To Kill A Mockingbird
Themes/Essential Questions
In this unit, you will be studying To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. As you are doing your assignments, think about the following:
In this unit, you will be studying To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. As you are doing your assignments, think about the following:
- What is equality?
- Why is equality important?
- How can we work to achieve equality?
- What are the effects on society when people are made to feel inferior?
Tasks: This is the second 30 hours of a 60 hour class. There are 12 tasks assigned. Each task has an estimated amount of time assigned to it. Some will take less time to complete a task and some may need more; however, if you are going over the amount of time assigned to "complete a task," there is a problem and you need to speak to me about it. Reasonable accommodations may be allowed. It is recommended that you do these tasks in order.
FIT/Grammar
These activities are assigned on a daily basis.
Task 1: Pretest
Completion Time: 1/2 hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Relax. This is only to test what you know at this point. You will receive full credit for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 2: Listening and Speaking
Completion time - 3 hours
Go to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” Speech. Make a copy of this worksheet. As you are listening, answer the questions. After you have answered these questions, pick out one section of the speech that meant the most to you. Be prepared to read your section and to discuss why you chose it with your teacher (or the class if you wish).
Task 3: Autobiography “Shame”
Completion time - 2 hours
Read the following excerpt from Dick Gregory’s autobiography. Choose one question at the end of the writing and write an ABC essay. Be sure to address the prompt.
Task 4: To Kill A Mockingbird
Completion Time: 10 Hours
Audiobook - this is the first of 11 parts. You will have to listen to all of them. Online text. Complete the study guide while reading.
Task 5: Themes in Modern Non-Fiction
Completion Time: 2 Hours
Read: "Brian Banks, football player exonerated in rape case, signs with Atlanta Falcons." Write a three-paragraph essay comparing/contrasting Brian Banks's experience to that of Tom Robinson.
Task 6: Informative Essay
Completion Time: 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You must also complete the Rubric handout and turn it in with your essay. Hint: You should use the rubric as a guide before starting your essay.
Before you begin, read this explanation on what is involved in writing an informative essay. This is required reading and is part of your grade.
Choose 1:
Task 7: Exam
Completion Time: 1 Hour
You may use your notes when taking your exam. You must earn a 70% or greater to receive credit for this class. Use this link for the Google forms exam.
Task 8: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 8 hours
Discuss the choices that lead to the social injustice/inequality.
What could the character(s) have done differently?
Do you think this happens or could happen in 2017 America? Explain.
Additional tasks may be assigned at teacher discretion.
FIT/Grammar
These activities are assigned on a daily basis.
Task 1: Pretest
Completion Time: 1/2 hour
Please complete the pretest BEFORE attempting ANY assignments. Relax. This is only to test what you know at this point. You will receive full credit for doing it regardless of your score.
Task 2: Listening and Speaking
Completion time - 3 hours
Go to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” Speech. Make a copy of this worksheet. As you are listening, answer the questions. After you have answered these questions, pick out one section of the speech that meant the most to you. Be prepared to read your section and to discuss why you chose it with your teacher (or the class if you wish).
Task 3: Autobiography “Shame”
Completion time - 2 hours
Read the following excerpt from Dick Gregory’s autobiography. Choose one question at the end of the writing and write an ABC essay. Be sure to address the prompt.
Task 4: To Kill A Mockingbird
Completion Time: 10 Hours
Audiobook - this is the first of 11 parts. You will have to listen to all of them. Online text. Complete the study guide while reading.
Task 5: Themes in Modern Non-Fiction
Completion Time: 2 Hours
Read: "Brian Banks, football player exonerated in rape case, signs with Atlanta Falcons." Write a three-paragraph essay comparing/contrasting Brian Banks's experience to that of Tom Robinson.
Task 6: Informative Essay
Completion Time: 3 hours
Essay must be typed and submitted using Google Docs, unless you receive other instructions. You must also complete the Rubric handout and turn it in with your essay. Hint: You should use the rubric as a guide before starting your essay.
Before you begin, read this explanation on what is involved in writing an informative essay. This is required reading and is part of your grade.
Choose 1:
- Write an informative essay in which you discuss the coexistence of good and evil in the lives of the Maycomb residents. You may write about the relationships between any of Harper Lee's characters in the novel.
- Write an informative essay in which you discuss the significant sources of tension (i.e., suspicion, mistrust, prejudice, snobbery, enmity, animosity, hatred) between the various characters in the novel and what price is paid by certain characters for these antagonisms?
- Write an informative essay in which you discuss the problem of human inequality and divisions within human society. Write about the advantages and disadvantages that certain characters experience in the novel. You may focus on any of the characters in the story, not just the obvious ones.
Task 7: Exam
Completion Time: 1 Hour
You may use your notes when taking your exam. You must earn a 70% or greater to receive credit for this class. Use this link for the Google forms exam.
Task 8: Contemporary Fiction time to complete task - 8 hours
- Read a book on social injustice/inequality. You may choose either Mississippi Trial, 1955, or Getting Away with Murder (we have both books) or another book on social injustice/inequality such as The Help or a Time to Kill (must be with the permission of the teacher and you may need to provide the book). Write a 5-paragraph (minimum) essay or present a multimedia project.
Discuss the choices that lead to the social injustice/inequality.
What could the character(s) have done differently?
Do you think this happens or could happen in 2017 America? Explain.
- Or you may read Go Set A Watchman. This novel was the draft for Harper Lee’s Mockingbird. It was released for the first time in 2015 to much controversy. There are several choices for essays. After you have read this novel, please see me to discuss some ideas for your essay/presentation.
Additional tasks may be assigned at teacher discretion.