To Kill a Mockingbird
Rubric and Guide for the 5-Paragraph Essay
Rough Draft Due Date: Monday, October 10, 2010
Final Draft Due Date: Monday, October 17, 2010
Writing Prompt: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird contains several “mockingbird”
characters. A mockingbird, by legend, is a bird that was innocent because it does not
harm the crops of farmers. A mockingbird is also a bird that “mocks”, or imitates the
sounds that it hears. Thus, Harper Lee’s “mockingbirds” are characters who are innocent,
and follow society’s standards. To kill a mockingbird, then, is considered a social
injustice. Some of Harper Lee’s mockingbirds are “killed” when their innocence is
corrupted.
Students are to choose a character from the novel, and argue two things:
1. Is this character a mockingbird?
a. Does this character emulate the two characteristics that define a
mockingbird?
2. Is this mockingbird killed?
a. Does this character lose his/her innocence?
In writing your essays, be sure to provide textual evidence in the form of citations (quotes
from the book).
Composition Process Rubric: (English Grade)
1. Prewriting should include the basic outline as discussed in class. This will be
turned in for points. (5 points)
2. Your introduction should use a quote from the book, or a random quote about
innocence or corruption. This quote should lead into an explanation of a real
mockingbird, and the implications thereof. After explaining the importance of a
real mockingbird, lead into Harper Lee’s definition of a mockingbird. Then state
your thesis. (5 points)
3. Each of your body paragraphs should have a unified idea. There are two ways to
go about structuring this essay. One way would be to have 3 argument
paragraphs, each of which explains a particular event, and how that event helps
define the character as a mockingbird, or as not being a mockingbird. The second
way would be to chronicle the character’s development, from being a
mockingbird to being killed (not literally killed, but losing innocence). Argument
paragraphs should have an introduction sentence, at least 2 major supports, each
of which with minor support, and a concluding sentence that bridges paragraphs.
(6 points per paragraph)
4. Your conclusion should wrap up your ideas, and lead the reader in a new, but
tangential (related) direction. For instance, could this character be “killed” if he
or she has not already been? Or could this character’s saving grace help to
reestablish the innocence of another character? (5 points)
5. MLA formatting: Title page, heading, spacing, etc. (5 points)
Grammar Rubric: (English Grade)
Please see the student rubric accepted by the archdiocese. Each category is worth 25
points, for a total of 100 grammar points. For example, a student whose paper is in the
category labeled “1”, will earn between 1 and 25 points out of 100, whereas a student in
category “4” will earn between 75 and 100 points out of 100.
Comprehension Rubric: (The reading grade)
This essay will count for 100 points. Students who are able to clearly explain the
significance of a mockingbird, and argue effectively whether or not their chosen
characters are mockingbirds will receive credit based upon the understanding of the novel
as indicated in the essay. Your ability to cite effectively from the book will earn you 5
points per citation (30 points available, as you have three arguments, each of which
should contain two citations). Your ability to integrate your quotations (explain the
context) will count as 5 points per integration (for a total of 30 points). The cohesion of
your argument, combined with the risk that you take, will constitute the additional 40
points available to you on this essay. Learn to take risks. We all know that Scout is a
mockingbird, for example. But are there places in the novel where she loses her
innocence? And, if so, is she truly killed? Simply chronicling her innocence is not much
of a risk, but arguing that she strays from her innocence for moments at a time, and still
being able to explain that she maintains her overall innocence – now, that is risky
business! So, too, would be the prospect of analyzing Boo Radley, or Atticus – each of
which sometimes goes with, and sometimes goes against society. The riskiest character
of all – and therefore, the most interesting for this assignment – is Mayella. Does she,
indeed, maintain innocence? Does she follow societal standards?
Ladies and Gentlemen, good luck! This should be a fun essay for you – challenging,
yes, but this has been a central topic for the entirety of the novel! Remember, I have to
read everybody’s essay, not just yours. So please, do not put me to sleep! You have a
formula for your papers. Please learn to extend beyond the formula, to develop a voice
within your papers, without betraying the process that is created by using the formula.
For instance, yes, you must have major and minor supports for each argument, but you
are not limited to boring sentence structures, nor to the minimal amount of sentences (you
may have more than 6 sentences per argument, just do not try to get away with less!).
Your papers should end up being somewhere in the realm of 2-3 pages. Less than one
and a half pages probably indicates that you do not have sufficient evidence. More than
three pages probably indicates that you have fluff that can be dissolved.
I am excited to read your papers!
**Note: Essays will be returned, with a “0”, and need to be rewritten for any of the
following reasons:
1. Your paper does not have a title page or a heading.
2. Your paper is not in Times New Roman, 12 point font.
3. Your paper has even one contraction.
4. Your paper has first or second person language (I, me, we, you, your, our, etc.)