Assignment Title (creative or factual) Your Novel Author’s Name Your Name

The Inevitable Loss of Innocence To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee Cynthia Wood

Plot Summary Start with setting Include characters Add conflict, plot info Finish with resolution (All point form; no sentencing) (Any detail should be orally provided)

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Your Theme Statement Explain using characters’ names and extra detail to make the theme more specific to your novel.

Coming of Age Jem and Scout lose their innocence and realize their society is corrupt and unjust.

Overview of Supporting Evidence Point 1: Jem and Scout are at first innocent. Point 2: Jem and Scout experience harsh realities. Point 3: Scout and Jem realize their society is corrupt and complicated.

Point 1: Jem is at first innocent. Example: Jem believes courage is being ‘macho’. Jem: “Wish Atticus would go play football and let me have a gun.” (43) Jem has a very narrow understanding of what courage means. He thinks it has to do with fighting and being physical. He later finds out that Ms. Dubose has more courage than any man with a gun.

Point 1 cont’d: Scout is at first innocent. Example: Scout embarrasses Walter about his excess use of syrup. Scout: “He gone and drowned his dinner in syrup.” (43) Scout doesn’t understand that Walter Cunningham doesn’t even have syrup at his house, and that’s why he’s having as much as he can. She is ignorant of different financial classes. Calpurnia has to reprimand her for being rude to a guest. This teaches Scout how to empathize with others less fortunate.

Point 2: Jem Experiences Harsh Reality Example: Jem cries when they fill the tree hole with cement to prevent Boo from sharing gifts. “Why did they have to do that, Atticus? The tree wasn’t dying.” (43) Jem realizes that Mr. Radley wanted to keep Boo from communicating with the outside world and he witnesses that evil.

Point 2 cont’d: Scout Experiences Harsh Reality Example: Scout witnesses Atticus in a dangerous situation at the jail cell. Atticus: “Jem, take them home now.” Jem: “If we hadn’t been there, who knows what kind of trouble Atticus was facing.” (66) At first, she doesn’t know why the men (mob) have gathered and innocently makes small talk. She discovers that they were there to hurt Tom Robinson, and Atticus was going to try and stop them.

Example: Atticus loses the Tom Robinson case because of racism. Point 3: Jem realizes his world is corrupt and justice is not so ‘black and white’. Example: Atticus loses the Tom Robinson case because of racism. “…” the crying quote (164) Jem cries because he realizes that the justice system failed due to racism and bigotry.

Point 3 (cont’d): Scout realizes her world is corrupt and justice is not so ‘black and white’. Example: The kids are attacked by Mr. Ewell when they were walking home from the pageant. Boo, a social outcast, saves the children from the recently deemed ‘innocent’ Mr. Ewell by killing Mr. Ewell. Scout compares punishing Boo to being like “killing a mockingbird” (188) They now realizes that not all people are what they appear to be (Ewell a lying, violent man; Boo not a monster.) and that the system is not always juste.

Summarize your points here Closing Argument Summarize your points here

Include a statement or a question to make your audience think. Lesson Include a statement or a question to make your audience think.