Name ______Period ______
To Kill a Mockingbird
Socratic Seminar Guiding Questions
EVERY ANSWER that you include in this worksheet must include a quote from To Kill a Mockingbird that supports or relates to your opinion/argument. You must cite these quotes using parenthetical citations.
Example Answer: In today’s society I am frustrated with the gender stereotypes that have been placed on me as a girl. Just as Jem believed that “girls always imagined things” (Lee 119), I commonly hear similar overgeneralizations about things that “all girls” do/should do including…
Part 1 Agree or Disagree:
Put an A next to the statements you agree with and a D next to the statements you disagree with.
1. Write at least one sentence defending your position for each statement.
2. Connect the statement with a specific plot event/chapter/quote from To Kill a Mockingbird (quotes and page number required).
3. When finished complete the statements on the back of this page. Prepare to discuss your answers in a future class!
_____ 1. All men are created equal.
_____ 2. Girls should act like girls.
_____ 4. Some words are so offensive that they should never be stated or written.
_____ 5. Under our justice system, all citizens are treated fairly in our courts of law.
_____ 6. The old adage, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you," is true.
_____ 7. Education is the great equalizer.
_____ 8. When the law does not succeed in punishing criminals, citizens should do so.
Part 2 Complete the Sentence: Now, complete each of the following statements. Don’t forget to relate these topics to a quote from the novel!
9. My idea of a hero is...
10. A defendant in a jury trial has the best chance of being found innocent if...
11. One advantage of living before 1950 was...
12. One disadvantage of living before 1950 was...
13. A Southern lady would never...
14. This novel helped me to better understand the following about myself…
(hint: attempt to relate to your self-identity AND role in society)
Part 3 Reflection Questions: Respond honestly to the following questions and continue to provide quotes from the novel that relate to your point of view (page numbers are still required).
15. Race prejudice is obviously a central theme in TKAM, but what other kinds of prejudice play roles in the novel? To what extent is our culture similar or different from that of Maycomb in the novel?
16. In what ways are sibling relationships important in the book? (While you should certainly look at Scout and Jem, consider others as well.) Have you had a sibling impact your life in a significant way? Can sibling relationships help/hurt/influence who a person becomes?
17. A. TKAM is a coming of age novel in which the young protagonists experience loss of innocence. Identify and discuss a moment of epiphany (an "ah hah! moment"/PARADIGM SHIFT) in the story in which a character has a realization about him or herself, society, or life in general.
17. B. Now… describe a personal moment of epiphany that you have experienced. (Reflect on a moment where you felt like you took a step towards adulthood- NO QUOTE needed for this answer)
18. Which of the adult characters do you like best or with which adult do you most closely identify? Why?
19. Which of the child characters do you like best or with which child do you most closely identify? Why?
20. Why do you feel our class read this novel during a unit where we are exploring personal identity/contributions to society? Do you feel this novel should remain in the honors 9 curriculum next year? (NO QUOTE needed for this answer)