Note that student work varies significantly from one assignment to the next, even within
the same mark range. The intent of providing samples such as this one is to guide
students in recognizing key criteria of assignments and in assessing their own work.
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION – EXCELLENT
Essay question: Examine the causes and effects of prejudicial attitudes and beliefs in the
novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
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Strengths:
• A strong thesis statement is present (thinking).
• Excellent structure is present, progressing from general philosophical points to
specific aspects of novel (application).
• Good use of transition words is evident (communication).
• Excellent vocabulary is used properly throughout (communication).
Tips for improvement:
• Sentence structure could be simplified in several instances (communication).
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"Our prejudices are our robbers, they rob us of valuable things in life"
(Unknown). To understand the above passage is to understand the serious consequences
of prejudice in one's life. Prejudice, usually the result of human behaviour, whether it is
hatred, jealousy, insecurity, etc…, always does more damage than good, but in the end
there is usually a lesson learned. Prejudice is judging someone, usually unfavorably,
without really knowing who the person is or judging someone’s negative qualities and
disregarding the positive ones. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee,
prejudice is clearly caused by many different kinds of human behavior. Throughout the
novel, the reader notices three different kinds of injustice: gender prejudice shown by the
Finches, racial prejudice coming from the Ewells, and social class prejudice illustrated by
Alexandra Finch. Holding on to narrowly defined gender roles, particularly regarding the
place of women, begins during the formative childhood years and is difficult to change
during adulthood, therefore illustrating the importance of teaching children strong moral
values concerning equality. In turn, white supremacist beliefs of many of Maycomb's
white citizens result in the use the blacks, not only as handy scapegoats but also as menial
servants to the white people, therefore illustrating the readiness of people to conveniently
absolve themselves from responsibility for their actions. In addition, Alexandra Finch
prejudges others based on their social class to make herself feel superior and to prevent
social rejection, therefore illustrating that no matter how respected one's family is, deep
down inside most people are insecure about the way they appear to the public. Therefore,
prejudice is pervasive in Maycomb in many different forms and it robs its citizens of the
ability to change, of the ability to be responsible for their actions and deeds, and of the
ability to feel secure and accepted in society.
Work Cited*
Unknown. "Our prejudices […]." Quotations Book, n.p., n.d. Web. 9 July 2013.
*This is not a complete Works Cited page for the essay. The purpose of the reference is
to give the source of the capture quotation.