To Kill a Mockingbird Journal Assignment



To Kill a Mockingbird Independent Reading Assignment

Critical Analysis of Theme

As you read To Kill a Mockingbird, you will notice several themes throughout. At the conclusion of your study of the novel, you will write a Critical Analysis paper about ONE of the themes you study. While you read, you will keep a written journal of quotes that relate to your theme. You will also write about how the quotations relate to the development of your theme in the novel.

The theme that you select will be the theme on which your paper will be written. You will be responsible for knowing, understanding, and discussing your theme by using specific examples (quotations!) from the text.

The following are 6 themes present in To Kill a Mockingbird. You will choose ONE:

• Prejudice and Tolerance

• Courage and Cowardice

• Deceptive Appearances

• Loss of Innocence

• Justice

• Parents and Children/Role of Family

When you are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, always read through the filter of your theme. For example, if your theme is “Loss of Innocence,” constantly ask yourself, “How is innocence being lost in this scene? How has this character been forced to mature or lose innocence?”

Journal Requirement

For the theme that you have selected, you will:

• Identify a minimum of 15 quotations relating to your theme.

• Type the quotations, citing the page numbers.

• Explain the significance as it relates to plot development, character development, and theme.

There are 31 chapters in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the quotations should come from throughout. A good way to divide this up would be to make sure you find 4-6 quotations in Chapters 1-10, 4-6 quotations in Chapters 11-20, & 4-6 quotations in Chapters 21-31.

Your typed journal will be turned in on:_______Oct. 2______________; also print a copy to keep for yourself to use at a later date.

The Header and Heading of your paper must be in MLA format (typed, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, parenthetical citations for quotations, etc.).

Your final product will be a timed in class essay which will utilize the quotations you have found.

Important Information

- A quote does not have to be something that a character says; it can be any portion of the text.

- A portion of text can be related to the theme even if does not use the theme’s specific wording.

You may use any portion of the text as long as you can make a connection between that portion

of the text and your theme, and can explain that connection.

Student Examples

(for Deceptive Appearances theme)

1. Quotation: _________________”I’m little, but I’m old.” _____________________

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___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Page # ___7____

Explanation: _________ Jem and his sister, Scout, find a boy, Dill, who looks 4 years old, in a collard patch. Dill’s real name is Charles Baker Harris. This relates to my theme because, although someone may look a certain way, that doesn’t mean they are that way. ______

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2. Quotation: _________”I try to give ‘em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch on to a reason. When I come to town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey – that’s why he won’t change his ways. He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives the way he does.” _________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________Page # ___229____

Explanation: _________ When Scout and Jem leave the courthouse they speak with a Dolphus Raymond. Everyone thinks he’s an alcoholic because he always drinks from a brown paper bag, and he is married to a black woman. Mr. Raymond gives Scout a drink from his straw, and she realizes he’s actually drinking Cola-Cola! He tells Scout he lets people think what they do because they don’t understand him, and it’s easy for them to just think he’s drunk.

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