thesis- ______
Quotes and Examples-
A.  ______
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B.  ______
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C.  ______
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Body Paragraph 2
Point from thesis- ______
Quotes and Examples-
A.  ______
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B.  ______
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C.  ______
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Body Paragraph 3
Point from thesis- ______
Quotes and Examples-
A.  ______
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B.  ______
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C.  ______
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Conclusion