Prompt Analysis & Prewriting

HOW DOES CHARACTER REVEAL THEME?

Prompt Analysis: • Through words and actions, a character can

“come to life” for the reader. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the author draws a vivid picture of the character of Atticus Finch as he responds to conflict. In a well-developed, multi-paragraph essay, discuss how the character of Atticus reveals Lee’s ideas about social justice. Support your claim with evidence from the text.

Theme Characterization

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1. Information to “get you thinking” about the topic.

2. Your writing task.

How does CHARACTER reveal THEME?

Establishing Theme Through Characterization

Atticus is (adjective form) Thematic idea (noun form)

Brave Bravery

Establishing Theme Through Characterization • Now we will write THEMATIC STATEMENTS based on the

claims about Atticus. Teacher Model: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents the idea that .

Your Turn: Pick a thematic idea (or a pair of them) and write your own thematic statement.

bravery Thematic Idea

is demonstrated by standing up for what is right Write a claim about the thematic idea.

even though others may condemn one for it Add a qualifying clause [when, because, unless, even, so that, if] to explain what the novel teaches about the thematic idea.

Thesis vs. Thematic Statement

• A sentence in an essay that provides a claim that must be proven in the essay.

• When you have a prompt, your thesis MUST respond to that prompt!

• A statement about a universal truth revealed in a work of literature.

• You might include a thematic statement in the thesis IF the prompt calls for it.

Thesis Statement Thematic Statement

Thesis Statements

Thematic Statements

Thesis Statement Through words and actions, a character can “come to life” for the reader. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the author draws a vivid picture of the character of Atticus Finch as he responds to conflict. In a well-developed, multi-paragraph essay, discuss how the character of Atticus reveals Lee’s ideas about social justice. Support your claim with specific evidence from the text. The big question: The character of Atticus reveals WHAT about social justice? The answer: Your thesis statement.

Thesis Statement

In , uses to that .

To Kill a Mockingbird Title of Novel, Italicized or Underlined

Harper Lee The Name of the Author

the character of Atticus The Subject/Specific Element from the Prompt

reveal Marker Verb—reveal, explore, portray,

convey, suggest

The Abstract—tone, theme, purpose—the writer’s opinion about the subject that must be proven

FOR THIS PROMPT: What does Harper Lee REVEAL ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE? In this case, your thematic statement should be related to the idea of social justice.

Topic Sentences • The main idea for your paragraph. • For THIS ESSAY, you should focus on the character traits of Atticus that

connect to your THEME. • As your organize and gather evidence, you should focus on the character

traits of Atticus.

• Example: • THESIS: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus to reveal that even

a person who avoids violent confrontation must sometimes confront violence.

• TOPIC SENTENCE 1: Throughout the novel, Atticus is a character who is non-confrontational and avoids violent conflicts.

Possible examples include not shooting guns & not reacting when Bob Ewell spits in his face

• TOPIC SENTENCE 2: We learn later in the novel that Atticus will confront violence when absolutely necessary for the good of those around him.

Possible examples include shooting the dog & standing watch outside Tom Robinson’s cell

Locating Textual Evidence Characteristic of Atticus (related to theme):

Textual Evidence:

Commentary:

Context of the Evidence:

Textual Evidence:

Commentary:

Context of the Evidence:

Body Paragraphs Outline

Helpful Hints 1. Use the CONTEXT (in this scene…)to help you embed text evidence.

• When Scout and Jem receive their air rifles for Christmas, Atticus tells them to “shoot all the bluejays you want…but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 74).

2. Be sure to include PAGE CITATIONS! Once you decide the textual evidence that you want from your excerpts, you need to locate that passage in your copy of the novel to find the page number.

• When Scout and Jem receive their air rifles for Christmas, Atticus tells them to “shoot all the bluejays you want…but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 74).

3. Punctuation should go AFTER the citation.

Preparing for a Timed Essay

Complete your PREWRITING PACKET:

Thesis statement written. Textual evidence gathered

(including context for embedding) Commentary (this may not be

completely written, but you should have some abstract ideas prepared) A full understanding of the

structure for your essay.

You should not have a complete essay written.

What to do before you walk into my room on Tuesday:

What you should NOT do: