Erma Jones

Writing Task                                                                                                                         

To Kill a Mockingbird

Writing Task

To Kill A Mockingbird – Novel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During our study of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning story To Kill a Mockingbird, we have analyzed several different themes and ideas presented in the novel and discussed their relevance to our own lives. Today we will be brainstorming a list of those topics and narrowing the focus to a topic that is of particular interest to you. As a culminating activity for our unit, you will be using your self-selected topic to complete one of the following writing tasks:

 

Task 1:

Write an editorial to be published in the freshmen paper, “Inside Academy” which expresses your views on the topic you have chosen.

 

Task 2:

Write a poem which expresses your feelings, observations, and/or views on your chosen topic. Submit your poem to Bards (the creative writing club here at Central) for inclusion in the student poetry anthology.

 

Task 3:

If your topic lends itself to “a call to action” and you would like to make a change or improvement in your school, create a proposal for submission to both your Freshmen Academy Council and the Site Base Council of Madison Central.
As you begin your writing task and throughout the process, remember well written pieces start with the following:

PURPOSE/AUDIENCE
  • Have you thought about whom the reader is and what that person or group would like or need to know?
  • Have you narrowed the topic?
  • Have you stayed focused on the reason for writing?
  • Is your voice and/or tone appropriate for the reader, your purpose, and the form you have chosen for your writing?

IDEA DEVELOPMENT/SUPPORT
  • Does your writing have a main idea?
  • Have you supported that idea in a variety of ways?
  • Have you used idea development strategies appropriate for the form you are writing?
  • Have you anticipated and taken care of readers’ needs/questions?

ORGANIZATION
  • Have you organized the writing so the reader can make sense of the piece?
  • Does your organizational plan match the form you have chosen?
  • Have your organized your ideas in paragraphs?
  • Are you helping your reader follow your ideas?

SENTENCES
  • Do your sentences start in different ways?
  • Are some long and some short?
  • Are they complete?

LANGUAGE
  • Are the words interesting?
  • Are the verbs lively and the nouns specific?
  • Are the words used correctly?
  • Have you used language appropriate for the content, purpose, and reader?

CORRECTNESS
  • Have you spelled the words correctly?
  • Have you used capital letters where they are needed?

Adapted from materials created by Elizabeth Dick, Oldham County

 

The following is the guide that will be used to evaluate your completion of the chosen writing task:

 

Establishes and maintains a clear focus by:

     -narrowing topic, addressing the needs of audience, adhering to characteristics of form, employing a suitable tone and allowing voice to emerge when appropriate.

Feedback:

 

 

 

1   2   3   4

 

x 5 = ______

 

Develops and supports main ideas and deepens understanding by:

     -logical explanations, relevant elaboration, related connections and reflections, idea development strategies.

Feedback:

 

 

 

1   2   3   4

x 5 = ______

Creates unity and coherence to accomplish the focused purpose by:

     -engaging the audience and establishing a context for reading, placing ideas and support in a meaningful order, guiding with transitions, providing effective closure.

Feedback:

 

 

 

1   2   3   4

x 5 = ______

Creates effective sentences that are:

     -varied in structure and length, constructed effectively, complete, and correct

Feedback:

 

 

 

1   2   3   4

x 4= ______

Demonstrates effective word choice by using:

     -strong verbs and nouns, concrete and sensory details, language appropriate to content, purpose, and audience, correct usage and grammar

Feedback:

 

 

 

1   2   3   4

x 4 = ______

Demonstrates solid mechanics through:

     -correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and appropriate documentation from outside sources.

Feedback:

 

 

 

1   2   3   4

x 2 = ______

Overall Feedback:

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 – Novice

 

2 – Apprentice

 

3 – Proficient

 

4 – Distinguished

 

 

______of 100

   total

 

*This score sheet has been adapted from materials created by the KY Association for Academic Competition.

Brainstorming Activity Sample:

 

The issues, questions, topics, etc. that come from a 9th grade unit on To Kill a Mockingbird might be identified as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Narrowing Focus Activity Sample:

 


A student will then choose an issue and narrow the focus further to help define important topics

 

For example: Stereotyping