To Kill a Mockingbird Major Grade Descriptive Essay “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” ~Atticus The Jim Crow era is marked by encounters with poverty, racism, and protest. When the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, first appeared in 1960, it portrayed these themes during a time in which the Civil Rights Movement was well on its way. This assignment requires you to take Atticus’ advice and crawl inside another person’s skin and see things from his/her point of view. The two parts of this assignment are: a.) Select and research one of the provided historical events or figures. Gain as much information on your topic as you possibly can; the more knowledgeable you are, the more in-depth you will be able to describe your walk back in time. b.) Use this information to write a descriptive essay in which you are “living in the moment.” For example, you can assume the identity of a historical figure or an innocent bystander that witnesses the mayhem. Your possibilities are endless; be creative! Remember, you want to be very descriptive to truly paint the picture of what you experience. c.) We will be going to the computer lab on December 6th. Requirements: 1. The essay must be typed. (Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double spaced) 2. The essay must have a word count of at least 300 and contain at least four paragraphs. 3. Staple your rough draft to the back of your final copy and turn in hard copies to Mrs. Balthazar. 4. This is due Tuesday, December 11, 2012 by 11:59 p.m. to turnitin.com! Paragraph One: The Introduction Begin with an interesting idea that relates to your topic to “hook” your reader. Give a general overview of what your experience is like. What kind of feelings do you have about what you are describing? Remember, your diction (word choice) and tone can tell the reader how you feel without saying something like “I was very happy yesterday.” Paragraphs 2 and 3 – Body Paragraphs Discuss and elaborate on the feelings and items mentioned in your introduction. Use sensory images in your descriptions. Describe your emotions and those individuals around you. Also, include transition words and phrases in your body paragraphs (however, finally, first, in addition, etc). Paragraph 4 – The Conclusion Bring it all together. Think about what you discussed in the first paragraph and relate it to what you discussed in the body paragraphs. Add your final thoughts. My Descriptive Essay Topic is _________________________________________ Select a topic of interest to research for the descriptive essay. Brown v. Board of Topeka, Kansas Montgomery Bus Boycott Congress of Racial Equality & Freedom Rides Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing Greensboro Sit-ins Bloody Sunday Watts Race Riots Formation of the Black Panthers Assassination of Martin Luther King Chicano Repatriation Operation of 1954 Cesar Chavez & the UFW James Meredith & University of Mississippi Brown Berets & Chicano Blowouts Abduction of Emmett Till The Little Rock Nine March on Washington Freedom Summer Civil Rights Act of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965 Loving v. Virginia Zoot Suit Riots Mendez v. Westminster The Grape Boycott The Sleepy Lagoon Trial Bracero Program Select a topic of interest to research for the descriptive essay. Brown v. Board of Topeka, Kansas Montgomery Bus Boycott Congress of Racial Equality & Freedom Rides Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing Greensboro Sit-ins Bloody Sunday Watts Race Riots Formation of the Black Panthers Assassination of Martin Luther King Chicano Repatriation Operation of 1954 Cesar Chavez & the UFW James Meredith & University of Mississippi Brown Berets & Chicano Blowouts Abduction of Emmett Till The Little Rock Nine March on Washington Freedom Summer Civil Rights Act of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965 Loving v. Virginia Zoot Suit Riots Mendez v. Westminster The Grape Boycott The Sleepy Lagoon Trial Bracero Program