Colegate
November 2015
To Kill a Mockingbird
There are five assignments attached to this novel.
1) Questions for Response: 30 Marks
Each question requires a complete paragraph. Where possible, use short quotes, properly
integrated, to supplement your argument. Each response counts for 5 marks. These will need
to be posted on your blog.
2) Inner/Outer Prejudice Assignment: 20 Marks
A creative, personal piece around who you are, and how people view you.
3) Lit Circle Discussions: 25 Marks
A chance for you and your group members to meet and discuss any key ideas, themes,
characters, plot, questions, insights and everything else you would like to share. You will
come prepared by having your reading for the day completed, and a page of ideas to share.
The discussions will be videotaped and marked by me. Marks will be given on an
individual basis.
Discussion #1: Monday, November 16th (5 Marks)
Discussion #2: Tuesday, November 24th (5 Marks)
Discussion #3: Tuesday, December 1st (5 Marks)
Discussion #4: Monday, December 7th (10 Marks)
4) Essay: 25 Marks
The essay will be written in class. I will give you two topics to choose from. You will choose
one and start and finish your essay while you are at school. This assignment cannot be
completed at home.
The essay will be written in-class on Thursday, December 10th
Colegate
November 2015
Questions for Responses
There are two sets of questions to choose from- Analysis and Quickwrite. For both sets, you need to
answer the question in a complete paragraph. Each answer should be between 8 – 10 sentences,
and, where possible, use a quote from the story (integrated properly) to support your argument and
ideas. Each paragraph is marked out of 5.
Analysis: Choose any three topics to write about. Each response must be a full
paragraph in length.
1) (Ch 3): Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin
and walk around in it”. What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn?
2) (Ch 6): What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Why does
Miss Stephanie refer to a “negro” over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired?
3) (Ch 9): How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white)
lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time?
4) (Ch 9): Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means
and why it might be important in the story.
5) (Ch 10): Near the end of this chapter Atticus cuts off Heck Tate as he is speaking to Jem.
What might Heck have been about to say, and why would Atticus want to stop him from
saying it?
6) (Ch 11): Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a
gun in his hand”. What does he mean? Do you think he is right?
7) (Ch 18): How well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom's guilt in the eyes of the reader (you) and in
the eyes of the jury? Can you suggest why these might be different?
8) (Ch 20): Explain, in your own words, Atticus's views on people's being equal.
9) (Ch 23): Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not
“our kind of folks”? Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same
social class? Are class-divisions good or bad for societies?
10) (Ch 31): How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole
novel?
11) How does a growing understanding for Boo Radley illustrate Scout’s developing
understanding of prejudice—it’s cause, depth, and consequences?
12) Atticus says that it’s a “sin to kill a mockingbird” (90). Atticus uses the mockingbird as a
metaphor to represent innocence. There are three episodes in the story where Scout uses the
phrase “to kill a mockingbird” and with each incident she displays a more complete
understanding of the relationship between prejudice (or senseless hatred) and the sin
involved in harming something or someone who does you no harm. Who are the “three
mockingbirds” in this story?
Quickwrite: Choose any three topics to write about. Each response must be a full
paragraph in length.
1) (Ch 1): Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem, and Dill?
2) (Ch 2): What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities which
would make her good or not so good at her job? Is she better or worse as a teacher than Mr.
Colegate? 
3) (Ch 8): What is the “near libel” which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and
Atticus react to it?
Colegate
November 2015
4) (Ch 10): Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus
can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?
5) (Ch 12): Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church. What new things
does Scout learn here about how the black people live?
6) (Ch 13): Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus
tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think?
7) (Ch 15): What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus's comment
about it?
8) (Ch 22): Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem's right to know
what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus's reasons for this. (Look at the
speech beginning, “This is their home, sister”.
9) (Ch 26): Comment on the idea that Tom's death was “typical”?
10) (Ch 28): Why does Jem say that Boo Radley must not be at home? What is ironic about this?
(Is it true? Does he really mean it? Why might it be important for him and Scout that Boo
should not be at home?)
11) What is prejudice? Find a dictionary definition for prejudice. Now, what is prejudice in our
society? In school? In To Kill a Mockingbird? Why does prejudice occur?
12) This story is set in the 1930s but was published in 1960. Have attitudes to racism remained
the same (in the USA and Canada) or have there been any changes (for the better or worse)
since then, in your view?
Colegate
November 2015
Inner/Outer Prejudice Assignment
What is prejudice? Find a dictionary definition for prejudice.
Now, what is prejudice in our society? In school? In To Kill a Mockingbird?
Why does prejudice occur?
If you did not answer this Quickwrite topic above, take a few minutes to brainstorm your thoughts on
prejudice. If you already did, examine the question below:
Now, why is it important to be aware of the
inner and outer qualities of an individual?
You will be creating “something” that represents your inner and outer qualities.
1) Search through newspapers, magazines, small objects, photo albums, Facebook, wherever –
find pictures or items that symbolize aspects of your personality
2) Sort your pictures and objects into two piles: Inner Qualities & Outer Qualities (You do
not need to disclose any deep, dark, hidden secrets)
3) Inner Qualities: aspects of your personality that you do not usually share with other people
4) Outer Qualities: aspects of your personality that you do share with other people (whether by
choice or not)
5) Now, take those outer qualities, and decorate the outside of a container (shoe box?) or paper
bag; take the inner qualities and decorate the inside of the container (shoe box?) or paper bag
a. There must be a method to do this digitally – if you have one, run it by me and we
can do it that way
6) Choice for presenting your work
a. Record yourself giving a brief explanation (3 - 5 minutes) of the inner and outer
qualities you chose; focus on how they relate to each other, and how they are hidden;
tie your response back to prejudice, and back to the novel
b. Write a one page (single-spaced, typed) explanation of the inner and outer qualities
you chose; focus on how they relate to each other, and how they are hidden; tie your
response back to prejudice, and back to the novel
Marks
10 Marks: Creative Project
10 Marks: Presentation/Paragraph Response