Rachel+E

Chapters 1-3, Activity 1

1). Time - era - during the Great Depression in 1933 - season (beginning of book) - the book is set in the summer - age/period of life for Scout, Jem, Atticus - Scout is 6 and just entering first grade, Jem is 10 and going in the fifth grade, Atticus is in his mid thirties

2). Geography - area of world - Maycomb County in southern Alabama - climate - very hot, dry, and humid in the summer - landscape/buildings - some small homes and buildings, a dirt road, a brick school house and a little church

3). Environment - occupations - bartenders, police officers, cooks and maids, school teachers, lawyers - lifestyle - the children go to school while the adults go to work, then they all come home for lunch, some have colored help who cook or clean, most people go to church on Sundays, everyone knows each other and helps out when another is in need, women are looked down upon by men - morals/religion - most believe in compassion and honesty, the town is Christian and goes to church - customs - Sunday is a very important day, the children have summer off from school - family life - parents and children all eat together on a daily basis, the cook helps with the food, the family is all very close - education - many people do not get a very good education, but the children still go to school to get a good start

Chapters 4-6, Activity 2

Task: Choose one of the following questions to respond to in a journal form. This is informal writing, and your response should be 6-8 sentences. Please type the question you are responding to above your response.

1). 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 tend to mock those who are different in some way because that person tends to do things that are odd or unusual compared to the people who are making fun. The person who is being made fun of can not help his or her differences, it is just who he or she is. The tendency to mock ones who are unusual appear more often in children in adults because the adults have gotten more mature. Though one might think about what differences that person has, most adults would not say something mean to the person's face. Children tend to speak their mind, no matter how mean of insulting it is, not because they mean to hurt that person, but because children have not matured enough to know any better. Children also like to have groups where a "queen bee" decides what or who is popular or regular. From what I have learned and seen other people doing, people who are different are not bad people, that person just has other traditions and ways of life.

Chapters 7-9, Activity 3

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. An insult about one of my friends or family members would most provoke me because I do not really care what people say about me but I don't know how it will affect my friend or family member. Some people have said a few things that are very mean to me but I try to just let them go. I don't like it when people insult my friends or family because it makes me think if the person it is said about will really care or let it go. I also tend to criticize myself a lot more than people criticize me so when something says something about me I have usually already noticed it. Some ways to deal with insults are to just let it go because what the person has said isn't true. Someone could also talk to the person who insulted them and see if that person really meant what he or she said or if they were just having a bad day.

Chapters 10-12, Activity 4 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.
 * || Chapter 11 ||  || Chapter 12 ||   ||
 * Courage || Jem decides to go in front of the Dubose house || Mrs. Dubose stopping her addiction || Calpurnia brings Scout and Jem to church ||  ||
 * Jem's Maturation || He uses his money to buy Scout a baton ||  || Jem starts to say things that are wise ||   ||
 * Hidden Identities Discovered || Mrs. Dubose is somewhat nice ||  || Calpurnia starts to act like her peers ||   ||
 * Concern for Others || Atticus' concern for Mrs. Dubose || Atticus' concern for African Americans || The church is concerned for Tom Robinson ||  ||
 * Prejudice || Mrs. Dubose talks wrongly about African Americans ||  || Preacher criticizes women ||   ||
 * Illusions Give Way to Reality || Mrs. Dubose's sickness is real ||  || Scout and Jem start to see the other side of life ||   ||
 * Scout's Maturation || She doesn't talk rudely to Mrs. Dubose ||  || Scout starts to become more aware of others ||   ||

Chapters 13-15, Activity 5

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 How would you define a mob? How does mob behavior differ from individual behavior? <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">How would you handle an angry mob as opposed to an angry individual? A mob is a group of people who come together to protest against something they not like. Mobs are generally disorderly and unorganized, and are usually portrayed as large groups with burning torches and sharp pitchforks. Mob behavior differs from that of an individual because people in a mob are angry and have created the mob to show their dislike for whatever they are protesting against. Everyone in the mob is feeding off of each others anger, which causes the mob to get even more riled than it was to begin with. An individual only has his or herself to be angry with so he or she tends to keep their anger to a minimal level. When an individual is angry, people can just ignore that person or tell them to stop being a pain and complaining all the time. A mob is many more people who are all harder to calm down so more people must be involved to stop the mob. Sometimes even professionals must deal with the mob by shooting and causing more trouble than there was to begin with.

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

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). Protecting the Innocent

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?

When a child gets to a certain age, it is important for he or she to know about the unpleasant truths in this world. Somethings need to remain unsaid until someone's child is old enough to understand. Some children need to be told earlier than others, and some need to be told at a much later date. If a parent has to lie to keep their children from knowing an unpleasant truth, then that is OK. The parent is just trying to protect their child from things the child does not need to know. If the lie gets to a point where it is too big or unbelievable then it is time for the parent to tell their children the truth.

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

Good arguments follow certain rules. Three which are important in the court room are brevity, clarity, and thoroughness.

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.

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 had most of her scratches on her right side
 * 3) Mayella had bruises completely around her throat which only two hands can do
 * 4) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom has a crippled left hand and cannot use it


 * 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 says he did not call a doctor
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Bob Ewell confirmed a doctor was not called


 * 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 only heard about what happened
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Bob Ewell was indecisive about where Mayella had blakened her eye
 * 4) Mayella said Bob Ewell had not come yet
 * 5) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella it somewhat tentative about her evidence


 * 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 was framed
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom was the one beat and the other man payed his way out

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';"> Gilmer’s Argument
 * 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 had a family and takes good care of them
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom worked hard at his job to take care of his family and assure their well being
 * 4) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom was just trying to help Mayella
 * 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 had a black eye
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella had bruises on her throat


 * 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 had been with Mayella that night
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Mayella and Bob Ewell confirmed it was Tom


 * 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 had been previously arrested
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom would stop by Mayella's house every day


 * 1) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom is insolent and doesn’t know his place.
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom would help Mayella
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Tom felt sorry for Mayella and wanted to help her

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

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

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';"> Why do people feel prejudice against whole groups of people? n <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">insecurity? n <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">result of bad experiences? n <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">automatic acceptance of old attitudes? <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';"> How can we overcome prejudice?

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">People generally feel prejudice against whole groups of people because some people might think their race or culture is better than the race of someone else. One might feel insecure around a different race because the people in the separate race are not as familiar as people of someone's own race. A person might feel prejudice against another race because of a bad experience that person might of had. Someone could have been hurt or bothered by someone of another race and could automatically assume all people of that particular race are bad. A family could teach their children not to be accepting of another race which could lead to automatic prejudice towards people of that race. The idea could be passed down for generations and everyone in that family could be racist. We can overcome prejudice by just being open to new ideas and cultures and being accepting to other people in another race.

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

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="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Atticus feels he is a failure as a parent because he does not have the female influence his children need. He tries his best to do things younger fathers would do but has a hard time because he is too old. Atticus wants his children to know that he cares, and he does a great job by explaining thinks that are hard to understand and being as loving as he can be. He shows his family that compassion is key which is a good life lesson that his children must know. Atticus may think that he is a failure as a parent, and in some ways, he is. But Atticus can teach his children things that no other parent would be able to.

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?

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif';">Scout thinks her meeting with Boo Radley will be a familiar conversation between old friends, but it turns out that Boo doesn't have much to say at all. Scout stands on Boo's front porch and learns all that he has seen from looking outside his window. Boo can see all that has happened to Scout and Jem while the years have passed. Scout learns that Boo is even more kind and compassionate than she had thought, and that Boo is a shy and reclusive person who just wants to help.