Bernie's+Essay+Assignment

__**English 9 - Mr. McCarthy

Unit: //To Kill A Mockingbird//**

At the end of our unit you will be required to write a critical review essay. The assignment format is detailed below. You have three essay prompts to help you focus your reading of this novel. Your essay should cover the issues described in one of the prompts. You may select your own prompt and thesis with prior approval from me. If you decide to use your own prompt for the essay, I will require a written rationale and personal planning meeting before the topic final deadline.
 * Overview**__

Introduction & Chapters 1-3 Friday, January 23rd Chapter 4 Monday,January 25th Chapters 5-7 Tuesday, January 26th Chapters 8-10 Wednesday, January 27th Chapters 11-13 Thursday, January 28th Chapters 14-16 Friday, January 29th Chapters 17-19 Monday, February 1st Chapters 20-22 Tuesday, February 2nd Chapters 23-25 Wednesday, February 3rd Chapters 26-28 Thursday, February 4th Chapters 29-31 Friday, February 5th Review Monday, February 8th Review & Multi-Media Due Tuesday, February 9th Unit Test Wednesday, February 10th Essay Topic Selected Thursday, February 11th Essay Brainstorming Friday, February 12th Essay Thesis Final Monday, February 15th Draft Due (Self Review) Wednesday, February 17th Draft Due (Peer Review) Thursday, February 18th Draft Due (2 & 1 Highlight) Friday, February 19th Conference & Revision Days Monday-Tuesday, February 22nd & 23rd
 * __Unit Calendar__**
 * Paper Due** **Friday, February 26th**


 * __Assignment Format__**
 * Length**: 3-5 pages on white, 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, single sided. Hint: Write enough to prove your thesis, but not so much as to become trite, rambling, or tangental.
 * Print**: Times New Roman, 12 point font
 * Spacing**: Double space
 * Paragraphs**: Indent the beginning of paragraphs. Standard tab is 1/2 inch.
 * Header**: Please use a Header indicating your name, class hour, and date.
 * Margins**: Margins should be one inch on all sides.
 * Quotes:** All direct quotes should be cited using MLA style.
 * Warning on quotes**: In writing your paper, be aware of the importance of balancing evidence in the text with your interpretation of the evidence. Too much focus on evidence and continued strings of citations may turn your paper into nothing more than a plot summary. Too little use of evidence and reliance only on interpretation may turn the paper into a vague, unsuppported opinion piece. Find the proper blend for your thesis!

1: Harper Lee filled the novel with many detailed and diverse characters. Select a character you find important and/or interesting. Explain how that character changes--or does not change--through the novel. Address the cause, effect, and relevance of the change. Make sure to support these assertions with evidence from the text.
 * __Essay Prompts__**

2: //**To Kill A Mockingbird**// is set in Maycomb--a small town in Alabama. You are reading the novel in Slinger--a small town in Wisconsin. Compare and contrast details of the story with your life today. How is 1930's Maycomb similar to / different from 2010 Slinger? How are you similar to / different from certain characters in the novel? Make sure to address the human issues of the novel more than the obvious changes in technologies. This prompt is deliberately generous, but will require you to pay special attention and focus during the brainstorming and thesis final stage.

3: Plot involves conflict and resolution. Describe two conflicts within **//To Kill A Mockingbird//**. Identify characters (protagonist / antagonist) involved in each conflict. Do the conflicts intertwine? Do the characters from one conflict play the same / different / any role in the other conflict? How--if at all--are the conflicts resolved? Support your assertions with evidence!