To Kill A Mockingbird

Success Criteria:• I know what I need to include in my exam answer • I can analyse how the theme of courage is presented in To Kill A Mockingbird

Task-Specific Success Criteria

I have created an essay plan to answer the question ‘Write about the theme of courage and how it is presented in To Kill A Mockingbird’.

In my plan I have included at least 10 examples of PEE.

What does ‘write about…’ mean?

What are the main parts of an essay?Think back to the essays you have written for coursework. The structure of your Mockingbird essay is very similar. You will need to:

• Begin with a gripping introduction, including context & background information on the book as well as setting out your argument.

• Discuss one character or event at a time, to regularly refer back to the question and to remember to PEE all over it!

• Write a concise concluding paragraph summing up what you have written in the essay and giving your final response to the question.

What is the background to the book? Set in the 1930s Set in Alabama, Southern United States. Real-life racial tensions and prejudices

reflected in the book. Semi-autobiographical.

You MUST include some reference to the social and historical context in your essay.

The beginning and the end

The beginning and the end of your essay are both very important parts as you want to give the examiner a good impression of your abilities at the start and also finish strongly to prove your abilities.

What is a good opening to your essay?• Avoid starting you essay with a sentence like this:

• In this essay I will be writing about how courage is presented in…

• The examiner already knows what you’re doing!• The beginning is the best point to show your

background knowledge of the book. Write an opening paragraph that ties in the context to the question.

Who is courageous? Where is courage seen?• In your answer include as many examples of

courage as you can.• Remember to write about Atticus, Mrs Dubose,

Jem and Scout.• Writing about other characters will get you the

extra marks needed in order to get the top grades you should all be aiming for.

• Think also of instances where cowardice is seen – compare these instances to examples of courage (comparison is an A/A* grade skill).

Using your mind-map

Complete your courage mind-maps using mind-map rules and including key quotes & analysis. These should now have all the information on them needed to answer the question fully. Your mind-map should look something like this (but with writing ON the lines!)…

Courage

Mrs D. Scout

JemOthers

Atticus

Little Chuck Little

Boo

Going back to the Radley’s for his trousers

Reading to Mrs Dubose

Going with Jem to readto Mrs Dubose

Backing down from the school fights

Shooting Tim JohnsonDefending

Tom Robinson

Overcomingaddiction

Leaving house in public after 15 years

Standing up to Burris

“she died beholden tonothing and nobody”

“she was the bravest person I ever knew”

“shook his head vehemently”“we saw him blink hard”

“I’d soon’s kill you as look at you”

Civil to Mrs D.

“bravest man who ever lived”

I couldn’t go to church and worship

if I didn’t try to help that man”

“He lay down and for a while I heard his cot

trembling”“I noticed his knees shaking”

“dropped my fists and walked away”