CULMINATING WRITING TASK BRAINSTORMING Use evidence you have gathered from To Kill a Mockingbird to write an expository essay analyzing how three symbols in the passage function to reveal aspects of a common theme. Be sure to discuss the context of each symbol and how the symbol represents a deeper meaning in the overall novel. Remember that a THEME is a lesson or message the reader gets from the story and should be written in a COMPLETE SENTENCE. A theme is not one word - that is a subject or topic. You can be inspired by a subject or topic when coming up with a theme. SUBJECTS/TOPICS: Good versus Evil Ambition Education Prejudice Moral complexity Innocence Racism Laws and Codes of Behavior Knowledge The Existence of Social Inequality THEME EXAMPLES: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Don’t harm anyone who has not done harm to you. It’s important to try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes before judging them. First, think of a THEME that you know the reader can learn from reading To Kill a Mockingbird You want to choose a theme that you know you can find symbols to match. Common Theme: Type here Now, choose symbols that you know you can use that connect to that theme. For example, if you chose the theme “Don’t harm anyone who has not done harm to you,” you might have the mockingbird as one of your main symbols. Here are some reminders of important symbols from the story: Knothole & surprises/tree (Ch. 4) Cement in the knothole (Ch. 7) Blanket (Ch. 8) Mockingbird (Ch.10) Mad dog/Atticus’ rifle (Ch. 10) Ms. Dubose’s camellias (Ch. 11) Scout’s overalls Roly Poly (Ch. 25) Mockingbird (end of story - Boo) Below, write out each of your symbols, describe when that symbol was presented for the first time (that’s what context/scene means), describe what that symbol represents, and cite! When citing novels, you will always cite using the author’s last name and the page number, like this: (LastName #) = (Lee 23). Symbol #1: Type here What does this symbol represent? Type here Context/scene description: Type here Parenthetical Citation: (Type here). Symbol #2: Type here What does this symbol represent? Type here Context/scene description: Type here Parenthetical Citation: (Type here). Symbol #3: Type here What does this symbol represent? Type here Context/scene description: Type here Parenthetical Citation: (Type here). Tomorrow, you will begin putting all of this together in a FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY. This will include an introduction, three body paragraphs (one symbol in each), and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should follow the structure: 1. Topic sentence: Mention the symbol you are using (without referring to yourself at all) 2. Context/scene description: When was this symbol shown? Why? 3. Introduce the quote and add the quote with a citation. For example - Atticus says, “Mockingbirds do nothing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee 23). 4. Explain what that symbol represents and how it connects to the deeper theme of the story. This part should be 2-3 sentences long and mention the theme!