Values Essay
These are step-by-step instructions for the major documented essay we will be writing this semester.
When you finish a step, initial it.
To Kill a Mockingbird
1. _____ Read To Kill a Mockingbird.
2. _____ Select one of the following values. Be sure to select one about which you have strong
feelings or care about deeply.
Power
Success
Strength
Honor
Change
Judgment
Equality
Fairness
Wisdom
Integrity
Hope
Courage
Kindness
Empathy
Responsibility
3. _____ Write a paragraph that explains how the value you have selected motivates people to
take certain actions. Your paragraph must have two correctly cited concrete examples
(quotations from the text) to support your topic sentence.
a. You will receive feedback from Mrs. Thibadeau about your first draft.
b. You will self/peer revise during writing workshop
c. You will/may conference with Mrs. Thibadeau about your draft after you have revised.
d. Requirements for this paragraph:
i. Two correctly cited concrete examples (quotations from the text)
ii. Transitions that connect ideas
iii. Correctly punctuated participial phrase that begins a sentence. (lesson in class &
online)
iv. Correctly punctuated introductory subordinate clause (lesson in class & online)
v. Correctly punctuated appositive (lesson in class & online)
vi. Correctly punctuated compound sentence (lesson in class & online)
vii. Maintain formal writing style
viii. Write in present tense
ix. Capitalize all proper nouns and punctuate titles correctly
x. Write in complete sentences (no fragments or run-ons)
xi. Use action verbs rather than linking verbs
xii. Avoid RIP words (see handout)
xiii. A correctly formatted Works Cited entry for this text.
4. _____ Post TKAM paragraph on the Mockingbird page of your wiki above your Courtroom
Terminology.
MY NOTES:
Poem from PoetryOutLoud
5. _____ Select & submit a copy of a poem (selected from poetryoutloud.org)
6. _____ Post a copy of your selected poem on the Mockingbird page of your wiki.
7. _____ Understand poetry analysis using TP-CASTT . Submit poetry worksheet on practice
poem.
8. _____ Complete TP-CASTT analysis on your selected poem.
9. _____ Write a paragraph that explains the author’s views on your selected value according to
the poem.
a. You will receive feedback from Mrs. Thibadeau about your first draft.
b. You will self/peer revise during writing workshop
c. You will/may conference with Mrs. Thibadeau about your draft after you have revised.
d. Requirements for this paragraph:
i. Two correctly cited concrete examples (quotations from the poem)
ii. Transitions that connect ideas
iii. A gerund as a subject (lesson in class & online)
iv. One effective, original example of figurative language
v. A sentence that begins with an adverb
vi. A sentence that demonstrates parallel structure (lesson in class and online)
vii. Maintain formal writing style
viii. Write in present tense
ix. Capitalize all proper nouns and punctuate titles correctly
x. Write in complete sentences (no fragments or run-ons)
xi. Use action verbs rather than linking verbs
xii. Avoid RIP words (see handout)
xiii. A correctly formatted Works Cited entry for this text.
10. _____ Post your revised poetry paragraph on the Mockingbird page of your wiki under your
selected poem.
MY NOTES:
Fahrenheit 451
11. _____ Read Fahrenheit 451 with the value you selected in mind.
12. _____ As you read, select quotations that would help illustrate the author’s view on your
selected value.
13. _____ Write a paragraph that explains how the value you have selected motivates people to
take certain actions. Your paragraph must have two correctly cited concrete examples
(quotations from the text) to support your topic sentence.
a. You will receive feedback from Mrs. Thibadeau about your first draft.
b. You will self/peer revise during writing workshop
c. You will/may conference with Mrs. Thibadeau about your draft after you have revised.
d. Requirements for this paragraph:
i. Two correctly cited concrete examples (quotations from the text)
ii. Transitions that connect ideas
iii. Correctly punctuated compound-complex sentence with an introductory
subordinate clause (lesson in class & online)
iv. An adjective clause
v. One effective, original example of figurative language
vi. Parallel structure
vii. Maintain formal writing style
viii. Write in present tense
ix. Capitalize all proper nouns and punctuate titles correctly
x. Write in complete sentences (no fragments or run-ons)
xi. Use action verbs rather than linking verbs
xii. Avoid RIP words (see handout)
xiii. A correctly formatted Works Cited entry for this text.
14. _____ Post your revised F451 paragraph on your wiki on a new page for F451.
MY NOTES:
Tying it all together…
15. _____ Compare the authors’ ideas on the selected value presented in all 3 texts. Venn Diagram
16. _____ Write a thesis statement that connects and unifies the texts’ ideas on your value.
17. _____ Write a funnel-type introductory paragraph (lesson in class & online) that would
introduce and unify the three texts.
a. You will self/peer revise during writing workshop
b. You will/may conference with Mrs. Thibadeau about your draft after you have revised.
18. _____ Revise paragraphs for an organized, logically connected essay.
a. Include transition words between and within paragraphs
b. Organize ideas so that they flow naturally.
19. _____ Write a concluding paragraph
a. You will self/peer revise during writing workshop
b. You will/may conference with Mrs. Thibadeau about your draft after you have revised.
c. Restate thesis
d. Summarize the conclusion your reader should infer from your discussion of the texts
20. _____ Post your 5 paragraph essay on a new page on your wiki called MY WRITING.
MY NOTES: