TKAM Passage Analysis Essay English 9 Perry High School

Step 1: Understand the prompt What strategies does Harper Lee use in order to convey her message that stereotyping, gossip or rumors can lead to prejudicial feelings of fear and hatred?

Step 1: Understand the prompt What (2) strategies does Harper Lee use in order to convey her message that stereotyping, gossip or rumors can lead to prejudicial feelings of fear and hatred?

Step 1: Understand the prompt What strategies does Harper Lee use … What are these strategies? Imagery, Diction, Syntax Figurative Language (metaphor, symbol, idiom, allusion) Tone or Mood

Step 2: Smart Annotating Annotate the passage searching specifically for all of Lee’s use of literary strategies such as diction, syntax, imagery, figurative language, tone or mood. 2. Annotate for literary strategies: I=imagery D=Diction S=Syntax FL=Figurative Language T /M=Tone/Mood Others?

Smart Annotating Continued: Marginal Notations 3. In the margins, write an explanation of the connection each particular quote has to Lee’s theme of how gossip and rumor lead to prejudicial feelings of fear and hatred. Writing smart marginal notations with the prompt in mind will help you with your WWH-sets later. HOORAY!!

Step 3: Writing an Outline Introduction Hook: What are some different ways to get the attention of the reader? Context (give some background of the novel) Thesis Statement: Answer the prompt. This is the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

Step 3: Writing an Outline Introduction Hook: What are some different ways to get the attention of the reader? Provide an anecdote (very short story) Include an interesting fact Ask a question Include a definition (ie. justice, compassion, etc.) How do you teach a child brought up in a society that values racial discrimination to try to understand your enemies and love those who are different? Atticus Finch does just that; he teaches his children to respect those who are different (even when it is very difficult to do).

Step 3: Writing an Outline Introduction Context (give some background of the novel) The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is an American literary masterpiece published in the early 1960s. Set in rural Alabama in the 1930s, the discrimination and racism of the Jim Crow south was palpable. The life-lessons Harper Lee tries to teach us about racial tolerance, compassion and understanding are essential to helping us grow as a person and as a country.

Step 3: Writing an Outline Introduction Thesis Statement: Answer the question. Last sentence. “Harper Lee uses _______ and _________ in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird to convey her message that stereotyping/gossip/rumor (pick one) can lead to prejudicial feelings of fear and hatred.”

How do you indicate the title of a novel when typing? Handwritten? Italics (To Kill a Mockingbird) Underline (To Kill a Mockingbird) How do you cite a novel in MLA format? “… and forever more” (Lee 158).

Writing an Outline Continued Body Paragraphs: The Meat  Topic Sentence WWH set Transition (not shown) Closing sentence: Link quotes to theme of gossip/rumor leading to prejudice

Writing an Outline Continued Topic Sentence Body Paragraphs: Harper Lee uses figurative language to convey the message that gossip and rumors lead to fear and hatred. The author uses imagery to illustrate the theme when Scout relays the legend of Boo Radley to the readers. For example, Lee writes that “Boo was sitting in the living room, cutting some items … as Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants and resumed his activities” (11). This is a clear example of how Lee used gripping imagery to bring home the idea of gossip feeding the fears of Jem, Scout and the other generations of children in Maycomb. W W H

Writing an Outline Continued Lee also uses figurative language when she writes how Jem imagines Boo Radley’s appearance. For example, Jem says, “Boo was about six-and-a-half-feet tall … dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch … there was a long jagged scar than ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time” (Lee 13). Jem’s description is no doubt based upon the town’s rumors and gossip. It is unlikely that Arthur looks and acts like this. He is made out to be a dangerous, blood-thirsty beast. This gruesome description of Arthur Radley proves that these children believe the legend of Boo. They listened to the rumors and gossip and believe that Boo is, literally, a monster waiting for his opportunity to dine on animals and attack people. W H

A Note About Citations (page #s) Because the passages do not include page numbers, use the following as a guide: “Boo Radley” = pages 12-13 “Francis” = page 88 “Mrs. Dubose” = page 99 “Tom Robinson” = 190-191

Writing an Outline Continued Conclusion Re-state thesis statement-keep it fresh! Summarize main points Connect back to hook Well, so what? Why is this important?