Seeking Justice: To Kill a Mockingbird (2020)

Lesson 5
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ELA

Unit 6

8th Grade

Lesson 5 of 35

Objective


Explain how specific events and lines of text reveal aspects of characters and develop the plot in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  — chapters 4 and 5

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

On page 54, Atticus says to Jem, “Son, I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man. That goes for the other two of you.”

What does this line reveal about Atticus? Find an additional piece of evidence that supports your answer.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • On page 38, Jem says to Scout, when he discovers that she has eaten gum she found in a tree: “You go gargle—right now, you hear me?” What does this reveal about his character? Select an additional piece of evidence that supports your answer.

  • How does the discovery of the gum and pennies in the tree develop the plot of the story? Carefully explain your thinking.

  • Read the final paragraphs of chapter 1 and chapter 4. How do the events in these paragraphs help to develop the plot of the story? Carefully explain your thinking.

  • Discussion: How does today’s reading develop your understanding of gender roles and expectations in this text? Provide specific examples from the text.

Lesson Guidance


Standard and Literary Concepts

  • In addition to paying attention to the way that specific incidents and lines of dialogue reveal character traits, students will think about how events move the plot forward. Although this standard is not specifically about text structure, students should be able to articulate the way that individual events work together to create a cohesive story.
  • Specifically, students will need to identify that the events with Boo Radley (finding the gum, seeing flickers at his window) develop the rising action of the text and foreshadow events to come.

Notes

  • Today’s reading includes the N-word (page 41).

Homework

  • Read To Kill a Mockingbird, chapters 6 and 7.

Common Core Standards


  • RL.8.3 — Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
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