English 8 – 17
Ms. Douglas-Osmundson
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Chapter
Due Date
1
Wednesday, 17 January
2
Thursday, 18 January
3
Friday, 19 January
4
5
6
Monday, 23 January
Monday, 23 January
Wednesday, 25 Jan.
7
Thursday, 26 January.
8
9
Friday, 27 Jan. Hand in all
chapters (1-8) today.
Monday, 30 January
10
11
12
Monday, 30 January
Wednesday, 1 Feb.
Thursday, 2 February
13
14
15
16
Friday, 3 February
Monday, 6 February
Monday, 6 February
Wednesday, 8 February
17
Thursday, 9 February
18
19
20
Friday, 10 February
Monday, 13 February
Monday, 13 February
21
Wednesday, 15 February
22
23
Wednesday, 15 February
Thursday, 16 February
24
Thursday, 22 February
Questions to answer/Key words to ponder*
Why do people have nicknames?
Match the nickname to the characters you have
met so far.
Name a mistake Scout makes and a mistake
Miss Caroline makes. What is the result of each
mistake?
Name two lessons of manners and
compromise that Scout learns in this chapter.
What are the first gifts found in the tree?
Explain the children’s fascination with Boo.
What happens when the children sneak out of
the house at night to spy on Boo?
What other gifts are found in the tree? Why does
the gift giving come to an end?
Which three rare events occur in this chapter?
Explain how Atticus’s defending Tom Robinson
is affecting Scout’s life.
What “new” talent does Atticus possess?
Why does Atticus revere Mrs. Dubose so much?
What do the children learn from Calpurnia about
her? What do they learn about Tom Robinson?
Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay?
Who’s under Scout’s bed - and why?
How does Scout – sort of – save Tom?
What does Atticus say about Mr. Cunningham
and his ‘blind spots?’
Who testifies in this chapter, and what testimony
is given?
Describe Mayella’s testimony.
Describe Tom’s testimony.
Compare the case to Scottsboro by giving at
least three similarities.
How long does it take the jury to reach a verdict?
What is the verdict?
What is Jem’s reaction to the verdict?
Explain Jem and Scout’s discussion on class
distinctions.
What tragic news is learned after the missionary
circle meeting? Why is this timing so ironic?
25
Friday, 23 February.
26
27
Monday, 27 February
Wednesday, 29 Feb.
28
Thursday, 1 March
29
30
Friday, 2 March
Monday, 5 March
31
Monday, 5 March
Choose two characters and tell how they
respond to the tragic news. (Be specific.)
Explain Scout’s awareness of hypocrisy.
How does Bob Ewell express his grudge against
Judge Taylor and Helen Robinson?
Explain the events immediately following the
school pageant.
Who saves the children? How do you know?
Explain Heck Tate’s assertion that they should,
“Let the dead bury the dead.”
What does Scout finally realize about Boo?
*All responses must be neatly written or typed and are due at the start of each class for
discussion. Answer the questions carefully; be specific; take the time to answer fully.
Projects will be due on Thursday, the 8th of March – here are some ideas. Please think
about them as we read the novel.
1. “Mockingbird A-Z” Write 26 entries, from A to Z, which correspond to 26 issues in the
book. You’ll write one or two (or more) well-crafted sentences about each decision you
make.
2. Music mix - Does this novel have any musical connections for you?
Record - on a tape or CD - 5 songs and write a paragraph about each song,
explaining its significance in terms of the novel. Include the lyrics.
3. Write the obituaries of the five people who die in TKM: Follow the
examples from the Providence Journal or another good newspaper. Fill in what you don’t
know with well-written prose that fits. As newspaper stories are measured in inches, not
words, each obituary must be at least 6-8 inches long - and two inches wide.
4. Create pieces written by five characters in the novel. What might Miss
Maudie write? Calpurnia? Atticus? Aunt Alexandra? Bob Ewell? Others?
5. Write a dramatic scene or one-act play of at least 5 minutes in duration which
explains something unexplained by Harper Lee. Is there a dark spot that needs
illumination? (If Only One Good Man is a brilliant example of this option.)
6. Five paragraph essay:
First paragraph: introduce book, author, give brief plot summary
Second paragraph: discuss principal statement author is trying to make
Third paragraph: Discuss favorite character & why?
Fourth paragraph: Discuss least favorite character & why?
Fifth paragraph: Discuss your opinion of the book. Give your reader an
essential question to think about.
7. Harper Lee uses many idioms in To Kill a Mockingbird. For example, Scout feels she has
to “walk on eggs” around Jem sometimes, which does NOT mean that she walks on eggs - it
means she has to be extremely careful. (Remember when you were little and you read
books about Amelia Bedelia? She took those idioms literally and became very confused:
she drew pictures of drapes, she stole the second base and ran to her home....) Find 20
idioms in the novel and make a picture book illustrating and explaining these idioms.
8. Other - can you think of another written response? Talk to me SOON!