Text Response Scaffold 1

PLANNING SHEET FOR TEXT RESPONSE ESSAY

Use this planning sheet to plan for the SAC topic you have selected.

Topic: Through their experiences and growth, the children in To Kill a Mockingbird move from naivety to maturity and understanding of the ugliness of their society. Discuss.

TEXT RESPONSE SCAFFOLD
Introduction

Opening statement showing strong familiarity with text:
Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird follows the childhood experiences of Jean-Louise “Scout” Finch. Growing up in the Alabama town of Maycomb during the 1930s, Scout is witness to many events such as the show-trial of Negro Tom Robinson, who is accused of assaulting a white woman.

Your position on the topic (contention): Through their experiences and growth, the Finch children develop into mature children who understand how appalling the Maycomb society is.
Your three or four main points in the order that they will appear:
Point 1: Through the interactions and rumours that transpire from Boo Radley, Jem and Scout are able to see the tendency in Maycomb to isolate anyone who is different.
Point 2: The Tom Robinson case exemplifies the racist and prejudice attitudes of the town clearly to Jem and Scout.
Point 3: Atticus teaches his children differently to what other “folk” do. He encourages them to not abide my majority rule and to walk in someone’s shoes before they pass judgement.

Main Body Paragraph One

Topic sentence clearly outlining main focus:
Through the interactions and rumour involving Boo Radley, Jem and Scout are able to see that Maycomb has a tendency to isolate or target anyone who is different.
This must be followed by evidence and examples to support your point.
“Boo drove scissors into his parent’s leg” –Demonstrates the evil that is Boo Radley, or the stories the town spread about him, simply because he’s different.
-Boo putting presents in the tree hole.
-“It’s because he wants to stay inside” Jem realises that after the Tom Robinson trial Boo might be choosing to stay inside to get away from the cruelty and inhumane society that is Maycomb.
-Boo comes out of his home at the conclusion of the novel to save Jem and Scout from the revengeful hands of Bob Ewell. Boo transforms from an evil and demonised character, into one of the three Mockingbirds in the novel.
Explain points / Evidence / examples / quotes
Link final sentence back to main point:
Through the children’s interaction with Boo Radley, they are able to uncover the way in which awful way Maycomb operates as a society. Ostracising those who are different.

Main Body Paragraph Two
Topic sentence clearly outlining main focus:
The Tom Robinson case that unfolds, ‘showcases’ the prejudice and racist way of life the town lives for Jem and Scout.
This must be followed by evidence and examples to support your point.
Jem questions why nobody in the town apart from Atticus attempted to help Tom Robinson. (exception of Link Deas)
Jem associates the courthouse with a place of injustice.
“how could they do it, how could they”
“They oughta do away with juries”
“it ain’t right Atticus”
Explain points / Evidence / examples / quotes
Link final sentence back to main point:
The Tom Robinson case shows Jem and Scout the prejudices and racist attitude of the town and furthermore helps them understand how “ugly” the southern community really is.

Main Body Paragraph Three
Topic sentence clearly outlining main focus:
Atticus teaches his children uniquely, he encourages them to walk in one’s shoes before passing judgement, to not abide with the majority and disregard all racism.
This must be followed by evidence and examples to support your point.
-“Nigger is just a word trashy people use” Atticus explains people who call African-American’s niggers, are no better themselves.
-“You really never understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”
-Bob Ewell spitting in Atticus’ face and threatening him….
-Through Jem reading to Mrs Dubose, the children see that they were too quick to judge her. They discover what real courage is, whereas the rest of Maycomb see courage as “a man with a gun”
Explain points / Evidence / examples / quotes
Link final sentence back to main point:
Atticus is unlike any parent in Maycomb, he never shies away from telling his children the truth and ensures that their opinions are always well educated and considered. Through this, the children are able to easily see the inhumane society they live in.

Conclusion
Restate your main points: Boo Radley interactions and rumours, Tom Robinson trial, Atticus’ teachings.

Position this within the intentions of the author/s: Harper Lee used Jem and Scout to tell the story from an innocent and refreshing perspective, mostly unhampered by the prejudices and racism that are prevalent in Maycomb.

End with a strong final statement: Scout and Jem are insightful characters and through their development from naivety to mature children, the audience is able to clearly see effects of a society revolving around differences.