TKAM Essay

							          TKAM                       Literary Analysis Assignment


    •   100 points possible

    •   DUE Dates:
          o Complete the Pre-Writing Assignment by: _________________________. 15 points possible.

             o Complete the Literary Analysis Outline by: ________________________. 20 points possible.

             o Complete, typed rough draft:__________________________. If you DO NOT have your
               rough draft on this date, 10% will be deducted from your final score.

             o Final Draft: _____________________________. You must also upload to Turnitin.com by
               midnight on ______________________ in order to receive full credit. If you do not upload to
               Turnitin.com by ___________________, 10% will be deducted form your score each day that it
               is not uploaded. If your essay is not uploaded by _______________________ night, you will
               receive a 0 on this assignment

    •   Topic: In a five-paragraph essay, explain how one of the main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird
        demonstrates one of the novel’s themes.

To conclude our study of To Kill a Mockingbird, you will be composing a five-paragraph essay that focuses on
connecting one of the characters to one of the themes we have explored in class. Over the next few class meetings,
you will receive specific instructions on how to go about each step of composing this essay. Here is the list of
elements your essay will have:
         1. An introduction that uses the “funnel” technique – general to specific.
         2. Thesis statement
         3. Three paragraphs, each supporting or proving your thesis
         4. Each paragraph will have a topic sentence, quote, analysis of the quote, connection to the thesis, and a
             transition
         5. A minimum of one direct quote in each body paragraph. You must use at least 3 of the 4 Quote
             Integration Techniques discussed in class (see Quote Integration Handout).
         6. A conclusion that uses the “reverse funnel” technique – specific to general
         7. General understanding of grammatical concepts studied to this point.
         8. All Writing Conventions on the “Forbidden Errors” handout

NOTE: This is not a research essay. The purpose of this essay is for you to come up with, organize, and present
your own thoughts on a selected theme. You will not refer to any print or online sources. Any evidence of such
outside influence will be detected by Turnitin.com, even if it is properly documented, and goes outside the
parameters of this assignment; therefore, the result will be a 0 on this assignment.




Comp/Lit 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird                                                                     Mrs. Minyard
          TKAM                       Literary Analysis – Pre Writing Assignment


Topic: In a five-paragraph essay, explain how one of the main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates
one of the novel’s themes.

Step One: Develop a Theme Statement
Use your “Theme Mapping” page to compose a theme statement. Write this theme statement in the box below.




Step Two: Brainstorm
Refer back to your “Theme Mapping” page. Look for a character who consistently comes up under your particular
theme. How does this character exemplify, show, or demonstrate the theme? Write as many ideas-first thoughts-
as you can in response to this question.




Step Three A: Form a Thesis Statement
Review your brainstorm box. Look for three different ways that your character demonstrates the theme. Express
each way in a word or short phrase below.




Step Three B: For a Thesis Statement
Now combine the main idea from your theme statement and the three points from Three A to form one statement,
one claim, one argument—your thesis!




Comp/Lit 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird                                                                  Mrs. Minyard
           TKAM                      Literary Analysis – Outline Assignment

Complete the bolded sections only
The point of this outline is to organize your thoughts and arguments before you dive into your essay. Do not worry
about commentary/analysis, transitions and conclusions at this point. I want to be sure that you have your
examples and a solid thesis in place before moving on. This is DUE ________________________________

    I.       Introduction:
             a. Hook:
             b. Transition w/ titles and authors
             c. Background for each story
             d. Thesis:




    II.      Body Paragraph #1-Topic #1 ____________________ (see chart on prewriting page)
             a. Topic Sentence




             b. Example #1




             c. Analysis/Commentary
             d. Transition
             e. Example #2




             f. Analysis/Commentary
             g. Conclusion/Transition to Body Paragraph #2

    III.     Body Paragraph #2-Topic #2 ____________________ (see chart on prewriting page)
             a. Topic Sentence




             b. Example #1




Comp/Lit 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird                                                                   Mrs. Minyard
             c. Analysis/Commentary
             d. Transition
             e. Example #2




             f. Analysis/Commentary
             g. Conclusion/Transition to Body Paragraph #3
    IV.      Body Paragraph #3-Topic #3 ____________________ (see chart on prewriting page)
             a. Topic Sentence




             b. Example #1




             c. Analysis/Commentary
             d. Transition
             e. Example #2




             f. Analysis/Commentary
             g. Conclusion

    V.       Conclusion Paragraph
             a. Restate Thesis
             b. Recap main points from body paragraphs
             c. End with a general/universal statement




Comp/Lit 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird                                                       Mrs. Minyard
          TKAM                       Quote Integration

In your essay, you will be required to use at least THREE quotations from the text of To Kill a Mockingbird. Below
you will find the guidelines for how to use quotations in your essay. Be sure to follow these guidelines carefully. If
you have any trouble with this requirement, you may attend tutorial or go to the Writing Center (Room 1) for
additional assistance.

Example 1: Imbed less than a sentence
        Atticus tells Aunt Alexandra that Calprnia is “a member of this family” (Lee 137), and he will not fire her
        despite Alexandra’s belief that Calpurnia is no longer needed.

Example 2: Use ellipses to leave out a middle section of a sentence
        According to rumors about Boo Radley, Boo “is about six feet tall, his eyes pop…and he drools most of the
        time” (Lee 13).

Example 3: Display more than a sentence (or a long sentence)-FOUR or more typed lines:
        After Mrs. Dubose dies, Atticus explains to the children his definition of courage:
                        It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it
                        through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. (Lee 112)
        He goes on to tell the children how Mrs. Dubose won because she was able to break her addiction to
        morphine before he died. She dies, “beholden to nothing and nobody” (Lee 111), just like she wanted to.

Example 4: Change the grammar of the sentence to fit your own sentence
        “Just standing on the Radley porch [is] enough” (Lee 58), for Scout to begin to understand Boo Radley in
        a new way.

Example 5: Lead into the quote with he said or she said.
        Mayelle sobbed, “‘Don’t want him doin’ me like he done Papa, tryin’ to make him out lefthanded…’” (Lee
        179).

Example 6: Include a sentence with dialogue.
        “‘Hypocrites, Mrs. Perkins, born hypocrites,’ Mrs. Merriweather was saying. ‘At least we don’t have that
        sin on our shoulders down here…’” (Lee 234).




Comp/Lit 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird                                                                       Mrs. Minyard
          TKAM                       Quote Integration – Helpful Hints


    1. Always introduce quotes with their speaker and /or context, and comment on the quote before moving on
        to your next thought (commentary).


    2. Whenever possible, it is better to merge/integrate your quoted passage into your own text, rather than
        setting it apart from the paragraph. Let the author’s words illustrate your point, but try to use the fewest
        words possible.


    3. DO NOT summarize the meaning of the passage you are quoting either before or after you quote it. This
        is repetitive.


    4. Whenever possible, work the passage into the grammar of your own sentence so that it flows smoothly with
        your prose (text).


    5. Ask yourself if you could use more quotations as evidence to back up your points. Several shorter
        quotations are often more effective than fewer longer ones.


    6. Keep the verb tense and the pronoun case in quoted passages as in your text. Use brackets to make the
        changes. Do not use both the original wording and the altered wording. The brackets show that a change
        has been made. For example:
                 Atticus explains to Scout that he took the Tom Robinson case because if he didn’t, “[he] couldn’t
                 hold [his’ head up in town...[and] [he] couldn’t ever tell [her] and Jem what to do anymore” (Lee
                 75).


    7. When you do separate a long passage out from the rest of your text, be sure to indent the entire passage
        one inch from the margin, not just the first line. Also, quotations marks are not necessary to identify a
        quote when the whole passage is indented, unless the quote is piece of a conversation. The period at the
        end of the long passage goes before the parentheses, instead of after.




Comp/Lit 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird                                                                       Mrs. Minyard
                                     Character & Theme Analysis Essay Grading Rubric
                                                To Kill a Mockingbird Essay
Note: Items checked below are areas that have been completed well. Items marked with a “0” are problem areas that need improvement.
MLA Format (10 points – 1 point off for each error) _______/10

_____ Correct left hand heading                   _____ Proper pagination in right corner              _____ Title centered, standard font

_____ One inch margins                            _____ Proper citation of titles                      _____ Quotations in MLA format

_____ Block Quote included and correctly cited              _____ Thesis statement and all topic sentences underlined

Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage (10 points)_______/10                                 (1 point off each time error is made)
_____ Correct Spelling                                      _____ Apostrophes                                   _____ Run-Ons

_____ Commas                                                _____ Capitalization                                _____ Miscellaneous

_____ Fragments                                             _____Present Tense


Content (80 points)
Introductory Paragraph (20 points) _________/20

_____ Hook grabs attention with an opening comment and hook development

_____ Transition/mentions title and author

_____ Background information on literature (summary of story)

_____ Thesis is an arguable opinion—sound, substantial, and sophisticated

Body Paragraphs 1-3 (15 points) _________/45

_____ Clear topic sentence that identifies your point and supports the thesis

_____ Several examples (at least two or three) are presented

_____ Examples are developed, discussed, and analyzed

_____ Quotes are fully introduced and explained as to relevancy to topic; and are blended well into the paragraph

_____ Transitions are properly used to link examples and ideas within the paragraph

_____ Closing sentence summing up the ideas of the paragraph (your own words, not a quote) & transition to next body paragraph

Concluding Paragraph (15 points) _______/15

_____ Thesis restated in some way (not word for word)

_____ Reviews/recaps main points

_____ Reconnects to the introduction or hook in some way

_____ Moves from specific to general (reverse funnel)/Makes universal statement at end

                                                                       Content_________/80

TOTAL SCORE:                                  /100

Comp/Lit 9 – To Kill a Mockingbird                                                                                              Mrs. Minyard