T Kil Mockingbir Final Paper  

Mastery Assessment (50 points)

● Due end of hour March 28th 
● Printed back to back and stapled 
● Choose 1 of the 4 topics explain below 
● Respond in a 1-2 page MLA formatted paper 
● Include an Annotated Bibliography (extra ½ page) 
○ Proper Citation 
○ Do not include a summary 
○ Include only a reflection with ... 
■ Big Ideas 
■ Inspirations 
■ Recommendations 
● Focus Correction Areas 
○ MLA format 
○ Proper use of capitalization and italics 
○ Complete sentences 
○ Comma usage before “and” 
○ Not using “I” or “You” 
○ Proper inclusion of at least 1 quote 

Essay Topic #1: Notions of Justice and Fairness

Despite the unwavering dedication of Atticus Finch in To Kill a
Mockingbird, the absence of evidence, and a moving courtroom 
speech, Tom Robinson is convicted of a crime that he did not commit. 
This jury ruling causes both those who advocated Robinson’s 
conviction and those who were convinced of his innocence to 
question their notions of justice and fairness. As if a false conviction 
was not enough, Tom is eventually killed, and the sense of justice and 
fairness seem to be completely violated. Write an essay in which you 
establish what Lee is trying to convey regarding these two concepts 
that are so important to society today.  
  
Essay Topic #2: The Various Forms of Discrimination
The most obvious form of discrimination in To Kill a Mockingbird is 
racism; however, there are other types of prejudice and 
discrimination among the novel’s characters. Scout, for example, is 
ridiculed in To Kill a Mockingbird because she is a tomboy. Boo 
Radley is ostracized despite the fact that hardly anyone knows him. 
Reverse racism is also present in the novel, as evidenced by the 
threats against Atticus Finch and his family as he defends Tom 
Robinson. Take one or more of the forms of discrimination in To Kill
a Mockingbird and write an essay in which you explain the forms and 
compare and contrast the types of discrimination. You should argue 
whether the lessons about discrimination that Scout learns apply to 
all types of prejudice, or whether they apply to racism alone. 
  
Essay Topic #3: The Moral Development of Scout and Jem
Scout and her brother Jem are both children of the morally 
passionate lawyer, Atticus Finch, and both are exposed to the same 
experiences that shape their sense of right and wrong. However, 
Scout and Jem come to dramatically different conclusions about 
good and evil and the nature of humankind. Write an essay in which 
you develop an understanding of how Scout and Jem arrive at their 
own concepts of the world. Be sure to consider not only the final 
worldview at which each arrives but also to look at the novel as a 
whole and identify how their belief systems develop. Include how 
Scout and Jem begin to part ways, philosophically speaking, early in 
the novel. 
  
Essay Topic #4: Character Analysis of Atticus Finch
One of the most inspiring characters in twentieth-century American 
literature is Atticus Finch. A morally upright lawyer, a committed 
and loving father, and an overall good citizen, Finch is regarded 
highly by most citizens with a sense of justice. Write an essay in 
which you analyze Atticus Finch’s character. You may wish to focus 
the content of your essay by selecting a single quote or passage 
(consider a portion of the courtroom speech, for instance) and 
explaining how it reflects Finch’s character strengths. Address 
whether Finch has any flaws and explain how he conveys his beliefs 
to his children and his community.