Christina+S


 * //Chapters 1-3//**
 * //Activity 1- Descriptions//**

1). Time - era – Great Depression, 1933  - season (beginning of book) - summer  - age/period of life for Scout, Jem, Atticus- Scout: 6/ Just entering school in the first grade; Jem: 10/ In the 5th grade; Atticus: in his mid-30s/ dad to Scout and Jem, a lawyer; Ewells: various ages/ a family of law breakers and troublemakers; Miss Caroline: in her 30s/ teacher to the first graders in Maycomb County including Scout, invites a new way of teaching to the town

2). Geography - area of world- the imaginary town of Maycomb County in Southern Alabama  - climate - hot, humid, and sunny  - landscape/buildings- dirt roads, large yards, lots of trees/messy houses, some rundown, school and church are the main buildings other than homes

3). Environment - occupations - lawyers, teachers, and officers  - lifestyle - most families are very poor, some so poor they cannot bring a lunch to school, have black servants and slaves, children frequently play outside  - morals/religion - believe in being kind to others and trying not to be sinful/Methodists, most families go to church  - customs - going to church and school, staying in touch with the rest of the town  - family life - parents go to work and children play outside in the summer, in all other seasons parents still work and children go to school  - education - various ages for each grade, most children too old for their grade, longer breaks from school

//**Chapters 4-6**// //**Activity 2- Journal**//

Mocking a Difference Why do people tend to make fun of those who are in some way different? Do you believe the tendency is stronger in children or adults? Suggest ways to combat this tendency.

People make fun of those who are different because it seems odd that they would behave, act, and have different customs than them. People can be shocked when everything they know is being changed in another person. They may think their way is better or more correct than another. I think the tendency is more strong in children because they have not always seen very many different people, and might only observe how people act in their community. To fight this tendency, we should be knowledgeable and respectful of other people's customs and actions. If this is a problem with us, we could also stop being self-centered. Thinking our ways are better than another person's tends to make us more critical of them. We should accept other people the way they are and rejoice in our many differences.

//**Chapters 7-9**// //**Activity 3- Journal**//

Task: Respond to the following question in a journal form. This is informal writing, and your response should be 6-8 sentences. Please type the question above your response.

1). You Take that Back!

What type of insult would most provoke you? – An insult about your dress or appearance – An insult about your character or action – An insult about a friend or family member

Explain your reasons and suggest ways to deal with insults.

I would be most provoked if I was insulted about my character or action. When someone insults who I am, I feel like I'm not good enough and take it very personally. If I believe what I'm doing with my actions is right, it hurts when someone insults me or tells me I'm doing something wrong more than simply claiming I'm ugly (dress and appearance). Petting my dog helps when I'm upset, and (though not the best alternative) I also watch tv in an attempt to soften the insult. After some time to myself, it helps more than anything to talk to my parents about what happened. Whenever I have a problem, they are always willing to help and comfort me.

Chapters 10-12 Activity 4- Linking Experiences

There are many structural and thematic links between Chapters 11-12. The children, in many ways, begin to enter the adult world.

Task: Seven themes are listed below. For each theme find 1-2 examples of this theme in Chapter 11 and 1-2 examples in Chapter 12. You may organize your findings in any way you would like—such as a chart, outline, etc. Full sentences and direct quotations are not necessary—you may put the examples in your own words. Themes
 * 1) Courage- Reading to Mrs. Dubose and Mrs. Dubose quitting her addiction before she died; Calpurnia stands up for Scout and Jem when a lady at her church doesn't want white people at their colored church
 * 2) Jem’s Maturation- Learning to be a gentleman in difficult circumstances with Mrs. Dubose's taunts; decided the church offering was for a worthy cause so he gave up his quarter and gave extra to the offering even though it was not required as he was not a regular visitor
 * 3) Hidden Identities Discovered- Atticus was called one shot Finch as a boy but decided shotting was not a gentlemanly nor godly practice; Mrs. Dubose is only a tired, ill woman, and was a really great lady in her earlier years (as Atticus put it), just a sad morphine addict
 * 4) Concern for Others- Atticus and his manners to Mrs. Dubose; concern for Tom's family by Jem when he gave extra to the church offering
 * 5) Prejudice- thinking Mrs. Dubose was an evil woman; Scout thinking Atticus is boring and old
 * 6) Illusions give way to Reality- Mrs. Dubose is only a sad morphine addict; Atticus is the best shot in Maycomb County, and the best lawyer
 * 7) Scout’s Maturation- learned not to judge people for who they seem to be on the outside; learned not to judge who blacks are when she doesn't know them

Chapters 13-15 Activity 5- Journal

Task: Respond to the following questions in a journal form. This is informal writing, and your response should be 6-8 sentences. Please type the questions above your response.

1). Mob Rule

o How would you define a mob? o How does mob behavior differ from individual behavior? o How would you handle an angry mob as opposed to an angry individual?  <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">A mob is a huge crowd of all types of people; it is usually very loud and bustling to do a certain activity. A mob can influence many choices but an individual can only influence several choices, and never in as large a scale as that of a mob. Individuals usually have only one view on a matter, and mobs usually have very different opinions. (This assuming the anger was directed at me.) If I had to handle an angry mob I would be nervous and try to reason out the problem; that not working, I would try to get several people to see my side of the issue and then try again to be more convincing. However, if it were a single individual, I would try to reason out the problem, but then if that didn't work (which it usually will) I would take my chances and run away.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Chapters 16-18 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Activity 6- Journal

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Task: Respond to the following questions in a journal form. This is informal writing, and your response should be 6-8 sentences. Please type the questions above your response.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">1). Protecting the Innocent

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">What is your view about shielding children from unpleasant truths?


 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Is it important for a child to know the truth or to keep a child in the dark?
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Is it right for a parent to lie to a child to shield him or her?

I think when a child is ready to know a truth the parent should not leave them in the dark. If an older child is at the maturity level to be told a special truth by the parent, that should be a necessary part of growing up. But if the parent lies to a child about what the real world is like, the child can have a hard time maturing and growing. Shielding, as these parents call it, is necessary with children who might not be ready for the the truth, or old enough to understand it. However, even if a child asks for an unnecessary truth they are not ready to know, the parent can simply tell them they are not old enough, and it can give the child something to look forward to. When a child is ready to know the truth, it should be told to him/her instead of hidden. This can influence their later maturity.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Chapters 19-22 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Activity 7- Building a Case

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Good arguments follow certain rules. Three which are important in the court room are brevity, clarity, and thoroughness.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Task: Review the way that Atticus and Gilmer handle Tom’s case. You goal is to provide evidence from the trial to support each statement. Hints have been given throughout to help you.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Atticus’ Argument


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella Ewell was probably injured by a left-handed man; therefore, Tom was not involved.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella- said she was punched in her right eye
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella- has trouble producing the idea that Tom's arm is crippled and has to consider before claiming his right fist glanced off her left eye
 * 4) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- left arm is crippled, "fully 12 inches shorter than his right"


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">No medical evidence exists to prove a rape occurred.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Heck Tate- admitted that he had not called a doctor
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Bob Ewell- admitted the same


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">The Ewells are not credible witnesses.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Bob Ewell- rarely gives straight answers
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Bob Ewell- saw Mayella raped by Tom but didn't call a doctor who could verify what happened; instead went for a man who didn't know anything about Mayella's injuries except that she was "pretty well beat up."
 * 4) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella- struggles to recall simple events of the night she was raped; seems to hesitate to make sure she gets the facts the same way the other witnesses testified
 * 5) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella- occasionally gives 2 different answers in 1 question. Example: No I don't, I mean yes I do. Also has difficulty getting her facts straight.


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom Robinson’s previous arrest was unimportant.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- claims his previous arrest was unimportant; in the record as a misdemeanor
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- claims that he was beaten up by the man that accused him


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom is a gentle, compassionate, hard-working man.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- every day helps Mayella with work in addition to his own chores, not asking for any pay
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- helped Mayella with chores because it "looked like she got no one to help her with them"
 * 4) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- keeps repeating that he tried to help her and that it looked like "she tried harder than the rest of them"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Gilmer’s Argument


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella looked as though she was physically abused.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella- claimed she had a black eye
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella- claimed she was beaten on her back


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella was raped by Tom.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- said that he took pity on Mayella
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella and Bob Ewell- saw and claim that Tom raped Mayella


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom acts in a shifty, dangerous, and criminal way.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- has been to court before
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- has recieved 30 days for disorderly conduct
 * 4) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom is insolent and doesn’t know his place.
 * 5) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- keeps indirectly confirming he has done all Mayella's chores out of sheer goodness
 * 6) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom- keeps saying all the right answers if he wants to prove himself not guilty

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Chapters 23-26 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Activity 8- Journal

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Task: Respond to the following questions in a journal form. This is informal writing, and your response should be 6-8 sentences. Please type the questions above your response.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">1). Closing the Gaps

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Why do people feel prejudice against whole groups of people? n <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">insecurity?

n <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">result of bad experiences?

n <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">automatic acceptance of old attitudes? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">How can we overcome prejudice?

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">If groups of people are different, they tend to separate due to the characteristics they do not have in common. Often this is a result of one group thinking they are the ideal group, and treating the other group badly. In insecurity, people tend to blame the wrongs done on a different group of people, and when that group is already looked down upon by others, it is easy to get away with blaming them. People sometimes just don't want to believe that they have done anything wrong. In bad experiences, these different groups sometimes blame each other. If this attitude has been accepted for too long, it becomes somewhat of a tradition, and people believe that it is the way things always have been and always will **be**.(prep. fix) To overcome this prejudice, we should let go of possibly wrong beliefs to do what is right and accept everyone the way they **are**.(pf)

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Chapters 27-31 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Activity 9- Discussion Questions

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Task: Respond to the following questions regarding the conclusion of the novel. This is informal writing, and your response should be 6-8 sentences. Please type the questions above your response.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">1). Atticus says that he sometimes feels he has been a total failure as a parent. Drawing examples from the novel, contradict or support his remark.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">2). Scout is finally able to meet Boo Radley, walk him home, and “stand in his shoes.” How does the actual meeting differ from her expectations? What does she learn from the experience? 1). Even from the beginning of the novel Atticus is a great example for his children to follow by being the perfect gentleman. When Mrs. Dubose is very rude to him and his children, he treats her kindly and respectfully. He gives his children great advice and treats them as his equals even though they are nearly 40 years younger than he. The children treat him as a friend, though they still have a special relationship that only families can have. He makes reasonable compromises with Scout and Jem such as the way he helped Scout out of a fix at school by continuing to read to her. These are just some of the reasons that prove Atticus is a fantastic father and the best example for his children.

2). Scout had always expectd Boo Radley to be some vicious, horrible man- nothing like the person she met that Halloween night. Boo turned out to be a kind, gentle fellow who cared about Scout and Jem and saved their lives asking nothing in return. In her imagination, one day Boo would just be sitting on the front porch and she would start a polite conversation about the weather. Instead, Boo was a quiet, timid man, not used to association with people. When she stood on his front porch, she saw herself the way she imagined Boo had seen her for the past year. Scout realized Boo was not the person the town had accused him of being. She learned that judging a person to be someone they aren't even before you know them is not right, and is not a kind way to treat anyone (even when the whole town supports an idea that may not be true).

Conclusion