EA 5.2: Analyzing a Passage from To Kill a Mockingbird
Assignment
Your assignment is to write a literary analysis essay that analyzes a short passage depicting
a key scene from the novel. Your analysis must discuss the passage in terms of the literary
elements of the novel – setting, conflict, or character – and explain how that passage
relates to the thematic development of coming of age in the novel as a whole.
Instructions
Prewriting
1) Choose a passage from the novel, between 2-4 paragraphs, that you think clearly
identifies a coming of age moment as shown through a character, the setting, or the conflict.
2) On a separate sheet of paper, explain how this passage is identified as either character,
setting, or conflict. Then explain how it shows coming of age briefly.
3) Do a close reading of the passage. Identify moments that are significant, and write them
on the same sheet of paper.
Drafting, Part 1
4) To create your thesis, answer the following questions:
What is Harper Lee trying to say about Coming of Age in the novel?
How does she show this?
Why is this important?
5) Combine your answers into a one sentence statement that includes the title and author of
the novel, and identifies what your essay will be about.
6) From your passage that you did a close reading, identify two smaller quotes that help
support your thesis statement about coming of age in the novel. Make sure you have
properly cited the quotations!
7) Fold a separate sheet of paper in half. Write your two quotes at the top of each part of the
page.
8) Beneath the quote, start writing your commentary about the quote. What are the
implications (conclusions that can be drawn) from this passage? How does it contribute to
the meaning of the novel as a whole? What was the author’s intent for spreading the
message of coming of age in this passage?
Drafting, Part 2
9) Using the prewriting and drafting documents you did in the above steps, fill in the
provided outline. Make sure you are writing in complete sentences, and filling in all parts.
This will be typed up into your first official draft.
Editing/Revising
10) Type your first draft onto the computer. Lab dates will be 5/23-5/28.
11) After the draft is typed, look for the following to edit:
Title is italicized whenever used, and not abbreviated as “TKAM”
Spelling errors (make sure MS Word did not make a wrong correction)
Punctuation (especially comma usage)
Author’s name is spelled right (and pronouns are correctly identified female)
Quotations are properly cited and punctuated (Author’s last name Page Number)
EXAMPLE: Atticus conveys to Scout that she won’t truly understand a person, “until you
climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 22).
Do not use “you” or “I” in your essay
Your body paragraphs do not simply summarize the story, but look at the quote in
detail to show and explain coming of age on a larger scale
12) Make edits and corrections to your essay until it is polished and ready for submission.
13) Create a heading and an essay title.
First and Last Name
Date of Submission
Aiken, Period ____
EA 5.2 Analysis Essay
Creative Essay Title
Essay are due on the following dates:
2nd Period: Wednesday, May 28
1st, 4th, 5th: Thursday, May 29
Your essay will be late for each day it is not turned in. I will take off 10% (essentially 10
points) for every day it is late.
I will accept late essays until Sunday, June 1st, 9:00pm. After that, your grade will remain a
zero in the gradebook.
Essay Outline
First Paragraph: Introduction
1. Hook (attention grabbing sentence related to your choice of setting, conflict or
characterization in the novel)
2. Background information/Summary of novel (brief—two sentences)
3. Introduce the theme as it relates to the novel (brief—one sentence)
4. Thesis Statement
Second Paragraph: Body 1
5. Topic sentence, introducing topic of paragraph (what you’ll be talking about through the
quotation in connection to character, setting, or conflict and coming of age)
6. Claim: an argumentative statement about what you are trying to show through your
evidence about how the character, setting, or conflict connects to coming of age.
7. Quote: introduce your piece of evidence, and properly cite it. Cannot just write quote—
need some statement to introduce it.
8. Commentary: Your explanation of your evidence— What are the implications (conclusions
that can be drawn) from this passage? How does it contribute to the meaning of the novel as
a whole? What was the author’s intent for spreading the message of coming of age in this
passage?
Third Paragraph: Body 2
9. Topic sentence, introducing topic of paragraph (what you’ll be talking about through the
quotation in connection to character, setting, or conflict and coming of age)
10. Claim: an argumentative statement about what you are trying to show through your
evidence about how the character, setting, or conflict connects to coming of age.
11. Quote: introduce your piece of evidence, and properly cite it. Cannot just write quote—
need some statement to introduce it.
12. Commentary: Your explanation of your evidence— What are the implications (conclusions
that can be drawn) from this passage? How does it contribute to the meaning of the novel as
a whole? What was the author’s intent for spreading the message of coming of age in this
passage?
Fourth Paragraph: Conclusion
13. Restate your thesis
14. Summarize the main arguments of your essay, how coming of age develops in the novel
through either the character, the setting, or the conflict.
15. An ending statement reflecting on coming of age and a lesson to be learned from the
novel.
Pts.
Poss.
Masters the
Standard
Grading Range
Engaging Introduction
--Strong hook
--Thesis located at end of intro
Thesis Statement
--Strong, focuses entire essay
--Connects thematic concept to
literary element of the novel
--Conveys significance
Organization of Essay
--Paragraphs are organized
--Transitions used between
paragraphs and ideas
Analysis and Ideas
--Directly relates to thesis
--Links passage to thematic
interpretation of theme and
elements of literature
--Supporting details from novel
enhance understanding
A
Meets the
Standard
MLA Format
--Times New Roman, 12
--1 inch margins
--No space between paragraphs
--Italicized titles
--Correct heading, title of essay
Name:
Below
Expectation
B
C
D
10
9
8
7
6 5 4 3 2 1
10
9
8
7
6 5 4 3 2 1
10
9
8
7
6 5 4 3 2 1
26
23
30
29
25
22
10
10
10
30
28
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
27
24
Evidence—Quotations
--Correct citations
--Adequate integration
Conclusion
--Restates ideas and thesis
--Brings closure to essay as a
whole
Grammar & Punctuation
--No spelling/grammatical errors
--No run ons/fragments
Approaching
Standard
21
10
10
9
8
7
6 5 4 3 2 1
10
10
9
8
7
6 5 4 3 2 1
10
9
8
7
6 5 4 3 2 1
10
9
8
7
6 5 4 3 2 1
10
10
Score:
/100