Literary Analysis: To Kill a
Mockingbird
Essay Topics
English III
Assignment
Choose one of the five topics below for your essay. The
final draft of your essay must be typed
and double-spaced using Microsoft
Word. The essay should be written in the basic five paragraph format:
introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph. These
topics are not highly debatable issues, but you must still argue your thesis.
You must prove with supporting details and evidence that your thesis is correct.
You will receive three grades for this assignment: outline as a daily grade,
rough draft as a quiz grade, and final draft as a test grade. This essay must
include a works cited page. You will be quoting lines from the book. The only
required source is To
Kill a Mockingbird, but if you refer to any other sources to help you write
this paper, you must properly cite those sources. We will discuss MLA
citation in class, and you will be given a formatted outline on a later date to
assist you with your outline.
Due Dates
Outline:
Rough Draft:
Final Draft:
Essay Topics
1. A dominant motif, or recurring thematic idea, in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is the symbolic importance of the mockingbird. In the story, Atticus tells his children,”…it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 90). In a well-developed essay, choose three characters and explain how they are metaphorically portrayed as mockingbirds. Give specific examples and quotes to support these characterizations.
2. In a well-developed essay, prove either that Atticus is a good father or that he is not a good father. Be sure to support your ideas with quotes from the book. Find at least three reasons to prove your position.
3. In To Kill a Mockingbird, there are occurrences of different kinds of prejudice. In a well-developed essay, provide evidence to support this statement. Remember to include specific details and examples from the novel in your essay.
4. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about youth seeing the evil, hypocrisy, and injustice in adult society. In a well-developed essay, write about specific instances in the novel where the children witness evil, hypocrisy, and injustice.
5.
Atticus believes there are certain things a
person can do to “get along better with all kinds of folks” (30). In a well-developed essay, explain the things Atticus
recommends and why he believes they work.