Journal Prompts

 TOD: How do you think specific events would have affected Harper Lee when she was a young girl?

 Sandra Day O’Conner (Supreme Court Justice) once said: Atticus represents the best of the legal profession. She also said: The idea of justice pervades everything.  What information presented in the first three chapters indicates that this might be true?

 Choose a character other than Scout. Pick one event that Scout has described for us. Write about the same event from the point of view from another character (Dill, Atticus, Jem, Calpurnia, Boo Radley)

 TOD: How has Scout, being the narrator, shown that she can be bias or ignorant in regards to what she is telling us, compared to what we can infer is really happening?

 What’s in a name? Each character was named with specific purpose or representation. Using the internet, determine the significance of the following names in connection with their characterization: Atticus, Scout, Jem, Calpurnia, Dil

 Summarizing Strategy: Write 2-3 paragraphs telling the story about an important childhood event. Include figurative language at least twice.

 The only time Atticus describes “sin” is when he advises Scout and Jem to avoid shooting mockingbirds. Why does the mockingbird become a central symbol of the novel? How does this warning relate to the other events in the story?

 TOD: Which of the following characters have developed the most in regards to assisting Scout better understand the events that are taking place during pivotal turning points in the story? (Jem, Atticus, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley)

 Create a list of what you think are the most important turning points in the novel are thus far. (at least 7 events, most important at the top, least important at the bottom)

 Re-write the novel’s ending as if Tom Robinson was acquitted. Would the novel be more or less powerful if he were acquitted?  2-3 paragraphs

Choose one theme present in the novel. What is the theme, how does the author use it in the story, and what message is she sending with the use of this theme?

 TOD: What themes in the text are still relevant in our society today? Provide examples and explain.

 Write a three sentence review of this novel.